Why Hire a Postpartum Doula
Postpartum doulas offer invaluable information and assistance during the first days and weeks of giving birth.
Doulas offer a hands on approach and help make the adjustment into parenthood easier. Doulas are well trained individuals who can offer help with anything after birth such as emotional support, companionship, depression, and help with newborn care. Doulas are perinatal professionals.
Some of the duties for doulas:
- Evidence based breastfeeding support
- Help with the emotional and physical recovery after birth
- Assisting with light household organization so that mom does not feel so overwhelmed
- Encourage the family to make parenting choices that reflect their values and needs
- Assistance with newborn care such as diapering, bathing, feeding and comforting
- Light meal preparation
- Baby soothing techniques
- Sibling preparation and care
- Night time service to help the family transition more smoothly into the challenges of night time parenting
- Provide resources when support requires a healthcare professional, clinical assessment, a need for prescription, or medical diagnosis
Postpartum doulas do not
- Diagnose medical conditions
- Interpret medical diagnoses or clinical results
- Prescribe or administer treatment of medical conditions
- Perform clinical procedures, including taking infant’s temperature or administering medications to infant or mother
- Prescribe, perform, or provide alternative/complementary therapies including, but not limited to, essential oils, placenta medicine, herbal treatments, etc. without further training. These services must be provided separately from the role of the CAPPA certified professional.
- Make parenting or infant care choices or decisions
- Stay alone with babies or other children routinely and for extended periods of time
- Buckle infants or other children into cars or car seats or install car seats in cars
- Teach a cry it out approach
- Act as a housekeeper or nanny