What does a postnatal doula do?

In the early days and weeks of parenthood when every day is a school day, you might find yours and your baby’s essential practical and medical needs being met, but what about everything else? 

What about yours and your partners’ emotional recovery from the wild ride of birth? Who’s making sure you’re well nourished? Who’s helping you with the domestics? Who's taking care of your baby so you can catch up on some sleep? Who is sitting with you between midwife visits, helping you with feeding confidence, being a non-judgemental source of evidence-based support?

Maybe it's a postnatal doula.

Postnatal doulas offer professional, compassionate and evidence-based care. We do not give medical advice, undertake examinations or perform any other clinical tasks. We take time to get to know you and your family, and provide support that’s totally tailored to you as you navigate the ride that is postpartum.

What does postnatal doula support look like?

Think of your doula as your extra pair of experienced, caring hands who shows up without judgement and with the specific intention of tending to your entire family during the perinatal period.

My continuum-style service means we will have had around three antenatal visits to build our relationship into one of real trust and knowledge, so I am able to offer the most intuitive and aligned care for you and your family. 

Practical support

During a visit, I might arrive with a nourishing meal – nutritious, warm, easy on the digestive system and perfect for recovery, perhaps some homemade bread and soup, a lentil dal, or an easy pasta bake that can be frozen for when you need it. While you focus on feeding and bonding with your baby, I might be quietly taking care of the things that can end up feeling overwhelming: changing bed sheets, folding a load of washing, tidying the kitchen, or playing with other children.

Equally, I might be using some of our early sessions to take care of your baby so you can sleep, honouring your need for rest as the most vital part of physical and emotional recovery. 

Emotional and informational support

Beyond the practical tasks, a postnatal doula will provide a safe space for you to process your birth experience, discuss any feeding challenges, and simply talk through the myriad of emotions that accompany new parenthood. We’re trained to listen without judgment, offer evidence-based information when needed, and remind you that your instincts are valid and important. We aren't family, so there are no emotional crosshairs to navigate.

I am trained with a trauma-informed, non-biased and inclusive approach to care, which means holding space and support through any tough things that may come up and acknowledging any past experiences or current additional challenges you are navigating. 

A postnatal doula will also help connect you with other services and support networks, whether that's a lactation consultant for feeding troubles, mental health support, infant sleep support, or local parent groups. We act as a bridge between your family and the wider support systems available in your community. Some of us offer these types of additional services ourselves.