Postpartum Doulas Can Help Moms After the Birth

You know what it's like after having a baby. You're up all night, exhausted from nursing and rocking the baby to sleep. You are still aching from labor and delivery and would love to have a friend to vent to and someone knowledgeable to ask questions about caring for yourself and your baby. Well, hiring a postpartum doula may be the answer to your woes and can come to the rescue. The doula can help with the baby while you indulge in a comforting shower, visit with your family, take a short nap and feel more confident in your role as a new mom.

What is a postpartum doula?

She is actually a mother's helper, a person who provides in-home care, usually for three to four hours daily to help new families adjust to life with their baby. You may already know about birth doulas who help the mother and family through labor and delivery, but there are also doulas who specialize in postpartum support. The postpartum doulas care for the new baby, older siblings, perform some household chores, run errands and mainly support the new mother with her needs. Many are educated to provide breastfeeding counseling and can answer questions about child care. Some doulas have experience with massage therapy and can teach new parents about baby proofing the home as well. A doula is there to provide emotional, physical and informational assistance so the mother can focus on resting and bonding with her baby.

Recognizing postpartum troubles

Postpartum doulas are also trained to watch for signs of postpartum disorders.

The postpartum blues, or sometimes called the "baby blues" is the least severe and shortest lived postpartum disorder. It's common and usually appears within days of giving birth and can last up to a couple weeks. Symptoms include crying, mood swings, sadness, irritability and mild anxiety. These feelings are considered a normal reaction to hormonal changes in the mother's body and usually go away on their own in time. Baby blues seldom leave any permanent problems for the mother and her child.

Postpartum depression is when women experience more severe symptoms that last a longer period of time. Despite being called depression, this is a specific emotional disorder that may or may not mimic true depression. Symptoms revolve around insomnia and other sleep disturbances, extreme fatigue, loss of appetite, irrational fears about the baby's health or safety, impaired memory, agitation, lack of pleasure or motivation that was once there, low self-esteem and sometimes suicidal thoughts.

The worst postpartum disorder is a form of psychosis. It's extremely serious but quite rare. Symptoms may include all of the same ones as postpartum depression plus hallucinations, delusions, great agitation and fears or intent to harm oneself or the baby.

How to plan and find doula support?

If you really plan on hiring a postpartum doula, tell your friends about it. Set up a doula fund and ask friends and family to donate money for this venture. Or they can even purchase gift certificates from certain doula services for the new mom. Many agencies work with your budget and can set up financial planning so you can spread your payments. Also check with your insurance company to see if doula services are compensated.

Doula information can be found on the Internet:

Childbirth and Postpartum Professionals of America (CAPPA)

Doula Network

Doulas of North America (DONA)

Doulas can be an important investment for you and your family

I wish doulas were popular when I gave birth to my children back in the 1970's, but the information was not within my reach. I'm sure to think about it for my daughter and daughter-in-laws for the future. Remember to not hesitate to seek help during the postpartum period. It's not a sign of weakness but of strength to get the help and nurturing needed during this overwhelming time. Some women are fortunate to have family members come into the home to help, but if not, these postpartum doulas seem to be lifesavers.

Sources:

Postpartum Disorders

Doula information from websites above

More from this writer:

Ways Fathers-to-be Can Support Pregnant Women

The Importance of Vitamin D During Pregnancy

Setting Up a Birth Plan During Pregnancy