The question might better be posed: What
doesn’t a postpartum doula do?
And what one doula does for one mom may differ from what they do for another. At the most basic level, postpartum doulas can provide support and information about
infant feeding practices — like
breastfeeding — as well as tips and tricks for calming your newborn and dealing with all those new parenting responsibilities.
Natalie Warner Gibbs, mom of three, shares: “I had a doula make me capsules of my placenta, which she had picked up at the hospital and hand-delivered back to my house during recovery. The doula also arrived at my house with a print of my placenta and a cord keepsake.” (A placenta print is an imprint of your placenta on a piece of paper.)
Placenta encapsulation is just one of many services a postpartum doula might provide. “I couldn’t get my pills fast enough,” says Warner Gibbs. “I knew they would help regulate my hormones and jitters.” (The science is inconclusive, but anecdotally, many people find such pills helpful.)
A postpartum doula can also help with your physical or emotional
recovery during the fourth trimester. If you needed extra help in these areas, your doula is also a great resource for finding the right places to get what you need.
Other areas of support include:
- doing light housework (tidying, vacuuming, etc.)
- making meals
- providing evidence-based information on all things newborn/postpartum
- promoting self-care
- advocating for the mother
- helping siblings adjust
- referring to additional support in all topics baby/mom
Postpartum doulas don’t do things like offer medical advice, provide medical care, or speak for the mother or family on any medical matters. Instead, the doula provides the information, resources, and support. If they can’t help you, they can help you find someone who can.*