What Does A Postpartum Doula Do?

I’d like to take the opportunity to tell you a bit about what a Postpartum Doula does.

Some people think the role is that of a baby nurse or a nanny.

Although caring for a newborn baby is part of postpartum care, services extend to much more where the doula acts as an important support for the entire family.

Therefore, in addition to those typically recognized baby related services, a newborn baby care specialist also will conduct housekeeping chores – including light cleaning and cooking chores, care for other siblings, run errands and help out in just about any manner needed to maintain happy, daily life in the household.

Unlike a doula hired as a private labor coach, a postpartum doula specializes in providing services and support after the baby is born.

These individuals are highly trained and should be certified by nationally or internationally, recognized training and certifications programs such as Childhood and Postpartum Professional Association, Inc. (CAPPA) or Doulas of North America, International (DONA).

These newborn baby caregiver specialists do not have medical degrees but their training and experience are put to task helping ease the strain and stress that can, and usually does, accompany the weeks after a baby is born.

In many situations, postpartum doulas help new mothers concentrate on their babies by helping and educating them about newborn care and conducting a variety of other chores, filling in the roles mom usually performs for daily family life.

Traditional family support roles that in the past played a large part during the hectic weeks following childbirth have slowly disappeared due to distance and time constraints.

So, hiring a Doula may be one of the most important decisions a family can make. And, since newborn baby care specialists are highly trained, compassionate mothers themselves, choosing a professional, either in addition to or in place of a relative may also be a wise choice.

Also, confidence placed in a newborn baby care specialist who is professionally trained can help reduce occurrence of postpartum depression.

This condition sometimes can be caused by the fact many mothers receive little sleep when called upon every few hours to feed the baby. Without considerable physical support after birth, many mothers can become overwhelmed, exhausted and go to their wit’s end trying to play supermom.

Whether your breastfeeding or bottlefeeding a postpartum doula can help your transition into parenthood smoothly and stress free.