I am a postpartum doula, trained by DONA International, the "largest, oldest, and most respected doula association in the world," in July of 2011. Not everyone has ever heard of a postpartum doula, so not everyone is familiar with the valuable support a doula has to offer new parents. A postpartum doula provides practical and emotional support to the mother and her family for up to 12 weeks postpa
rtum, or longer depending on the family’s needs. Support is crucial for the healthy physical, mental, and emotional adjustments required in the days and weeks after a new baby arrives. Having a new baby in the house has a profound effect on the lives of new parents, and can be overwhelming at times. A postpartum doula is an ideal support during this adjustment period, helping to nurture, encourage, and empower families. In our culture, it isn’t always easy for new parents to find all of the support they need due to distance or busy lifestyles of their family members. A postpartum doula is someone who can provide the support new parents wouldn’t otherwise have access to. A postpartum doula is a woman caregiver who offers intuitive, nurturing support, fact-based information, and referrals to local resources for new parents. Her support is non-intrusive, and her job is to help new families transition with ease into their new roles by teaching them about their very own instincts to meet their children’s needs. When parents are comfortable with their own ability to meet their children’s needs, it helps to make a much smoother transition into their new roles as parents. She nurtures moms by caring for them, listening, and giving them time to rest. For example, she provides support, information, and resources for breast- and bottle-feeding, and bathing and caring for the baby/babies. She also helps with light housekeeping, baby laundry, and meal preparation. She also supports and cares for new fathers by acquainting them with their new baby, helping him ease into his new role as a parent, offering a listening ear, and teaching him the importance of, and his ability to nurture the mother. The number one goal of the doula is to serve the new family in a way that will prepare them to succeed, with quiet reassurance to everyone in the family. There’s nothing more valuable than the serenity felt when a parent is given the support they need to feel confident in their abilities to care for their children.
