Photo © Alice Garik
Whether you're pregnant, adopting or building your family via surrogacy; having your first child, your second or more; expecting a singleton or multiples; partnered or single; nursing or not, postpartum doula support can help make the arrival of your new baby (or babies) easier and give you confidence.
If you’re experiencing pain or difficulty with nursing, have questions about pumping and/or bottle feeding, or just need information, consider making an appointment for a lactation counseling session. Check out my Lactation Essentials Guide that focuses on the first couple weeks postpartum.
What is a postpartum doula? As a postpartum doula, I provide non-medical physical and emotional support, evidence-based information about newborns and postpartum parents, and household assistance after the birth of your baby. I will: help you with self-care recovery measures; offer support and information about infant feeding (nursing and/or bottle) and pumping; give information and support on postpartum self-care and baby care; prepare meals and offer household assistance, including grocery shopping and light household chores. I am also available to make a postpartum hospital visit if requested. Want to know more about how postpartum doulas benefit new parents and how I work with families? Check out this essay I wrote. Get in touch and let's talk about how I can support your growing family!
What is a Certified Lactation Counselor? As a Certified Lactation Counselor (CLC), I received training in lactation support including assessing the latching and feeding process, providing corrective interventions, counseling parents, understanding and applying knowledge of milk production, and other commonly encountered situations. I passed a two-part exam and regularly pursue continuing education credits, building my knowledge of supporting nursing parents. As a CLC, I work to help parents meet their goals, whether exclusive nursing, pumping or a combination. In more complicated cases, I will make a referral to an Internationally Board Certified Lactation Consultant (IBCLC), who has training and expertise above and beyond a CLC.
How is a postpartum doula different from a baby “nurse”? My role as a postpartum doula is to help parents through the postpartum period and to nurture the family as a whole. Unlike a baby “nurse” (the large majority of whom are not licensed nurses), my focus is not solely on the baby and I don’t take over care of the baby, which may leave some parents feeling dependent and a bit out of the loop. I provide evidence-based information about newborn care and feeding and postpartum recovery; support parents as they’re learning to feed, soothe and care for their baby; and work on fostering independence for the entire family.
How can you plan ahead for a happier and healthier postpartum period? As expectant parents, there are so many unknowns and elements that are out of our control. So I am not suggesting that you can plan how your postpartum period will go any more than one can plan labor and birth. But you can think ahead about creating a team and having structures and resources in place no matter how things go. Read my blog post on this topic.
Do I have a particular parenting philosophy? In brief, no! As a postpartum doula and lactation counselor, I meet my clients where they are and help them find their own style as they learn about their baby (or babies) and themselves as parents. I work hard to help my clients meet their own goals and I support the parents I work with without judgement. My practice is inclusive and I make this promise to my clients: I am here to support you as a family regardless of your sexuality or gender identity; whether you're partnered or single; giving birth, adopting or growing your family via surrogacy. I love working with a diverse array of families. Let’s talk!
Perinatal Racial Equity Accountability Statement The United States is in the midst of a health crisis that has been present long before the arrival of COVID-19. We are the only industrialized nation with a consistently rising perinatal (pregnancy, birth and postpartum) mortality rate. This crisis disproportionately affects Black and Indigenous families. Quite simply, racism and lack of access to healthcare are killing birthing people and babies. As a white birth worker, I stand in solidarity with people and organizations in affected communities who are finding solutions, working hard to improve outcomes and addressing inequities in perinatal and infant health. In order to uplift and amplify their solutions and voices, I donate 10% of my fees to the organizations listed below, as well as to BIPOC birth workers and midwifery students. I hope you will take time to learn more about the issue here, share this information with family and friends, explore the websites listed below and consider taking their suggested actions, and perhaps join me in making a donation as well.
National Association to Advance Black Birth
National Birth Equity Collaborative