what does a postpartum doula really do?

wondering what a postpartum doula is all about? 

This doula explains it perfectly with a little humour too!

10. Gatekeeper: We can gently inform well-intentioned hyper family members to back off your baby and that no new mother wants your 3 year old sticking his fingers in her newborn’s nose.

9. Home Manager: Laundry will be the last thing on your mind, but the most important thing to do after your newborn projectile poops on your favorite yoga pants. And if all you can find to eat is a bag of pretzels from the back of the cabinet, it’s time for the home manager to go grocery shopping.

8. Partner Liaison: In case you need help encouraging (ordering) your partner to take a nap/go out for a beer/leave you alone/get your mother-in-law off your back.

7. Nonjudgmental Therapist: You will want to analyze every detail about your birth, but your partner can only listen to so much. I love talking about placentas, really.

6. Your (Perfect) Mother: You will probably need someone to gently remind you to take a shower because you have spit up caked in your hair. But not someone to tell you how much easier breastfeeding was decades ago.

5. Your Second Brain: Sleep deprivation can sometimes lead to you doubting your own intuition. It helps to have someone there to reassure you that you are changing the diaper correctly and that it’s ok to set your baby down for a moment so you don’t pee your pants.

4. Secret Informant: Most 3 month olds do not sleep through the night, and many 9 month olds don’t either. I will call bulls**t on all those perfect stories of motherhood that your friends share.

3. Breastfeeding Troubleshooter: Dangle feeding? Hand expression? Lymphatic drainage? Yes, I can help you with that.

2. Personal Assistant: You deserve to be taken care of as you learn to take care of your new little one. I will help turn a 45 minute ordeal of organizing things to take to the first pediatrician’s appointment into a 15 minute checklist.

1. Zen Master: Can’t handle a screaming newborn? I am the master of screaming newborns. I promise to help you and your family chiiiiillllll.