A Postpartum Doula's Scope (i.e. What Do Postpartum Doulas Do & Not Do)

First, Lets jump in right here.

What is a doula?

According to many, including the Cleveland Clinic, "a doula is a trained professional who supports you before, during, and after you've had a baby."

There are  a variety of different types of doulas. 

• Antepartum Doula: These doulas offer support during pregnancy - oft times antepartum care is needed, or desired with special circumstances or high-risk pregnancy.

• Birth doula: These doulas support laboring person during the birth. (They have an important role, but do not take over for a partner or family member.)

• Postpartum doula: These doulas support the whole family during the postpartum period. This type of doula can be especially helpful with multiples, and healing after a cesarean section birth - but people with vaginal births and a single babe can benefit too.

So, speaking specifically on postpartum doulas, this comes from the  CAPPA website:

Postpartum Doulas DO:

• Provide non-biased emotional, physical, and informational support during the postpartum period

• Encourage the family to seek care that reflects their values and needs

• Models and teaches effective communication

• Encourage informed decision making

• Support the physical and emotional healing

• Provide information on care options and resources

• Model infant care

• Encourage the family to make parenting choices that reflect their values and needs.

• Support and assist with infant feeding.

• Educate the family on newborn care and characteristics.

• Educate families how to maximize age appropriate infant sleep

• Provide support to the parents and extended family

• Assist with household organization

• Provide resources when support requires a healthcare professional, clinical assessment, a need for prescription, or medical diagnosis

 Postpartum Doulas DO NOT:

• Diagnose medical conditions

• Interpret medical diagnoses or clinical results

• Prescribe or administer treatment of medical conditions

• Perform clinical procedures, including taking infant’s temperature or administering medications to infant or mother

• Prescribe, perform, or provide alternative/complementary therapies including, but not limited to, essential oils, placenta medicine, herbal treatments, etc. without further training. These services must be provided separately from the role of the CAPPA certified professional.

• Make parenting or infant care choices or decisions

• Transport any family members

• Stay alone with babies or other children routinely, and for extended periods of time

• Buckle infants or other children into cars or car seats or install car seats in cars

• Teach a cry it out approach

• Act as a housekeeper or nanny

Research tells us that women who experience postpartum support experience a variety of benefits; or as I like to think of it - being cared for when you bring a baby home is protective. More about that soon.

Be well,

xo Eme