What does a Postpartum Doula do?

What is Postpartum?

Postpartum is a gloriously complex time when a mother’s body is rearranging itself and hormones are sinking to pre pregnancy state. Many cultures view this period as the 40 days or maybe 6 weeks after birth. The Germans call it the Wochenbett. It might be referred to as the 4th trimester in English. This time is considered to be incredibly important on the next 4 years of your life as a parent.

It’s a physically exhausting time - your body is healing from birth (even without tears etc during the birth, the placenta leaving the womb leaves a dinner plate sized wound behind). You’ll be likely to get considerably less sleep than you need (babies are likely to wake every 2-3 hours to feed and until around 6 weeks they have little concept of day or night).

But it’s also an emotionally exhausting time - just after birth your hormones were the highest level they have ever been and the crash that happens over the next days, weeks and months (it’s said that it takes 2-3 months for the oestrogen & progesterone levels to achieve pre-pregnancy state) can leave you feeling foggy or even depressed.

It’s is quite clear that women who are supported and cared for, regularly, for a number of hours a day have a lower risk of postpartum depression than those doing it alone.

A postpartum doula is an extra pair of experienced, calming hands during this postnatal time. They have experts on breastfeeding, sleeping, osteopathy etc on speed dial and can encourage you to lean back and be taken care of.

My Postpartum support and what it looks like:

My main focus is mama and her mental wellbeing.

If she needs to sit and chat, i'll rub her feet and listen.

If she's been forgetting to eat, i'll cook for her.

If she's struggling with the constant body contact her baby wants, i'11 pop her little one in the carrier and take them for a walk leaving mama to rest.

If her older children are going stir crazy at home, I’ll take them to the playground or play a game in another room so Mama can feed or rest in peace.

If she's stressing about the in-laws coming over whilst her house is untidy, i'11 tidy up and pop on a load of laundry.

It really does take a village to raise a child, but that village starts by raising a Mama.

Postpartum support is now available via your public health insurance. More info on this post here.

Please get the support you need.

You & your baby deserve it.

With love,

Laura xx