What is the role of a Postpartum Doula?

A Postpartum Doula is someone who makes themselves available to you during what is known as the Fourth Trimester. After birth, life has changed drastically, for the better, but with challenges to be certain. A postpartum doula is as involved or uninvolved as each woman sees fit for her, her family, and her new baby. Having support during this period of time- someone to bring nourishing foods, to pick up the house, to play with siblings and let mom and baby rest, to hold baby while mom showers, to notice if external help may be needed, and offer gentle guidance in seeking resources- the list goes on. As a mother of four children aged 1 year to 8 years, I like to believe I have a lot of experience with prenatal, birth, and postpartum, and from experience, know how important support is during this period. ‍

The Three Main Pillars of Postpartum Doula Support

Pillar 1: Emotional Support

This pillar is the heart of Postpartum Doula care. My goal is to listen with a non-judgmental ear, to validate that what you’re going through is hard, and no, you’re not crazy, you’re not alone, and yes, you absolutely can do this. What this can look like: you haven’t slept or showered, and I show up. I make you a cup of tea, and we sit and talk about how hard and how beautiful this new chapter has been. You vent about the baby, about your husband, about the other kids being all over you when you’re still sore and exhausted. Maybe we cry together, and hopefully we laugh, too. I’ll share some stories of motherhood from my early days; we’ll talk about ways to improve each situation and find ways to navigate them together. This sort of support is extended to your husband as well. As a doula and a mother to four young children, as well as a wife, I know how involved fathers can be and want to be; I also know the moments when mom feels all alone. I have heard it all from my husband, his highs, his lows, when he feels the most helpful and useful, and when he feels as though he’s falling short. Fathers and husbands feel these things, often just as heavily as mothers, but sometimes they get overlooked, and their mental health takes a back seat. For the health and well-being of the entire family, addressing Dad is an important aspect of my whole-person, whole-family wellness approach in doula support, which also extends to older siblings.

Pillar 2: Practical/Physical Support‍ ‍

This pillar focuses on offering practical solutions, practices, and applications to everyday problems and challenges. After we’ve finished our cup of tea, you can tell me what will be most helpful. You haven’t showered, the laundry is piling up, the kids are bouncing off the walls, and you’re terrified to figure out how to feed the household tonight. I’ll hold the baby while you shower, and you and your husband can cuddle up and share a little time together after baby falls asleep and I throw in a quick load of laundry while keeping the other kiddos busy for a bit. Sometimes it all feels a bit insurmountable with so much on the table, and while the task list is undoubtedly long, we can tackle the most important things to get done, allowing you and baby time to bond, or you and Dad time to reconnect, or a much-needed nap while a fellow mama steps in for a short time. I am here to support you.

Pillar 3: Resources

This pillar is particularly helpful for anyone who needs a little extra support. As a postpartum support, my role is to make resources available to you. If you’re in need of a lactation consultant, I will help facilitate in finding one for you. If you’re feeling overwhelmed by motherhood and feeling the baby blues creeping in, we can talk about postpartum mental health support. There are a wide variety of beautiful resources available to new families, and I would be honored to find the right professionals who can help and who can meet you where you are.

Postpartum Doula Support Package- 21 Hours of Care

‍ ‍ Cost: $840-$1,260

• 15 Minute Consultation — Free

• New Client Intake (1-1.5 hrs) Because every woman’s situation and anticipated needs vary widely, I like to offer up to an hour and a half to discuss your hopes, wants, and needs during your upcoming 4th Trimester. Here we can get better acquainted and begin to paint a picture of what you’d like this chapter to look like.

• One-2 Hour Prenatal Home Visit-Here we can get a lay of the land, what systems you do or don’t have in place to better support you/baby and other family members. We can discuss ways to make things more comfortable, talk about tasks and chores, how the household runs best, and get a general idea of what is needed, together, and in-person at your home.

• Two-3-Hour Home visits in the first week after baby is home from the hospital, birth center, or after a home birth.

• Two 3-Hour Home Visitis in the second week after baby is home.

• One 3-Hour Home Visit in the third week.

• One 3 Hour Home Visit in the fourth week.

• This package also includes unlimited talk/text/email support throughout our time together. Please allow for a reasonable turnaround time, as I do have 4 little ones running around at home.

• Each week, there is a complimentary 15-20 minute virtual or telephone check-in available if you wish. I would love to see you between our scheduled in-person visits together and check in on mom, baby, and other family members. These are quick “mom/doula dates” to let me know how you are, if there are any concerns that need addressing, or any logistical things we need to work out before our next visit together, in-person, in your home.

• You may add on additional services or discuss an à la carte package, such as more hours of sibling care, running errands, providing nourishing meals in my home and bringing them to you, so that when I am in your home, I am free to focus on other tasks such as caring for baby and siblings, light housework, and other chores, etc.. . Please choose à la carte option at checkout if you’d like to choose this option (21 Hours Postpartum Doula Support Package) with additional services added on to it.

  All of my services are on a sliding scale to accommodate everyone. You may decide how much you feel comfortable paying and also consider a payment plan.

Postpartum Doula Support Package- 33 Hours of Care

‍ ‍Cost: $1,3200-$1,980

This package is the same as the 21 Hour Postpartum Doula Support Package, but offers an additional month (or 4 visits) of postpartum care. Each week, after the first month, I offer 3-hour in-home visits, 1x per week. This package is also customizable with add-on options available.

• 15 Minute Consultation — Free

• New Client Intake (1-1.5 hrs) —Because every woman’s situation and anticipated needs vary widely, I like to offer up to an hour and a half to discuss your hopes, wants, and needs during your upcoming 4th Trimester. Here we can get better acquainted and begin to paint a picture of what you’d like this chapter to look like.

• One-2 Hour Prenatal Home Visit-Here we can get a lay of the land, what systems you do or don’t have in place to better support you/baby and other family members. We can discuss ways to make things more comfortable, talk about tasks and chores, how the household runs best, and get a general idea of what is needed, together, and in-person at your home.

• Two-3-Hour Home visits in the first week after baby is home from the hospital, birth center, or after a home birth.

• Two 3-Hour Home Visitis in the second week after baby is home.

• One 3-Hour Home Visit in the third week.

• One 3-Hour Home Visit in the fourth week.

• One 3-Hour Home Visit in the fifth week.

• One 3-Hour Home Visit in the sixth week.

• One 3-Hour Home Visit in the seventh week.

• One 3-Hour Home Visit in the eighth week.

• This package also includes unlimited talk/text/email support throughout our time together. Please allow for a reasonable turnaround time, as I do have 4 little ones running around at home.

• Each week, there is a complimentary 15-20 minute virtual or telephone check-in available if you wish. I would love to see you between our sessions together, and check in on mom, baby and additional family members. These are quick “mom & doula dates” to let me know how you are, if there are any concerns that need addressing, or any logistical things we need to work out before our next visit together in your home.

• You may add on additional services or discuss an a la carte package, such as additional hours for watching siblings, running errands, cooking nourishing meals in my home and bringing them to you, so that when I am in your home, I am free to focus on other tasks such as caring for baby and siblings, light housework, and other chores, etc.. .. Please choose à la carte option at checkout if you’d like to choose this option (33 Hours Postpartum Doula Support Package) with additional services added on to it.

  All of my services are on a sliding scale to accommodate everyone. You may decide how much you feel comfortable paying and also consider a payment plan.

Testimonial

“Jessi is very knowledgeable and caring. Not only did she make sure I was getting healthy meals after having my baby but she did for the whole family. She knows to give help without being asked. She helped keep running the house smoothly by giving my older children activities to keep them busy so my husband and I can focus with the little one. She didn't just care for the baby, she truly mothered the mother by making sure I ate and rested. And having someone validate my feelings as a mother of 4 like she is, made me feel seen and supported. We are truly blessed to have someone like her care for us.”

Michelle C.