What to expect when your Postpartum Doula arrives

So you’ve hired a postpartum doula or maybe someone gifted you with their services.
​What can you expect when they arrive?
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Well, a postpartum visit for us is always varied, depending where the family is in their postpartum journey.  Arriving to a new family home is an exciting time for us!
First, we normally check in with the mom to see what her immediate needs are.
​She is the priority you know! 

" Has she eaten recently?"
"Does she have a water or tea next to her to replemish fluids?"
​"Has she slept or showered?" 
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Once we know the mom is comfortable, we can move on to feeding support, bathing tips or discussion about infant development. Generally, the first few visits with a new family we will focus primarily on the mom and baby - getting to know them, understanding what the priorities and what the concerns are. We may talk about the birth story or how the physical and mental changes of pregnancy and birthing has shaped us and changed the way we think. We may discuss other support they are receiving from their partner, family and friends and offer ideas or tips to help maximize the support they have. If support is minimal, maybe we can work on a plan to manage this life shift, so it’s not so overwhelming.

Going into a home, we will usually do a quick scan to see if there are any immediate household tasks that need to be done, (don’t worry, we’re not judging! We are looking to see what might need attention and how we can help!)  If we get a few minutes, we can tend to these. This also might be one of the ways we can help you to utilize the support you have – by helping you make a list of things you need done! The pile of laundry that needs washing or maybe the dishwasher needs to be emptied and filled again. Of course there is also food. Prepping wholesome meals for the new family is a client favorite.  Perhaps we’ll slice and dice some veggies and fruit for easy snacking, or throw a meal in the crock pot so when dinner arrives it’s as easy as opening the lid and serving. Maybe it’s making a batch of muffins or cookies to have on hand to get through those midnight feedings, or filling water bottles to stash around the house, so when mom has a moment of thirst she isn’t scrambling around to find a drink.

We love helping and tending to siblings and pets as well. Every visit is different and unique.
We follow our families lead and hope at the end of our time together we’re leaving our clients armed with the tools and resources to feel confident and capable no matter what the future brings.  
A postpartum doula is there to support the decisions of the family, never to push an agenda.
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So when we visit, you are our guide.
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When we leave a home after a visit, we try to check in again to see if the mom needs or wants any resources specifically sent to her or brought next time we visit. We love providing evidence based research to new parents to help answer questions and eliminate the stress of wading into the never ending opinions and websites on Google.
So there you have it!

What did you need more of in your postpartum weeks? What did you love having support on?
​Tell us your stories! 

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