What Is A Postnatal Doula?
“I wish I had known about that....”
This is probably the first thing I hear when I tell people about what I do.
Nowadays, lots of people have heard of doulas when it comes to pregnancy and birth but many don’t realise that the support offered by a doula can also extend into the first weeks and months at home.
Parents might seek support from a Postnatal Doula in the first days and weeks of a baby’s life for a whole host of reasons. The wonderful thing about being supported by a doula is that their support comes without an agenda, it’s totally focused around you and your own individual story with no judgement just loving support and care when and where it’s needed.
So what does a postnatal doula do? What might this support look like?
A postnatal doula offers emotional support, being a listening ear and companion in your journey as you get used to your new normal. This is pretty much at the centre of what a doula does. A postnatal doula won’t try to fix you or tell you what to do but we are good at knowing where to find up to date sources of evidence based information and have a ton of links to further sources of support when it’s needed. We’ll be there alongside you as you unpick your options and adapt to the changes a new baby can bring.
Often our partners need to return to work and families live far away , having a postnatal doula can give you a little bit of time and space by being an extra pair of hands, supporting you so you can rest and recover from the birth of your baby.
A postnatal doula might watch your newborn whilst you have a nap or take a shower. We can offer practical help like preparing a delicious evening meal or tasty lunch, we might do a bit of light housework or unload the dishwasher, we can pick up a few essentials from the shops not to mention providing regular hot drinks and snacks.
If you’ve already got other children, a postnatal doula will be there to read them an extra story while you feed the baby or help getting shoes on so you can leave the house, they’ll even go with you as you gain confidence being out and about.
If you’re interested in finding out a bit more about doulas and what we do below are some great sources of information:
http://www.pinterandmartin.com/why-doulas-matter.html
http://www.pinterandmartin.com/nurturing-new-families.html
When you’re choosing a doula, finding someone who is the right fit for you is important, someone you feel comfortable with and can trust, there is a doula to suit every woman. Have a look on the doula UK website, get recommendations, speak to a few, ask questions and see what clicks for you.