What does a postpartum
doula do?
A postpartum
doula…
Physical Comfort and Nurturing
the New Mother
- Helps mother to care for her
postpartum body
- Provides breastfeeding support
- Allows her to rest, shower and
nurture herself
- Helps mom eat properly and drink
plenty of fluids
Emotional Support for the New
Family
- Listens and helps process the
birth story
- Validates the normal adjustment
process
- Supports mother through emotional
vulnerability
- Supports father through his
transition to his new role
- Provides community resources
as needed
Infant Care
- Demonstrates infant care techniques
such as diapering, bathing, and swaddling
- Infant soothing and coping techniques
for parents
- Helps parents to develop their
own styles of nurturing and bonding with baby
- Provides infant care so parents
can get some rest
Household Assistance
- Prepares light meals and snacks
for the new mother and family
- Organizes nursery, changing,
and feeding stations
- Doing and folding laundry
- Changing sheets for mother’s
and babies bed
- Runs errands and does food shopping
- Performs light household duties
such as dishes
A postpartum
doula does not…
- Evaluate mother's or baby's
medical condition
- Take over the care of baby
- Insist new parents care for
their baby in a particular style
- Do heavy housecleaning
