What is a Postpartum Doula?

While postpartum doulas are much more of a household name than in years past, not everyone understands what they do. What is a postpartum doula? Well, in the simplest terms, they are professionals who support a family after birth.

However, to really understand what they do, it can be helpful to understand their training. It can also be helpful to understand what their role is like in a client’s home. When you understand both, it is easier to answer what is a postpartum doula.

The International Doula Institute defines a postpartum doula as, “a professional support person trained in the needs of the family in the days, weeks and months after birth or the addition of a new baby.”

The keywords being trained in the needs of the family. Every family has unique needs. By having broad and in-depth training, postpartum doulas can anticipate the needs of their clients.

IDI further elaborates on the role of a professional doula, stating, “The doula offers non-judgmental support, guidance, evidence-based education and practical hands-on support immediately after birth through the first year.”

Much like a birth doula, a postpartum doula has knowledge of the unique needs of growing families.

What is The Difference Between A Postpartum Doula and a Baby ‘Nurse’ or Nanny?

All three professionals provide in-home support for families with children. So, what is the difference between the three? Well, they have different trainings and different areas of focus.

A postpartum doula is trained in five core competencies to ensure they provide adequate postpartum support. These five are:

Caring for and understanding the needs of a postpartum birthing person and their partner
Caring for and understanding the needs of a newborn and young infant
Caring for and understanding the needs of siblings
Managing the needs of a home
Caring for the family unit using emotional intelligence

While there is crossover between that training and the training of a nanny and a baby ‘nurse (now referred to as newborn care specialists), the priorities tend to be different.

A postpartum doula has unique understanding and training in postpartum healing and lactation. The care they provide for a newborn is done through the lens of encouraging healing and bonding. Their focus is on what promotes healing and bonding and can improve overall maternal infant health within each family.

A nanny’s training can vary, but it is focused on healthy child development. They are excellent at providing childcare and helping children learn and grow. Some nannies are experienced with the postpartum period, however, not all are. Their primary focus is on childcare.

A newborn care specialist has training related to caring for newborns and young infants. While their training may include some postpartum health and adjustment for parents, their primary focus is on the baby.

A postpartum doula’s focus is primarily first on the birthing parent, then the baby and family unit. Their role is to assist with whatever promotes healing, bonding, and healthy adjustment (within their scope of practice of course).

A postpartum doula is not a housekeeper. However, they know that assistance with a meal and a load of laundry allows a parent to rest and bond. They are not a baby ‘nurse’ at night, only focused on the baby sleeping. However, they understand that caring for baby between feeds allows important and needed rest for parents. They can assist with helping parents get rest while not negatively impacting lactation for clients who are breastfeeding.

What Does a Postpartum Doula Visit Look Like?

Every family has unique needs. For this reason, each visit can look very different. However, there are some basics that are common household to household.

An example of a postpartum visit for first time parents during the day might look like:

Arriving at the scheduled time and assessing how the family is doing.
Inquiring about any visits with pediatricians, midwives, lactation consultants, etc., to find out if there’s anything they can do to assist parents with any care plans or concerns.
Finding out when the last time the birthing person ate or had a drink. Preparing or ensuring they have a nourishing snack or meal.
Modeling newborn soothing techniques and sleep support to the family while they eat. Then holding baby while the parent showers.
Once baby is sleeping, washing any pump parts, bottles if bottle feeding, and perhaps folding a load of baby clothes.
When the parent wakes from a nap and baby is ready to eat, answer any feeding questions and concerns.
Set up a “nest” area in the living room where a parent is feeding and one next to the parent’s bed side for nighttime. Things like diapers, wipes, extra outfit, blanket, water, snack for parents, etc., so they do not need to get up to grab items while caring for baby.
Answer any questions about baby, sleep, healing, etc. Ask if you can support them in any area before your shift is up such as setting up breast pump or packing a diaper bag for her first doctor’s visit.

An example of a nighttime visit for first time parents who are breastfeeding in the first two weeks of life might look like:

Arriving and checking in with how everyone’s day went.
Ask if they have any high priority needs such as figuring out a breast pump, navigating feeds, questions about bathing, soothing, etc.
Encourage the parents to head to bed as soon as possible after you arrive to maximize rest. Once the breastfeeding session is over, take baby to burp, change diaper, and soothe.
While parents are resting, keeping baby in another room. Having things dim and quiet to help baby learn day from night is important.
If baby wakes shortly after their last feed, assessing if baby is hungry or seeking comfort. If the latter, using a variety of infant soothing techniques.
Once baby is hungry, taking baby to parents room to breastfeed. Bring water, find out if they need a snack or anything too.
After the feeds, taking baby back for diaper change, burping, and soothing back to a restful state. Encourage the parents to go right back to sleep.
In between feeds, when baby is asleep, folding a load of laundry or washing pump parts is very helpful. Obviously no loud household help at night.
Before your shift begins, be sure to plan how transfer of care will go when your shift is over. Will one of the parents set an alarm and come to you? Would they like you to bring baby to them?
Before leaving, check if they need any assistance before the end of your shift.

Every shift will be unique, of course. Some nights, a fussy baby may need lots of soothing. Other nights, baby will sleep quite well and you can focus on other areas of support. In families with older siblings, it might look like reading a book with them or taking them outside for a walk. Being able to assess their needs is important. Sometimes, families are not sure of what they can ask for. Be sure to give them ideas and examples of how they can help.

So, what is a postpartum doula? A well-trained professional who is like an extra set of hands to help new families adjust. Not already a postpartum doula? Register now and start your training!

Author: Aliza Juliette Bancoff

Aliza Juliette Bancoff is a well-known doula and doula trainer who has been providing doula services to families for over a decade. She is the founder of Main Line Doulas, a doula group providing doula support in the great Philadelphia area for the last decade, the International Doula Institute, which provides online doula training and lactation training and certification programs and the International Breastfeeding Institute which provides lactation training and certification. She is the co-founder of United Birth, a company devoted to increasing access to doulas across the country to make the perinatal time safer both physically and emotionally. “Every birthing person deserves access to quality doula support. And we are working to make that a reality across the country. The work we are doing to get doulas to every birthing person will decrease the black infant and maternal mortality rate significantly by 2030.” Says Bancoff. Aliza is known for her compassionate and empowering approach to doula work, and she has been featured in numerous media outlets, including United Nations Maternal Health Report, Parent Magazine, CafeMom, theBump and many more. Aliza's journey into doula work began when she gave birth to her first child and felt a strong calling...