by Kathleen Robbins, Postpartum Doula and Certified Lactation Counselor, owner of Robbins Doula Services
A note from Savannah:
I believe every birthing person should have as much support as possible as they navigate parenthood. That is why I am a proponent of using doula services at any point during a person’s prenatal and/or postpartum experience. I am thrilled to share this post with you by Kathleen Robbins, a postpartum doula in the St. Louis area. Not only is Kathleen a kind and compassionate person, but she is highly experienced and knowledgeable. Read on to discover how a postpartum doula can support you in your postpartum journey!
As you move through your pregnancy, or adoption or surrogacy journey, assembling a reliable support team becomes a top priority. Just as a pelvic floor physical therapist can play an important role in your recovery, a postpartum doula can provide much-needed support and care in your early months with your new baby.
Postpartum doulas offer informational, practical, and emotional support to families, whether they are new or experienced parents. This blog dives into the broader role of postpartum doulas, highlighting the many ways in which they can facilitate a smoother transition into parenthood.
Informational Support
Whether you’re a first-time parent or already have several children, questions inevitably arise during the postpartum period. A postpartum doula serves as a friendly and knowledgeable resource, providing information on newborn care, feeding, sleep, postpartum adjustment, and local resources. With a doula, there’s no such thing as a silly question! Having a doula as a trusted resource can eliminate the stress of 3:00 a.m. internet searching, wading through differing opinions and conflicting advice. Also, doulas can recommend trusted local providers for various aspects of postpartum care, from physical therapists and chiropractors to mental health therapists and support groups.
Practical Support
Early parenthood comes with countless new tasks, and having an extra pair of hands can be priceless. Exhausted new parents are often eager for help caring for their baby so they can rest, shower, and maybe take a walk around the block. Practical support can also include tackling household tasks such as meal preparation, washing bottles and pump parts, running errands, helping with baby laundry, and restocking essential supplies. The goal of the doula is to alleviate the burden on parents, allowing them to rest and focus on bonding with their newborn.
Emotional Support
While the postpartum period holds many joyful moments, it can also bring feelings of overwhelm, sadness, and isolation. Postpartum doulas offer unbiased and non-judgmental emotional support, creating a safe space for parents to express their true feelings. Though not clinical providers, doulas are trained to identify signs of perinatal mood and anxiety disorders and can make appropriate referrals when necessary. Just having someone with whom a new parent can be open and honest about their feelings can go a long way.
What Does Postpartum Doula Support Look Like?
The support a doula provides varies from family to family and even from day to day with the same family. The support provided varies based on the family’s needs, ranging from answering questions and engaging in meaningful conversations to handling practical tasks and providing a much-needed break for the parents.
Many families have a prenatal shift with their postpartum doula to talk through baby gear recommendations, efficient house setup, and do some postpartum planning. Also, a postpartum doula with extra training in lactation can help with preparation for breastfeeding.
Once baby arrives, doula support often begins in the family’s first week home from the hospital. Depending on a family’s needs and preferences, the frequency and duration of doula support may vary widely. Some parents just want a few shifts at the beginning to get off to a good start with their baby. Other families opt for several months of support, including guidance for returning to work after family leave.
While this blog has primarily focused on what in-person postpartum doula support looks like, some doulas also offer virtual support. This can be a good option for new parents with many questions, for families who live in areas with limited options for postpartum support, and parents who prefer the flexibility and ease of scheduling virtual appointments or asking questions through text.
Although most of a postpartum doula’s support happens once a baby is born, it’s helpful for expecting parents to reach out early in their pregnancy/adoption process/surrogacy journey to secure support. Many doulas’ schedules fill up many months in advance, so contacting your preferred doula as early as possible increases the chances of her having availability to support you.
If you’re curious about how a postpartum doula could benefit your family, feel free to reach out to Kathleen Robbins at Robbins Doula Services. Every family deserves to feel supported as they welcome their new baby, and Kathleen would love to discuss how this type of assistance might be the right fit for your needs.
But first, Pelvic Health. 