The transition to parenthood does not always come easily. Adjusting to a new baby can be a struggle, especially if you already have children. The mental load can be staggeringly heavy. Without sufficient support, postpartum depression and postpartum anxiety have the perfect environment to flourish. I know, I’ve fought postpartum depression myself and I’ve come out the other side.
But you don’t have to feel like you’re juggling 20 different balls in the air while also trying to heal! You don’t have to carry such a heavy mental load alone. You can build your confidence and say goodbye to all that parent guilt. A postpartum doula provides the reliable and judgment-free support you need and meets you where you are. A postpartum doula helps to make postpartum easier.
Support to help you lighten the mental load so you can be more present in your day. Each day shift is based on your family’s unique needs from day to day, and may include (but is not limited to):
• Assistance with baby care (feed, diaper, play, hold, etc).
• Physical relief from baby care while you heal, rest, shower, or nourish your own body and soul.
• Emotional support – unload if you need it. I can take it.
• Sourcing and providing of evidence-based information.
• Educational support – baby/postpartum what to expect.
• Infant feeding support & education.
• Babywearing support & education.
• Baby sleep support & education.
• Preparation of snacks or light meals & help with meal planning and prepping
• Light housekeeping (dishes, laundry, tidying up in high use areas)
• Tend to other children while you rest with baby <br>
• Company for errands or appointments – let me help you get out of the house for those groceries! (I can not transport clients)
• Community resource connections & referrals
Support that will help your family get the rest they need so everyone is better able to cope with all of the changes a new baby brings! Each overnight shift is based on your family’s unique needs from night to night. One example of how a night may go:
• Discuss how your day went and answer questions that you may have.
• Provide any requested resources.
•Support with baby while you spend some quality time with your older kid, partner, or yourself.
• If nursing, you might give your baby one more feed before heading to bed.
• I will burp, change, and soothe your baby until they fall asleep.
• Until midnight, while baby sleeps, I will do light (quiet) housework, meal prep, or find resources that you may need. Then, I will rest until baby wakes while remaining prepared to attend to baby.
• When baby wakes to eat, I will either feed baby a bottle or bring baby to nurse, depending on your preferences. Repeat as many times as necessary.
• Near the end of the shift, I might prepare a small breakfast/coffee/etc for the family if desired.
• Debrief the night (either in person or via text later that day) and leave you to either sleep longer or enjoy your breakfast/coffee.
Ready to book your consult with this West Kootenay Postpartum Doula?
Please fill out this form, and expect a reply within the 1-2 days (be sure to check your spam folder!). I look forward to seeing how I can help you have a more positive birth and postpartum experience.
Currently, Nurtured Postpartum is offering virtual consults (either video or phone). All consults are free!