Now Offering Virtual Postpartum Support!
What Does a Postpartum Doula Do?
The postpartum doula offers evidence-based information and gives emotional, physical, and educational support only. The doula cares for the parents and the family in their home in the first few weeks following the birth. The postpartum doula does not perform clinical or medical tasks.
What Can Be Done Virtually?
• Get informed about normal newborn behavior
• Be educated about infant care
• Infant feeding teachings and support
• Screen for perinatal mental health disorders
• Check in with postpartum physical changes
• Assess: Risk factors, Sleep behaviors, Bonding & Attachment issues
• Help family adjust to baby
• Tips on food preparation, shopping, baby laundry
• Receive referrals > takes a village to raise a child
What is the Issue?
• Getting out of hospital quickly, means less exposure to COVID-19 (which is good, but…)
– Less education
– Less support
– Health care workers are overworked and tired
• No help in their home postpartum
• No family visiting
• Where to go if they need help
• Shopping, Food prep, etc.
What to Expect with Week by Week Support
Week One:
• Recovery from pregnancy and childbirth
• Perineal recovery
• Recovery from surgery
• Breastfeeding > engorgement
• Sleepy child
• Infant care skills
• Jaundice
Week Two:
• Sleep deprivation
• Physical recovery
• Older sibling adjustment
• First bath
• Self-care
• Food
• Baby carrier
• Side-lying breastfeeding
Week Three:
• Sleep deprivation
• Breastfeeding
• Bottle feeding
• Self-care
• Screen PMH disorders (perinatal mental health disorders)
• Birth story
Week Four:
• Sleep deprivation
• Screen PMH disorders (perinatal mental health disorders)
• ‘Perfect Parent’ list
• Breastfeeding in public
Week Five:
• Sleep deprivation
• Screen PMH disorders (perinatal mental health disorders)
• Sleep in baby
• Creating a village
Week Six:
• Sleep deprivation
• Screen PMH disorders (perinatal mental health disorders)
• Sleep in baby
• Working out
• Intimacy