Frequently Addressed Postpartum Topics
Postpartum Care is Necessary
Science has shown repeatedly that the more support a mom and family receive in weeks following the birth of a baby, the better equipped they will be in moving forward in confidence, strength of family relationships and enjoyment of the new little one in their home.
2. Three ways to pay your fees
Some ideas:
a. As a shower gift, perhaps ask relatives and friends to contribute to postpartum care.
b. Set up a payment plan; the earlier you book, the smaller your payments will be.
c. Begin your care with package A, ‘Getting Started,’ which is the most inexpensive option, at 8 hours of care. If you find you could use more visits, you can always add more of them by purchasing hours a la carte, or changing over to a package with more hours.
3. Support in breastfeeding
All DONA certified postpartum doulas have had very thorough instruction in breastfeeding. While I am not trained as lactation consultant, I am prepared to attend to minor issues; if, however, a more serious complication develops, I will connect you to a certified lactation consultant.
4. Support in bottle feeding
All DONA doulas offer non judgmental care no matter the feeding choice; I will support you in your journey of bottle feeding wholeheartedly and will work to help you solve any complications that may arise.
5. Helping with light housework
I will help some with meal preparation, keeping your kitchen clean, and keeping the laundry cycle going.
6. Support in difficult familial relationships
Although the birth of a baby can bring about many happy times for grandparents and extended family, sometimes it can have the opposite affect, and put a strain on relationships that might already be compromised.
I can listen to your story, and perhaps give some very general ideas; if family issues are becoming a real stressor that affects your health, your care of baby and baby feeding, I can direct you to counselors who can help untangle some of the hard spots.
7. Birth story processing
I strongly believe that our physical bodies are tied up with our emotional and mental state. In fact, science has proven that to be the case.
So whether you had a birth that went exactly as you planned, or it was frustratingly difficult and perhaps close to traumatic, it’s important for your whole self to talk about and reflect on your experience as part of your whole recovery as a whole person. There is no pressure, though. I would never make anybody have that conversation if they did not wish to.
8. Postpartum mental health support
I am not a clinician and will not diagnose any condition. However I can offer non judgmental and compassionate listening, and can direct you to professional help if that is the need.
9. Helping a spouse or partner
A postpartum doula is also there to support the spouse or partner; also, partners and other family members benefit from concrete instruction and role modeling on how to support a woman during the weeks after birth. Research shows that support for and from the spouse/partner can have significant impact on their own experience as well as the emotional adjustment of the mother.
10. Daytime Care Only
Monday through Friday, 8am-6pm
11. My Services Do Not Include
I will not educate according to my own beliefs or personal experience; I won’t diagnose conditions in the mother or any other family member or consider myself the expert while functioning in my role as doula, or perform clinical or medical tasks.