FAQ
Kevin, 2006
Can you tell me more about what a postpartum doula does? What all do you do?
We come in with a wide, gentle understanding of all things baby and new parent, able to hold a space for whatever your babymoon encompasses.
And while we're there, we make the house feel more 'squared away', interspersed with conversations on how to help baby sleep longer, all about the breastfeeding lifestyle, and other relevant topics.
We basically do whatever it is you might be doing if your hands were not full with caring for your new baby or babies. Often new parents notice that as they sit feeding their baby for those many hours a day, they become very aware of cleaning and projects that they'd like to do but can't.
Some of the things we have done outside what you would immediately expect from our general job description include: walking dogs, re-potting plants, unwrapping year-old wedding presents, organizing baby's room and change area, washing new clothes, getting parents 'caught up' with things around the house, entertaining siblings, preparing birth announcements for mailing, decluttering
Please also see our Postpartum Doula Services tab.
What do you do when you come for an overnight?
Families who hire us for nights sometimes just need to catch up after a few long, sleepless nights, or a challenging birth. Others need ongoing nighttime support during the first weeks and months.
Our job description sometimes overlaps with that of night nurse or night nanny. We are happy to fulfill this role.
When we care for your baby or babies at night, we are aware of their every breath and murmur. Our clients feel they can sleep deeply knowing that a trusted and vetted caregiver is with their baby or babies.
We can assist with baby sleeping patterns, help you with nighttime breastfeeding or bottle feeding, pumping and storing milk, diaper changes, and laundry.
If you are nursing through the night, we can bring your baby or babies to you, and then we do everything else. We also teach you strategies to get the best sleep possible as a breastfeeding mom.
We keep the house quiet and peaceful, keep babies (and often pets!) fed, content and sleeping. We help you to understand babies' nighttime needs and establish loving, non-coercive routines at night so that everyone can maximize their rest.
Parents who use our nighttime help tell us that getting a good night's sleep vastly increases their ability to function, and beyond that, enjoy their babies during the day.
