The Truth about Postpartum Doulas ( Hint: They are just like Mary Poppins!)
Mary Poppins, The Original Doula
If you’re reading this blog then hopefully you know by now that the term ‘Doula’ does not just refer to a birthing professional. If not, surprise! We learn something new every day, don’t we?
In fact, there are many different types of doulas, each with a specific focus or area of expertise. Some examples of different types of doulas include:
· Sibling doula: They are doulas who provide support and guidance to siblings of a newborn or newly adopted child. Sibling doulas can help siblings to understand and adjust to the changes that come with the arrival of a new family member, offering support and encouragement as the older child learns to navigate their new roles. They may provide age-appropriate education about childbirth and newborn care, as well as offer guidance on how to interact with and support the new baby.
· Bereavement doulas: These doulas provide support and care to individuals who have experienced a miscarriage, stillbirth, or neonatal loss.
· Abortion doulas: These doulas provide emotional and physical support to individuals who are seeking or undergoing an abortion.
· Adoption doulas: These doulas provide support and guidance to individuals who are considering or going through the adoption process.
· Geriatric doulas: These doulas provide support and care to older individuals, including help with daily tasks and end-of-life care.
· Death doulas: These doulas provide emotional, physical, and spiritual support to individuals and their families during the end-of-life process. Death doulas help individuals to live their remaining time to the fullest and offer support to families as they navigate the end-of-life experience.
But today’s topic is: What is a postpartum doula and why is it that they are so magical?
A postpartum doula, sometimes called a postnatal doula, is a professional, but they can often feel like the best friend you need when life around you feels like its pressing in and you’re not sure what to do. Most postpartum doulas gently mentor and guide you through this major life transition of becoming a parent or expanding your family. Their main goal is to help the new parents feel supported and cared for as they adjust. Postpartum doulas are not medical professionals, but they can work in conjunction with doctors, midwives, and other healthcare providers to support the new mother and her family. They can be a valuable resource for families who may not have a strong support system in place or who are feeling overwhelmed by the demands of caring for a newborn.
And why is a postpartum doula so magical? Well, simply put, if they are doing their job well, they should be like a modern-day Mary Poppins! She magically flies into the parent’s homes just when they need them the most. Here is a list of essential personal qualities of a ‘Mary Poppins’ postpartum doula:
1. Empathy: A doula should be able to understand and connect with their clients on an emotional level, providing support and understanding throughout the pregnancy and postnatal period.
2. Patience: Pregnancy, childbirth, and postpartum can be a long and sometimes difficult process, so it's important for a doula to be patient and able to support their clients for extended periods of time.
3. Physical endurance: Doulas may be required to be on their feet for long periods of time, and may need to assist with physical tasks
4. Communication skills: A doula should be able to clearly communicate with their clients, as well as other members of the healthcare team, family, and support network in order to provide the best support possible.
5. Knowledge of newborns: A doula should have a good understanding of and lived experience with newborns. They should be able to provide information and support to their clients that is relevant and evidence-based
6. Flexibility: Every postpartum experience is unique, and a doula should be able to adapt to the needs of their clients and the changing circumstances of the family.
Having a newborn can be very overwhelming. There are many days that may want to make you exclaim: Supercalifragilisticexpialidocious!
And so, Your Mary Poppins, **cough**, your postpartum doula will hopefully help in these ways:
Make the Sun Shine Brighter
Postnatal Mood Disorders effect 1 in 3 new families. On top of the skilled physical support, doulas are trained to recognize signs of depression and/or anxiety and help families connect with professional resources within the community as soon as possible. One of the most important factors in PND treatment is increasing support within the home. Plus, a non-judgemental ear to talk through challenges in between sessions with their mental health expert.
Take you on a ‘Jolly Holiday’
Doulas really help to not just survive the newborn stage but to actually enjoy it! Everyone says that children grow up so quickly, so why not savour more of the early days? Some Postpartum Doulas help overnight and can help both parents prioritize sleep with a newborn. And Sleep can be as good as any medicine when your sleep deprieved!
Provide a ‘Spoon Full of Sugar’ with the ‘tough bits’
Going through the first few weeks after a baby is tough. Doulas help make the transition easier. Your doula team has tips and tricks for just about anything to do with newborn care. They are newborn experts after all! From bathing, feeding, diapering, soothing and sleeping, there are ways to get into the rhythm of parenting.
Let’s Go Fly a Kite – help your confidence soar!
Postrpartum doulas empower parents to find their way. There is no perfect algorithm to parenting, but many permutations of options that will feel natural to you. Your doula provides the toolbox, and you get to choose the tools that work for you and your baby.
Feel like you need a Mary Poppins in Your life?
The team at Melbourne Postpartum Services specialises in postpartum doula support, breastfeeding assistance, solving excessive newborn cry/fuss struggles, and parent mental health support. Pop on over to our Contact Us Page and let us know about little about what you need from your own Mary Poppins.
