Category: Postpartum Doula

What is a Postpartum Doula and Why Do They Matter?

2/26/2023

Two pairs of hands hold a newborn baby for support

A woman holds a newborn baby in her arms

A lot of people I've talked to about my recent training as a postpartum doula look at me with a mix of excitement and hesitancy. "It's great that you're a postpartum doula! ... but, what exactly is a postpartum doula?"

The lack of understanding is not lost on me. When I was talking to my husband about how I enrolled in my postpartum training and later when we were talking about my doula business, he admitted that he didn't know what a postpartum doula was until I explained it to him. Truth be told, I didn't know what they were either until I was about 9 months postpartum with my daughter and the role was first introduced to me. Given how rough the latter part of my maternity leave was, I wished that I had known about postpartum doulas sooner.

There are families from a variety of cultural backgrounds that I've read about and spoken to about postpartum help that seem shocked at the prospect of parents not having help after a baby arrived. Postpartum support is built into the fabric of these cultures. Family members, community members, and (grand)parents all help new parents in their respective ways. Their support ensures that the birthing person especially gets much needed rest, nourishment, and nurturing to replenish what was lost after giving birth.

There are many families who immigrate to countries such as Canada who find themselves blindsided at the lack of support after baby arrives. Sometimes, these new parents have family members come from their home country to support them for some time in the postpartum period. Other times, this cannot happen, such as during the COVID19 pandemic and airports were shut down. This is where additional supports, such as those from a postpartum doula, are so important.

The term 'doula' is Greek for "a woman who serves." Postpartum doulas are individuals (usually women) who help or 'serve' parents in the fourth trimester (the first 12 weeks after a baby arrives). Most postpartum doulas are trained by recognized doula trainers. This helps to ensure that support given to families is done in a professional, uniform, and non-biased way. Even though postpartum doulas are trained professionals, they are not medical professionals.

The help a postpartum doula offers is temporary while parents adjust to their new family dynamic. This can be especially appreciated when supports are limited, there are older siblings, or the parents had multiples (twins, triplets, etc). The support can be practical or emotional in nature and can include:

feeding support for the parents (breast/bottle/chest): many postpartum doulas are trained in breastfeeding support and can assist breastfeeding parents in this area. Postpartum doulas can help to build on skills or suggest other strategies to make sure the breastfeeding parent feel confident.
sleeping support for the parents (as adjusting to a baby can be quite disruptive to everyone's sleep): postpartum doulas will take over caring for the baby and any other children so that the parents can get some well-deserved sleep. This type of support can include overnight support (where the doula stays with the baby at night and only wakes the parents during feedings) or short respite by taking the baby and any other children (sometimes even fur children!) out while the parents catch up on rest.
light housekeeping tasks: this can include washing dishes, washing/folding clothes, sweeping, tidying, washing bottles, etc. and is done so that parents can focus on their new addition.
cooking and meal preparation: some postpartum doulas enjoy helping with any cooking or meal preparation. This can include making big batches of the family's favourite meals and portioning the meals out to make life easier on hectic days.
babywearing: many postpartum doulas can teach parents who don't already know how to babywear using a carrier, sling, or wrap. This skill is so useful as it can give parents more freedom and flexibility around their days.
family member adjustment: family members, such as other children, may need help adjusting to the new family dynamic. A postpartum doula can help in this area by modelling and including them in tasks that help both the parents and the new baby.
teaching through modelling: many postpartum doulas are trained by a reputable doula trainer in accordance to their affiliated organization's guidelines (DONA and CAPPA are examples). Postpartum doulas trained in this way are taught everything they need to know to support families and can model skills and best practices with the families they support. New parents may need to be shown how to change a diaper, swaddle a baby, breastfeed, bathe a baby, prepare a sitz bath, and soothe a newborn, and a postpartum doula can help with these skills and more.
providing evidence-based information and resources: postpartum doulas are also trained to give evidence-based information (backed by reputable scientific sources and not anecdotal) to the families they support. If there is information or help that is not within a postpartum doula's scope of practice, they will refer families to the proper professionals.
accompany parents to appointments (medical or otherwise): most postpartum doulas will support parents by accompanying them to appointments or classes if they aren't feeling comfortable to go alone. This can really help to put parents at ease and also help parents get all of the correct information.
nurture the family: many of the points above are examples of how postpartum doulas nurture a family. However, many postpartum doulas add their own special touch to the service they provide depending on their personal experience and expertise. Some postpartum doulas may know how to give an amazing foot rub (and maybe could teach the partner how to do it after their service ends!), while others may have training in postpartum nutrition. Each postpartum doula have unique gifts to offer a family.
listen and offer emotional support: sometimes a birth, adoption, or surrogacy experience needs to be talked about, and postpartum doulas are non-biased, neutral, and safe people to talk to about your experience.
support with postpartum healing: postpartum doulas can be additional support while a birthing person heals from giving birth. If a birthing person is on bed rest following a birth, a postpartum doula can help with various tasks until the birthing person is healed. Remember though: any medical support is beyond a postpartum doula's scope of practice (unless the doula is also trained as a nurse).

The ways a postpartum doula can help a family in the postpartum period are vast and also curated to what each family needs. The above list is by no means exhaustive, but I hope paints a picture of what all I-- and other postpartum doulas-- can do to support a family during this special time.

If you have any other questions about postpartum doulas, or are interested in meeting with me to see if my services are a match for your family, please don't hesitate to reach out!

All the best,
Krista, KKH Postpartum Doula

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Important Questions to Ask a Postpartum Doula (Before Hiring Them)

2/16/2023

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Two women having their inital consultation for a postpartum doula

Hiring a postpartum doula can be a big investment for a family, especially a family that is in need of help ASAP. It is so important to know that your choice in hiring a doula is the right one.

Postpartum doulas are individuals who help families in the fourth trimester (the first 12 weeks after giving birth or welcoming a baby into the family), during the postpartum period. Trained postpartum doulas oftentimes have evidence-based knowledge, experience, resources, and are unbiased in their approaches to support and care. Postpartum doulas are not medical professionals; they are, however, professionals trained in emotional, physical, and practical postpartum care.

Postpartum doulas can be hired in advance-- before baby comes-- or may also be considered when parents are in the thick of it and struggling with all of the additional duties that come with a new addition to the family. No matter which camp you or a loved one may be in, having a list of questions and considerations to ask a postpartum doula before committing to signing a contract is key.

Below are some questions you can ask a postpartum doula:

What experience do you have supporting families (with multiples/disabilities/complex needs etc.)? Adoptive/blended/surrogate families?
What different types of services do you offer? In person or virtual support?
When do your services begin postpartum? Can start dates be flexible (in case baby arrives earlier or later than expected)?
What services are included in your fees? (If you have a specific need in mind, ask it here!)
What is your experience in breastfeeding support?
What relevant/supplementary training do you have?
Do you have current CPR training?
How long have you been a doula?
What are some of your hobbies/interests/passions?
Why did you want to become a postpartum doula?
What are my options for when you are not available (due to illness, personal reasons, or unforeseen circumstances)? Do you work with other postpartum doulas who can help in these situations?
Do you have a refund policy?
Do you have a minimum time obligation for your services?
What are your fees? Do they vary depending on day or overnight support? Do you have any deals/packages?
Can you provide references?
Are you comfortable supporting _______? (LGTBQ+ families, specific choices around intended parenting styles, families of specific religious backgrounds, etc.)

There are so many other great questions to ask a postpartum doula around a family's specific circumstances, so don't let this list limit you. Answers to these questions can provide parents with the confidence they need to move forward with hiring the right postpartum doula for their family's needs

Other tips of note before hiring a doula:

Many postpartum doulas offer free initial consultations. Take advantage of these meetings and meet with a few postpartum doulas before making your decision.
Many postpartum doulas who have their own website may have the answers to the above questions listed there. Parents can do their research ahead of time and devote the time in the initial consultation for the questions that weren't answered on the website.
Some postpartum doulas have a social media presence. Parents can check out social media pages to see if the postpartum doula's personality, priorities, and outlooks are a good match with theirs. to take the next step and interview a postpartum doula?

I hope that these questions and tips help you (and your partner, if relevant) feel ready and confident to take that next step towards hiring a postpartum doula!

All the best,
- Krista, KKH Postpartum Doula
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What is a Postpartum Doula and Why Do They Matter?

Important Questions to Ask a Postpartum Doula (Before Hiring Them)

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