MotherNurture         
' Welcome To A Place of Nurturing '
Postpartum Doula Services
Doula is a Greek word meaning "woman's servant". Coming into the family home during the fourth trimester, the postpartum doula's role is to provide education, non-judgemental support and encouragement, and to assist with newborn care and family adjustment. She is a facilitator in this transitional time. Research indicates that those new parents who have support and feel secure and cared for during this period of time are more successful in adapting to the demands of parenthood.  By "mothering the mother", the doula enables the new mother to recover from pregnancy and birth and focus her energy on bonding with her new baby.  Her presence enables parents and siblings alike to integrate the baby into the family in a more loving, calm and gentle way. 
A  MotherNurture Postpartum Doula is trained in postpartum adjustment, newborn characteristics, infant care and development and the promotion of parent-infant bonding.  She is knowledgeable about infant feeding (breast or bottle, emotional and physical recovery from chilbirth, infant soothing techniques, infant massage and coping skills for parents.  As part of the healthcare team, she is available to make referrals to quality care providers such as lactation consultants, pediatricians, counselors, and support groups when appropriate or when requested.
The role of the postpartum doula is also very flexible. She comes along side the parent and together they decide what kind of support their family will need. Some families need educational support concerning breastfeeding, infant care, infant CPR and the care of the new mother. Others may rely on the non-judgemental emotional support a postpartum doula has to offer. Still others have very practical needs, like feeding the family and running errands. Most families will find that their doula will "step to the plate", if you will, and meet their needs, as they develop.

She will:
- Keep the mother fed and well hydrated
- Assist with breastfeeding education and comfort measures
- Educate family members on how to "mother the mother" via modeling, demonstration
  and explanation
- Teach/model newborn care
- Play with the siblings and help with sibling transition
- "Baby-sit" while mom rests/plays or cuddles with older children
- Run interference and insulate the family from phone calls/visitors
- Answer parent questions
- Prepare light meals; keep kitchen tidy
- Do baby laundry
- Organize nursery items; keep "changing stations" tidy
 
She may:
- Do grocery shopping with or for the mother
- Run errands with/for the mother
- Give a gentle and relaxing foot or back massage
- Teach infant massage techniques to mother for baby comfort and bonding
- Instruct family in Infant CPR
- Demonstrate Baby Wearing techniques
- Make suggestions for resources, referrals and networking
- With permission, answer questions of family members/visitors
Things a Pospartum Doula will NOT do....

- She does not provide medical advice
- She does not assess the mother's or the infant's health
- She does not tell the mother what she should do
- She does not replace the father or the family but works alongside/in support of these people
- She does not act as a maid or a nanny (even though she may assist in these areas)
- She does not do 100% of the baby care but assists the mother in caring for her baby

Above all.... the postpartum doula is a trained professional who is there to "mother the mother". Her
main job is to help ease the mother's transition into motherhood thereby, allowing her body to remain focused on healing from the process of birth. The doula provides physical, emotional, informational and practical support to the new mother and her family. 


Or Call  1-800-637-3066