Frequently Asked Questions

Postpartum doulas are skilled and knowledgeable about the care and development of newborns as well as maternal recovery and adjustment. We are well-versed in the most up-to-date information on the care for newborn and postpartum individual. 

We provide non-judgemental guidance on newborn care and feeding, assist the postpartum individual with emotional and physical recovery, care for the newborn so the client can care for themselves, and provide practical household assistance.

Postpartum doulas do not provide medical services, treatments, or diagnosis for the parent or newborn. 

We also are not nannies or house cleaners. Our care is always centered around the postpartum client's needs first. While our work extends support to the newborn, our main attention is on the postpartum individual. If holding the newborn, playing with the older children, or doing light household chores are what the client needs, we are delighted to do so! 

Like any other professions, doulas come from all walks of life. Some are spiritual or religious, and there are families who choose to hire doulas whose belief systems align with their own. But the profession of doula is not spiritual in nature. 

We respect our clients' spirituality and religion and the boundaries they want to set. 

My service involves sharing of the most up-to-date evidence-based information on newborn and family care. Doulas also don't give opinions either - we provide resource and options for you to consider but it's ultimately up to you and your family to decide what works for you best. 

Doulas are non-medical profesionals who provide emotional support and evidence-based information about newborn care and expectations during the postpartum period. Midwives provide medical care for clients during pregnancy, birth, and the immediate postpartum period.

Doulas and midwives work well together and some families choose to have both as each profession focuses slightly different parts of the journey. 

A minimum of 4 hours is required on the days you want the Postpartum doula to come in. 

We have found through experience that less time doesn't really allow for us to do much at all. Time goes by so quickly with a newborn! 

In general, the span can be anywhere from one or two visits to three months. There are a number of factors that come into play in determining the duration of doula support. These include:

What was your birth experience like? A birthing parent who is recovering from an uncomplicated vaginal birth typically has less healing to do than a  birthing parent who is recovering from a significant tear, episiotomy, or an operative delivery (cesarean).

What kind of support and who is available to help you during your recovery? Are your support people knowledgeable about lactation and feeding, infant characteristics and care, and the changes experienced by the postpartum person?

We want to make sure that you are cared for and nurtured during your postpartum period. Doulas work as "buffer" supporters  alongside any support you may already have available. 

Recognizing that it is a transitional period for the supporting member of the family too, we will help educate the whole family with evidence-based information. The more knowledgable and confident the family starts to feel, the overall postpartum experience starts to feel manageable! 

The financial capability to pay. This is the biggest factor for many families. Not only are they considering how much they can afford, but they are also doing so at a time when expenses are going up, with the addition of a baby (or two or three). A good suggestion is for you to ask for doula services as a shower or new baby gift from friends and relatives.

The number of new babies. A new parent of multiples frequently needs more “extra hands” than that of a

parent having a baby who is a singleton. The parent of multiples may simply need more in terms of babyholding, feeding, and organization, as well as needing to find some rest-time.

Are there older siblings? If you have school-aged children, you may want a doula there to help you and them during the afternoon hours when they arrive home hungry and needing help with their homework. Dinner and baths

can be an exhausting time with a new baby. With toddlers and preschoolers, you may need several weeks of doula support so that the older children also feel cared for. It is a big transitional period for everyone in the family afterall! 

A postpartum doula is ready to begin providing support as soon as you feel comfortable inviting them into your home, often just days after the birth. 

The initial weeks following childbirth are the most opportune time to have a knowledgeable helper. With a doula present in the first few days, particularly during the crucial 3rd, 4th, and 5th days when your milk  typically comes in, the experience becomes more manageable. 

You can have a chemistry call with a Postpartum Doula 2~4 months before your due date so have a doula lined up and you can begin building a relationship! 

Families hire postpartum doulas for many reasons. They might be...

• First-time parents with no family or local support nearby; 
• Parents of multiples (You might feel like you need to grow new arms ASAP); 
• The birthing parent went through cesarean section or complicated vaginal birth and need support with the new born while they recover; 
• Women who want to breastfeed; 
• Families with other young children; 
• Birthing people at risk for or experiencing postpartum depression & anxiety; 
• Premature births/babies; 
• Babies with colic or reflux; 
• Families with high anxiety levels; 
• Babies with special needs; 
• New parents with limited experience with newborns; 
• New parents with no family nearby.

As you begin your journey as a parent, new needs might, and often times, emerge! A Postpartum Doula can adjust their services to be able o continue supporting you and your family. 

Absolutely! I don't have kids of my own and I think that's a strength of mine as a postpartum doula. I don't have my own experiences of birth or feeding to share or impose so I can remain neutral and non-judgemental with your care. 

Postpartum doulas do not provide opinions but rather provide resources and options for families to consider to make decisions, whether that might be about what kind of diapers to buy, what position to put your baby in to feed, etc. Ultimately, every family knows what's best for them. 

Hiring a Doula brings the comfort of not knowing what you need help with. Your needs will evolve as your baby grows so Doulas will ask questions at every visit so we can tailor the support to the day. One day, you may need help with doing laundry because you ran out of baby clothes or maybe you desperately need a nap. We also anticipate your needs so you don't have to constatly ask for help either. 

Many first time families feel that despite reading so many books on infant care, watching Youtube videos on postpartum recovery, or podcasts on how to manage exhaustion and stress, they were not truly ready. But who is anyway? There are no manuals on how to raise your child. If we did, I wouldn't have this job! 

Families can benefit from postpartum doula because we can be your sounding board, responders to your urgent needs and your Ted Lasso when you feel like you want to give up.  

They benefit from education on what to expect from a newborn, baby-soothing skills, feeding, bonding and attachment and coping skills. Research also suggests that having a support system 

Research by experts tells us that new parents who have support and feel secure and cared for during the postpartum time have greater lactation and nursing success, greater self-confidence and less postpartum depression. 

There is also evidence indicating that timely referrals to competent, appropriate professionals and support groups can have a significant positive outcome for the family. 

There are a lot of benefits to hiring a doula. But I also believe that you get the greatest benefits when you find the right doula for you. 

Absolutely not! I consider doulas to be "buffer" supporters to the family. Think of us like the training wheels on bicycles when you were just learning how to bike. These training wheels don't replace main wheels you need to eventually rely on but they're awesome to have when you need them to feel prepared!