At Austin & Asheville Baby Guru, we take pride in working with families of all types, and this very much includes single parents. This blog speaks directly to some of the unique needs single parents may face in the newborn days, as well as ways that postpartum doulas (that’s us!) can support this transition into parenthood. 

Identifying Your Village

Preparing for life with a newborn is worthwhile work for all families, and this is especially true for single parents. Identifying your “village” is a powerful tool that will serve you and your growing family in the most tender days. We suggest communicating with your support system early and often. Considerations for identifying your village: 

• Is there a friend or family member who you’d like to spend some of the first, fresh days with you and baby? Who is this person/people? Which care tasks do you imagine asking them for help with?
• Can you stock your pantry and freezer ahead of time and/or lean on meals from your community (via MealTrain) for the first several weeks?
• Who are the people you can call day or night if you need support with baby? Companionship? A listening ear? Physical presence? Help with an errand?
• If you have other children or pets, who can step in to care for the rest of your family?
• Would you like someone to attend baby’s first pediatrician appointments or your own provider visit with you? 
• Which professional supports do you want to include on your team? If you can’t afford the postpartum care you want and need (and deserve) can you ask for this as a gift on your registry via Be Her Village? Are there community-based programs (like GALS in Austin) that may offer birth and/or postpartum doula support? Additionally, consider that virtual postpartum doula support can provide emotional support, reassurance, and resources.
• Are there people you do not want included in your postpartum/newborn days? Consider ahead of time how you want to set limits and boundaries with these people.

Ways Postpartum Doulas Support Single Parents

In many ways, supporting single parents looks similar to supporting families with multiple adults. However, there are some unique needs single parents have which postpartum doulas are attuned to.

• A postpartum doula can be a companion, offering emotional support as you navigate the sweet and vulnerable first days of parenting (or new parenting again). They can be a person you share hard moments with, as well as celebrate the joys with.
• Overnight help can be especially valuable to give you time and space to get solid sleep, as you may not have someone else to swap shifts with. 
• Postpartum doulas carry experience and knowledge and can provide a nonjudgmental space for processing and problem-solving (or just listening if that’s what you need most). We all need another person to bounce ideas off of every once in a while, and when you are sleep deprived with a baby, there will be moments of uncertainty that you need to work through with another adult.
• Doulas can cover some of the gaps that are showing up (like dishes or baby laundry), and they can offer suggestions for bringing more ease even when they’re not around. For example, use compostable, single-use plates, bowls, and utensils for the first few weeks of baby’s life to cut back on dishes.
• As needed, postpartum doulas can offer referrals to other folks who can support your growing family depending on the needs that are presenting themself.

ABG is Here for You

As always, we are here to support your growing family and help you navigate the challenges and celebrations of early parenthood. Join us in class or reach out about postpartum support in Austin or birth and postpartum support in Asheville!

*Photo credit: Jonathan Borba on Unsplash