Postpartum Doula: Your New Companion, Helper, and Support System

You’ve been reading about preparing for your new baby, and you might have come across the term “postpartum doula.” But what is a postpartum doula, and how can they help your family?

What Does a Postpartum Doula Do?

When I say we’re like Mary Poppins, I mean it! I roll into your home equipped with baby carriers, swaddles, sleep hacks, feeding tips, and even ways to help your baby fart—because yes, most babies need a little assistance! I’ll teach you these tips while helping with laundry, washing dishes, and organizing your space. As a postpartum doula, my goal is to leave you feeling more confident and at peace in your home with your baby. This looks different for each family, so let’s explore some examples.

Family A: A Two-Week-Old Baby Who Is Fussy at Night

The Problem: These first-time parents haven’t slept more than an hour at a time in over a week. Their baby is fussy at night but sleeps great during the day!

The Doula’s Role: My focus is to help the baby learn the difference between night and day while establishing effective feeding sessions and appropriate awake windows. This will lead to better night sleep and a healthier routine for everyone.

Family B: An Eight-Day-Old Baby Who Isn’t Gaining Weight

The Problem: First-time parents are struggling with breastfeeding. Their baby feeds constantly but isn’t back up to birth weight. The mom is exhausted, and the dad feels helpless.

The Doula’s Role: We’ll focus on comfortable feeding, ensuring the baby gets the nutrition needed. We’ll work on creating a great latch and effective feeding sessions, leaving the mom with longer breaks and a confident dad who knows how to soothe the baby.

Family C: A Five-Day-Old Newborn and His Two-Year-Old Brother

The Problem: This family can handle one crying baby, but two is tougher! Their newborn is fussy in the evenings, leaving the parents feeling torn.

The Doula’s Role: I’ll soothe the newborn, allowing the parents to spend uninterrupted time with their two-year-old. This helps ease the big brother’s anxiety and helps establish a bedtime routine for a family of four.

Family D: Parents of Three Overwhelmed by Chores

The Problem: These experienced parents are drowning in laundry and dirty dishes, and they could use a nap.

The Doula’s Role: My focus will be on housekeeping, ensuring the laundry is done, dishes are cleaned, and the home feels less chaotic. I’ll also take care of “kid duty” so the parents can rest.

Family E: A New Mom Feeling Emotionally Overwhelmed

The Problem: This first-time mom had a difficult delivery and feels overwhelmed by caring for her newborn.

The Doula’s Role: We’ll start with emotional support, processing the birth experience and building her confidence. We’ll ease her physical discomfort and break down infant care into manageable steps, leaving her more confident and less anxious.

Every Family Is Unique. A postpartum doula can help them all.

At the end of the day, our goal as postpartum doulas is to give you whatever support you need. We aim to leave your routine and home more organized, help your family sleep better, and boost your confidence in parenting. Sometimes just one session is enough, while other families benefit from ongoing support.

If you’re in the Pittsburgh area and want help from a postpartum doula, get in touch with us today!

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