The Value of a Postpartum Doula

A postpartum doula is a care provider that helps fill in the gaps between advice provided at the doctor's office and implementing those suggestions at home. A doula works to help family members integrate what can be new, overwhelming, and sometimes uncertain into their everyday lives. The google definition of a doula is “a woman employed to provide guidance and support to the mother of a newborn baby.” This definition is not false, however, there are more responsibilities that come with being a doula that are often not addressed. Common knowledge of the “guidance and support” a doula provides usually refers to maternal care such as assisting with proper breastfeeding positions, monitoring the newborn baby’s sleep, or reassuring parent(s) that they are doing things “right.” In actuality, a postpartum doula’s support is meant to extend beyond what a doctor can prescribe or a book can explain. Their duties expand into a wider range of physical, emotional, and sometimes spiritual aids that are as important as getting the technical details down.

The growing family unit tends to turn most of their effort and attention towards their baby. Bringing a child home completely re-orients the household members dynamic. Baby comes home, and so do a spectrum of feelings ranging from love and excitement to fear and anxiety. The top priority becomes the wellbeing of their new family member. As all of these shifts take place, it is unreasonable to expect parents to be on top of everything. Sometimes family members are able to assist, otherwise a hired nanny or mother’s helper can take care of tasks that allow the parents to focus on their baby. However, even when there is help with feeding the family, keeping living spaces clean, or comforting the new mother, there is an aspect of care that a postpartum doula can add. Firstly, a postpartum doula who works in a family’s home can bring an objective perspective of a family’s overall dynamic and needs. For example, a doula may notice that the birthing parent's partner seems unsure of how they are doing when it’s their turn to care for the baby. With some encouragement and instructional guidance on tasks such as swaddling or diaper changing, they may become more confident in baby care, and thus supporting their partner. Another area a doula can offer guidance with is providing emotional support to new parents. The relationship between each parent, or older sibling, with their postpartum doula is built upon consistency and trust. When the doula and family members first meet, both parties are looking for someone who they feel a connection with, and who shares their values. From this meeting, throughout the infants first few months, a family grows to trust their doula as a source of information and resources, as well as a confidant. While a doula is unable to diagnose medical concerns or provide professional counseling, they see areas of struggle and can provide their knowledge or references to trusted professionals in the community that could better help. An important counterpart is that doula’s notice areas of success too! Family members are experiencing a unique time in their lives that a doula’s safe presence and encouragement can only help blossom.

Doula’s are inspired to offer care because they desire to give their love and expertise to any family who wants it. They often tend to be empathetic, caring, and responsible people which helps them bring warmth and comfort to their clients. A well rounded doula takes time to learn about maternal and newborn wellness through literature, one’s doula colleagues, and practice. Each doula brings a special set of interests and pockets of knowledge to the table. The initial training they complete teaches them how to care for a birthing parent, their partner(s), newborns, and gives guidance on all the areas of learning a doula can broaden their education with as they continue on their journey. A combination of a desire to help, formal doula training, and a caring personality makes for a doula who can support a family in a unique emotional and physical capacity. A doula practices respect, which ties together their knowledge and care giving skills in client’s homes. Every family has different needs and various hopes for their newborn(s). As much information and guidance as a doula has, they honor each family’s special ways of how they want things to be done. A doula’s job is to meet people with tenderness and care with where they are at. They are careful not to overstep, correct, or force their thinking or methods onto someone as long as there is no potential danger. A doula is not there to judge or correct, but rather guide and suggest through listening. Many people don’t know what a doula is, how they can be helpful, or that they may even have access to one. A doula is a person of any gender, who works to become the most helpful version of themselves. Your doula will be dedicated to providing services for people from all walks of life and committed to see through to the growing family’s wellness needs.