The Role of a Postpartum Doula...

Physical comfort and nurturing to the new mother

• Help mother to care for her postpartum body
• Support with breastfeeding
• Allow her to rest, shower and nurture herself
• Help mom eat properly and drink plenty of fluids

Emotional support for the new family

• Listen and help process the birth story
• Validate the normal adjustment process
• Support mother through emotional vulnerability
• Support father through his transition to his new role
• Provide community resources as needed

Infant care

• Demonstrate infant care techniques such as diapering, bathing, and swaddling
• Infant soothing and coping techniques for parents
• Help parents to develop their own styles of nurturing and bonding with baby
• Providing infant care so parents can get some rest

Household assistance

• Prepare light meals and snacks for the new mother and family
• Nursery, changing and feeding stations organization
• Laundry
• Change sheets for mother’s and babies bed
• Run errands and food shopping
• Light household duties such as dishes

What a Postpartum Doula does NOT do...

• Evaluate mother's or baby's medical condition
• Take over the care of baby
• Insist new parents care for their baby in a particular style
• Do heavy housecleaning