When should I book postpartum care?
Postpartum doula care can be booked before your baby is even born! In fact, we recommend securing services in advance to ensure maximum availability when you need it most. Just fill out the contact form, and Nina will be in touch to send information about post care services and set up a complimentary consultation.
My baby is already here.. and I'm exhausted. Can I still book postpartum care?
Certainly! While booking in advance of your baby's arrival guarantees more availability, we do our best to be flexible and accomodate later requests. We definitely understand that it can be hard to anticipate what your needs will be until after your baby is here. Often times, parents have some help from family and friends for the first week or so, and then realize that they still need help afterwards. We're here for you, let's get started.
Are postpartum doulas only for first time parents?
Postpartum doula care is for any parents of a new baby, whether or not it is their first child.
First time parents love having the real time education and guidance of a baby expert, i.e. breastfeeding/feeding support, soothing techniques, how to burp the baby, and helping with baby's first bath. Even if you have taken breastfeeding/baby care classes and read the books, you might still want support when you are trying out your newly acquired skills with a real live baby!
Families who already have children love doula care too! Best practices for baby care change through the years and doulas know the most current recommendations for infant and mother care. But even more than guidance and education, families love that the doula can help with the other children so they can focus on resting and bonding with their newborn. The doula helps to maintain the family routines, mealtimes, and gives extra attention to the other children allowing the parents extra space to snuggle and soak in the fresh baby bliss!
And it can't be stated enough how helpful it is to have extra help so the parents can nap/shower/eat. Whether it is your first baby or not, it is valuable to have assistance with household chores and baby care so you can slow down and get the care you need too.
First time parents love having the real time education and guidance of a baby expert, i.e. breastfeeding/feeding support, soothing techniques, how to burp the baby, and helping with baby's first bath. Even if you have taken breastfeeding/baby care classes and read the books, you might still want support when you are trying out your newly acquired skills with a real live baby!
Families who already have children love doula care too! Best practices for baby care change through the years and doulas know the most current recommendations for infant and mother care. But even more than guidance and education, families love that the doula can help with the other children so they can focus on resting and bonding with their newborn. The doula helps to maintain the family routines, mealtimes, and gives extra attention to the other children allowing the parents extra space to snuggle and soak in the fresh baby bliss!
And it can't be stated enough how helpful it is to have extra help so the parents can nap/shower/eat. Whether it is your first baby or not, it is valuable to have assistance with household chores and baby care so you can slow down and get the care you need too.
What do you mean by meal prep as part of services?
If there is one thing Nina loves as much as babies.. it is probably food and feeding people :) She is a firm believer in the power of delicious, nutritious foods to nurture the family and provide comfort and care to body and soul. She can help with picking up groceries, meal/menu planning, food preparation, and serving you a yummy meal and then holding your baby so you can actually eat said meal! She is well versed in nutrition, and knows how to make foods for a variety of dietary preferences (whole foods, vegan/vegetarian, allergy specific, etc).
What will be best for me, day shifts or night shifts, or a combination?
Nina can help you decide which care plan will work best for you, but definitely consider a combination of day/night shifts for the first couple weeks at least. We always recommend a night shift for the first night at home with your baby. Night shifts are extremely helpful for the mother recovering from a cesarean birth or recovering from a long or difficult birth, to assist the mother in not having to get out of bed as much throughout the night. Night shifts may also be ideal for the mother who is exhausted but finds it challenging to nap in the daytime.
How long can we utilize postpartum doula care?
The short answer is.. as long as you want! Families love our support and find it just as useful throughout the different ages and stages of babyhood/childhood. Parents say that even having a weekly or monthly shift can be a welcome relief and reset for their homelife.