So you are bringing your baby home, now what?
Whether this is your first rodeo or you are a seasoned parent, bringing home baby is going to change, well, everything! Just as a birth doula assists through the birth process, a postpartum doula assists the family through the important days and weeks after the baby’s arrival. By listening to new parents and offering hands-on assistance, doulas help families have superior outcomes in postpartum adjustment.
Family and friends love to give all kinds of unsolicited advice. Doulas are trained to know what parents and babies need and can often facilitate communication with visitors. Through sharing evidence-based information, doulas can help new parents develop and implement their own parenting styles. Sometimes just organizing household duties can help visitors feel useful and parents taken care of.
Doulas are not medical professionals but are experienced with birth recovery and newborn behavior. They can assist with incision care, sitz baths, umbilical cord care, circumcision care, and help decipher what’s “normal” or what needs more attention. For greater breastfeeding success, doulas can advise on positioning and helping the baby latch properly. Early guidance can make a big difference in avoiding unnecessary pain, mastitis, and other complications.
Traditionally, the United States lags behind other countries in medical, emotional, and educational support for new families. Doulas help fill the void. Every doula is different with their own areas of expertise- some specialize in breastfeeding support, others in baby massage, others in preparing amazing meals. Schedule a meeting with a doula before the baby’s arrival to discuss your most significant needs. Doulas often work together and can help match you with the perfect support team.
