Postpartum Doulas
Having a Postpartum Doula or a Night Nanny
by Lori Wade, CD(DONA), CPD, CIMI
Knoxville Baby Lady
www.KnoxvilleBabyLady.com
You have spent months preparing for the birth of your baby. You took classes and read all kinds of articles and searched the internet to learn all about your pregnancy. Finally, it is time! Now that you have had your baby, you are sent home rather quickly, with no “How to” book and only a few words of encouragement from the hospital staff.
Many new parents do not live near extended family members, are both career oriented or perhaps didn’t grow up around children. This is where a postpartum doula or a night nanny comes into play.
There are so many things to learn and having a newborn baby in the home can be exhausting. You don’t have time to read a book, or even talk on the phone to a friend or family member. You are in the trenches, and need help now! A postpartum doula can come to your rescue. She comes to your home with experience and knowledge and can help you to be comfortable and confident in your new role as a parent.
Typically, a postpartum doula will come to your home during the daytime or early evening for a set number of hours from a couple to several days of the week. While she is there, she can teach and encourage you about newborn care, baby wearing, diapering, breast and bottle feeding, comfort measures, swaddling, bathing and soothing the baby. She will keep an eye on the baby while you get some much needed rest, or a nice warm shower. She will set up changing areas within your home to make changing the baby easier and more convenient for you. In addition, she may prepare a meal, or have healthy snacks available for you while you are nursing your baby. She will “tidy up” living areas, do the baby’s laundry and other light home maintenance. She is a non-judgmental sounding board. If this is not your first baby, she can help and offer ideas for the older child. She is a wealth of information and is able to make community referrals when needed. Her sole purpose is to help you and your partner adjust to life with a newborn.
A night nanny is similar to a postpartum doula in that she is experienced and well-versed in newborn and postpartum care, however, the majority of her work is focused solely on caring for the baby throughout the night. She will typically come to the home, get an update on how the day was, and then send the parents to bed. She sets the tone by diming the lights, and turning down sounds like a tv or stereo. Because of it being night time, her duties are limited. She may tidy up the kitchen, clean and prepare baby’s bottles, stock up changing stations or wash and fold baby’s laundry. She carefully watches over and listens for the baby and depending on the wishes of the family, she will either bring the baby to the mom to be fed, or she will prepare a bottle, feed, change and soothe the baby back to sleep.
For the parents, having a good night’s sleep and knowing that their baby is in good hands means that they will be more attentive during the waking hours and moms will have fewer issues with the baby blues or postpartum depression. Also, for moms who decide to breastfeed, having a postpartum doula or night nanny increases the chances of her success.
When looking for postpartum care or night nanny services, it is advisable to begin by assessing your needs. Are you looking for experience, education and guidance? Do you want someone to come in and help care for you so that you can better care for your newborn? Do you want someone to teach you baby care and calming/soothing techniques and support your breastfeeding or bottle feeding efforts? If you have answered “yes” to any of the above questions, then a Postpartum Doula might be what you are looking for. If you feel like you would like someone with the same experience and education, but primarily provide overnight care for the baby, then a Night Nanny may be more of what you need. A typical night shift is from 11pm to 7am, but can be adjusted to the needs of the family. Fees vary depending on location and experience, but generally range from $15.00 to $35.00 per hour.
Having a postpartum doula or night nanny can be an invaluable asset, even if you have family close by. She gives you peace of mind and support that is well worth the cost.
by Lori Wade, CD(DONA), CPD, CIMI
Knoxville Baby Lady
www.KnoxvilleBabyLady.com
You have spent months preparing for the birth of your baby. You took classes and read all kinds of articles and searched the internet to learn all about your pregnancy. Finally, it is time! Now that you have had your baby, you are sent home rather quickly, with no “How to” book and only a few words of encouragement from the hospital staff.
Many new parents do not live near extended family members, are both career oriented or perhaps didn’t grow up around children. This is where a postpartum doula or a night nanny comes into play.
There are so many things to learn and having a newborn baby in the home can be exhausting. You don’t have time to read a book, or even talk on the phone to a friend or family member. You are in the trenches, and need help now! A postpartum doula can come to your rescue. She comes to your home with experience and knowledge and can help you to be comfortable and confident in your new role as a parent.
Typically, a postpartum doula will come to your home during the daytime or early evening for a set number of hours from a couple to several days of the week. While she is there, she can teach and encourage you about newborn care, baby wearing, diapering, breast and bottle feeding, comfort measures, swaddling, bathing and soothing the baby. She will keep an eye on the baby while you get some much needed rest, or a nice warm shower. She will set up changing areas within your home to make changing the baby easier and more convenient for you. In addition, she may prepare a meal, or have healthy snacks available for you while you are nursing your baby. She will “tidy up” living areas, do the baby’s laundry and other light home maintenance. She is a non-judgmental sounding board. If this is not your first baby, she can help and offer ideas for the older child. She is a wealth of information and is able to make community referrals when needed. Her sole purpose is to help you and your partner adjust to life with a newborn.
A night nanny is similar to a postpartum doula in that she is experienced and well-versed in newborn and postpartum care, however, the majority of her work is focused solely on caring for the baby throughout the night. She will typically come to the home, get an update on how the day was, and then send the parents to bed. She sets the tone by diming the lights, and turning down sounds like a tv or stereo. Because of it being night time, her duties are limited. She may tidy up the kitchen, clean and prepare baby’s bottles, stock up changing stations or wash and fold baby’s laundry. She carefully watches over and listens for the baby and depending on the wishes of the family, she will either bring the baby to the mom to be fed, or she will prepare a bottle, feed, change and soothe the baby back to sleep.
For the parents, having a good night’s sleep and knowing that their baby is in good hands means that they will be more attentive during the waking hours and moms will have fewer issues with the baby blues or postpartum depression. Also, for moms who decide to breastfeed, having a postpartum doula or night nanny increases the chances of her success.
When looking for postpartum care or night nanny services, it is advisable to begin by assessing your needs. Are you looking for experience, education and guidance? Do you want someone to come in and help care for you so that you can better care for your newborn? Do you want someone to teach you baby care and calming/soothing techniques and support your breastfeeding or bottle feeding efforts? If you have answered “yes” to any of the above questions, then a Postpartum Doula might be what you are looking for. If you feel like you would like someone with the same experience and education, but primarily provide overnight care for the baby, then a Night Nanny may be more of what you need. A typical night shift is from 11pm to 7am, but can be adjusted to the needs of the family. Fees vary depending on location and experience, but generally range from $15.00 to $35.00 per hour.
Having a postpartum doula or night nanny can be an invaluable asset, even if you have family close by. She gives you peace of mind and support that is well worth the cost.
Local Mother-Friendly Care Providers offering Postpartum Doula Services:
Knoxville Baby Lady
Birth & Postpartum Doula, Night Nanny, and Infant Massage
Lori Wade, CD(DONA), CPD, CIMI
[email protected]
www.knoxvillebabylady.com
Birth & Postpartum Doula, Night Nanny, and Infant Massage
Lori Wade, CD(DONA), CPD, CIMI
[email protected]
www.knoxvillebabylady.com