It is highly probable that if you talked to most moms in the United States about the weeks following the birth of their baby you would get a variety of responses.

You may hear the words ‘amazing,’ ‘joyous,’ ‘life-giving.’ But more often than not, you would most likely also hear ‘stressful,’ ‘disappointing,’ ‘painful,’ ‘traumatic,’ ‘tiring.’

Having a new baby in the home can represent a forever and long lasting change for not only the parents, but other family members as well. A couple waits for 9 months, with the added stresses of labor, to welcome a new member of the family.

For new parents, there are a number of challenges: birth recovery, caring for a totally dependent newborn, sleepless nights, emotional and mental adjustment, infant feeding and care, adjusting to a new personality in the family circle, not to mention household tasks.

Other challenges may include the possibility of the mother’s or baby’s physical or emotional health being compromised, unexpected and unplanned demands on the family after baby is brought home and lack of knowledge in normal newborn growth and development, and lack of knowledge in normal postpartum recovery.

In America, many new parents find themselves unprepared for transition to a new baby in their home, and possibly isolated from knowledgeable and caring advisors and helpers. In times before, new parents might have been able to depend on their own parents or other family members or friends to help out. These services are available today, but they tend to be few and far between and/or inadequate, because of long distances between new parents and their family, and possibly because of demands on loved ones that can take priority over the needs of the new family.

It cannot be overstated that with these difficulties, it is necessary to have advice, support and help in the following weeks and months after a birth. It also cannot be overstated that the ways in which a mother, baby, partner and siblings make a healthy transition to a new family circle have long term consequences on their emotional and physical health. And the postpartum doula can fill this large gap in maternity care, and help with a smooth transition.

There is evidence based data that shows what seems to be logical, that parents who have support and advice during this time are more successful in transitioning than those families who do not. There are also studies that show that societies where women are given postpartum support over a period of days or weeks and who are expected only to take care of themselves and their babies have much better outcomes in postpartum weeks.

In addition to that, research also shows that women who experience support from family, carers, counselors and peer groups have greater breastfeeding success (1,2), greater self confidence, (3,4), less postpartum depression (5,6), and a lower incidence of abuse than those who do not. (7,8.)

Also evidence shows that timely referrals to caring, competent and compassionate professionals can add to the family’s success moving forward. (9, 10.) Parents can benefit from an education on newborn development, baby soothing skills, newborn feeding information, attachment, bonding, and coping skills. (9,11.)

In addition, where the doula can demonstrate mother-caring’ skills, partners and other members of the family can form concrete habits in how to support a mother postpartum. (12, 13.)