Preparing for baby involves many considerations and many questions. In this blog, we are addressing some of our Frequently Asked Questions about in-home postpartum care. While these answers are unique to Austin Baby Guru (located in Austin, Texas), some of these ideas will be helpful to explore with other doulas in your local communities.

When should I/we book in-home postpartum care?

As early as possible! Our repeat clients call us as soon as they know that they are pregnant. Seriously, y’all, they pee on a stick, tell their partner (and maybe a parent), and then text me! Lol! 

The earlier you book a postpartum doula, the more options and choices you will have– regarding scheduling, doula fit, and additional services doulas may offer, such as birth + postpartum care or postpartum care + meal prepping or postpartum care + baby care classes (which we have at ABG!). It also means that after singing a contract, you will have a point person to reach out to when questions or thoughts arise during your pregnancy and the preparation for baby. 

How much care should I/we book?

I tell my clients to book as much as their budget allows for week one postpartum and at least half that amount for weeks two and three. You don’t know ahead of time what your birth is going to be like, what your recovery will be, or who your baby is, so you may want to adjust and add more care as things progress. 

ABG currently requires a minimum of three weeks of care for our clients. This is because the first 3-4 weeks are typically the most transitional, and it takes about this long to feel like your feet are (relatively) solidly under you. Furthermore, our goal is to leave you feeling confident and ready to handle whatever comes up.

We can discuss your expected needs, questions, curiosities, and desires for care on a consultation. You can request one here!

Should I/we book daytime or overnights? 

This answer will be unique to each family and your needs, which we can discuss on a consultation. Sometimes families want a combo of both, which can create a balance of protecting sleep and an extra set of hands during the day. Some folks like to focus on overnights but add in a few day shifts during which we can offer education and talk through sticking points in the day.

Will you teach the baby to sleep? 

In short, no. Sleep training, if needed/desired, is not recommended until 4-6 months, and that is usually after postpartum doula support ends. That said, we can do a lot to support baby’s sleep. We also help you learn how to set the stage for sleep and support baby’s natural patterns and routines. Postpartum doulas also typically have some quality sleep consultants to refer to as needed, so we will be happy to help you get the ball rolling on additional support. Find our blog about sleep habits here.

Will the postpartum doula take over care of baby?

While we will do some care for the parent(s), we will also be focused on supporting the whole family and their adjustment to having a new baby in the home. This means that we will teach skills, process, problem-solve, and, yes, sometimes do infant care tasks like feeding or diapering. Additionally, we offer household support to keep things in flow through the transition; during daytime care, this includes light cleaning and baby-related laundry and dishes. Read our whole article on this topic here.

Can postpartum care be offered virtually?

While ABG does specialize in in-home postpartum support– either overnights or daytime, so much of what we do as a postpartum doula can be done virtually. Of course this means that we’re not physically in your home holding their baby or giving them bottle; however, parents can still get the knowledge and support of a postpartum doula through phone calls, text, and zoom consultations. This can be a choice made due to budget, wanting to take a more hands-on approach, or concern about having extra people in the home.

ABG is Here for You

Your parenting journey matters deeply to us at Austin Baby Guru! We are here to offer support, ideas, and referrals. We invite you to reach out if you need help preparing for baby. Additionally check out our FAQs page here for more questions and answers. Finally, our guide to finding the best postpartum doula for your family is here! 

*Photo Credit: Daniel Thomas on Unsplash.