Have you wondered what a postpartum doula actually does?
People sometimes ask why we charge so much and how we spend our time. In this article, I am giving you a behind the scenes look at my typical day as a postpartum doula. (I enjoy working overnights. Daytime shift work is a bit different.)
6:30 am arrive home from an overnight job supporting a family
6:45 am sleep time!
9:15 am alarm goes off. Time to get ready for the day: shower, dress, savor coffee, and make breakfast for the family.
10:00 am support homeschool activity with my teenage child. Today is archery. During this time, I field phone calls–one from a client who is concerned because her baby keeps crying and another to a lactation consultant* about a concern that a client is having.
*As your postpartum doula, I collaborate with other birth and parenting professionals as needed to ensure that you have a strong support system. I always ask for your permission before giving any information to other professionals. In this particular instance, the lactation consultant and I are discussing ways the breastfeeding parent can calm herself through the feeding process.
12:00 pm stop by the chiropractor for self-care. Interrupted sleep in other homes is tough on the body. My commitment to self-care is, in turn, a commitment to the clients I have the honor of serving.
2:00 pm facilitate “Get Ready Consult” with expecting parents. We go over the supplies they need to prepare for baby, as well as what they DON’T need. I answer questions and concerns about newborn care. Additionally, we discuss safety and specific steps they should take before baby arrives. This includes recommended classes, books, doula care options, and eventual baby proofing. I also share resources and referrals to local support groups, lactation consultants, pediatricians, and other professionals they may be interested in.
5:00 pm catch up on some reading. I’m currently researching Racial and Ethnic Disparities in Breastfeeding so that I know how to support systemic change on this important (and literally life-saving) topic.
6:00 pm fix dinner and feed the family and play a few board games with my 7-year-old.
8:00 pm get the little one settled in bed, then catch up on computer work– clients check-ins, invoices, and answering inquiry emails.
9:30 pm head to work for the night. Tonight, I am working with a new family on their first night home!
10:00 pm arrive at work to meet the new baby and chat with mom and dad about how the birth went. Next, I make mom a snack and a big insulated glass of water, then send the parents off to bed. Baby and I camp out in the guest room.
10:30 pm baby falls asleep. I catch up on the few dishes– bottles, and pump parts– in the sink and straighten the living room. Now it’s time for me to grab a quick nap until it’s time to wake the baby for their next feed. In this case, mom is utilizing triple feeding because baby lost a bit too much weight in the hospital.
12:30 am wake sleeping baby, who needs to eat at least every 3 hours, change diaper, and take baby into parents room for breastfeeding. Mom is working to get her full milk supply in while working on baby’s latch, so I offer support and ideas as she nurses, bottle feeds, and pumps. Tonight, she tries a few new positions, and the baby gets a pretty good feed in. Mom pumps while I pace-feed the baby with a bottle. I then leave the parents to sleep while I burp and re-swaddle the baby in the guest room. After holding the baby for a few minutes, I get them settled in their cradle. Then it’s back to the kitchen to wash the pump parts and bottle.
3:15 am baby wakes up HUNGRY. I take them to mom to breastfeed. While mom pumps, we chat a bit about her concerns for how to best manage the family dogs (that will be returning home tomorrow) around the baby. I pace-feed the baby 1 oz of pumped milk.
4:00 am baby is fussy and needs to be held, so we hang out on the couch for a bit. I looked up some resources that I include in the notes to the parents. Then, I wash and sterilize the pump parts and bottle again.
4:30 am baby is finally sleeping peacefully, so I take a rest too!
5:55 am the alarm wakes me, and it’s time to prepare for the end of my shift. I wake baby, unswaddle them, and change their diaper. Again, I take baby to mom for feeding. I set up the pump and a cooler with an ice pack for the milk (so that she doesn’t have to go to the fridge). Then, I move the cradle into the parent’s room, make my bed, send the clients my notes from the night. I let myself out and head home.
6:30 am arrive home again and get ready for my morning rest. Today is a slower one…just an interview and teaching a newborn care class to expectant families in the evening.
As you can see, the life of a postpartum doula is quite full! While I am working with your family, my goal is to make the night as seamless as possible. I am committed to giving you as much uninterrupted sleep as possible, offering support and information so that you feel confident with your newborn, and taking care of simple, yet impactful, baby-related duties around the home. Additionally, ABG postpartum doula rates take into account our depth of experience, extensive training, and ongoing research.
If you’re interested in securing postpartum doula care or taking a newborn care class, ABG is here for you!
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