Postpartum Doulas offer education, companionship and nonjudgmental support during the postpartum fourth trimester; assist with newborn care, family adjustment, meal preparation and light household tidying; offer evidence-based information on infant feeding, emotional and physical recovery from birth, infant soothing and coping skills for new parent(s); and make appropriate referrals when necessary. Research evidence shows that the quality services of a postpartum doula can ease the transition that comes with the addition of a baby to a family, improve parental satisfaction and reduce the risk of mood disorders.

Postpartum Doulas Typically Provide: A LOT- with a wide range of variation!

• Doulas support all types of postpartum experiences through non-judgmental care

• Provider in person or virtual support

• Provide newborn and parenting education

• Help parent(s) with transition home from birthplace

• Breastfeeding education and support

• Support patients with a huge range of postpartum coping strategies and parenting tricks

• Improve health of birth giver with nutritional support and education

• Provide email, phone check in, and home visits

• Have strong relationships and trust with patients

• Have big picture view of what is going on in their lives

• Counseling support for their transition into parenthood

• At home PPD assessment

• At home breastfeeding/chestfeeding support assessment and referral when necessary

• Ability to catch obstacles that might need referrals (counseling, and family therapy, pet care, cleaning services, etc.)

• Encourage good communication with providers

• Sleep support

• Cleaning and cooking at home after birth

• Support with processing and integrating birth experience for parents

• 24 hour on-call availability up to 7 weeks for each family

• Provide back-up structure if doula is unable to attend birth

• Offer lower cost and sliding scale fees when appropriate

• Doula care is sometimes covered by insurance and flex spending programs

• AND MORE