How can a postpartum doula help?
Motherhood is a significant life transition. A postpartum doula can ease that transition by providing both emotional support and practical advice on newborn care and breastfeeding. By helping with various household tasks, she allows the mother more time to enjoy and to bond with her newborn. Of course, the arrival of a new baby can also be a difficult transition for other children in the family. A doula can care for the newborn and enable the mother to give her undivided attention to her other children.

What specific kinds of services does a postpartum doula offer?
While postpartum doulas differ somewhat in the types of services they offer, most offer the following:

• Routine newborn care and guidance or education of the mother in bathing, cord care, diapering, calming techniques, and newborn nutrition and development.
• Breastfeeding assistance.
• Household tasks including laundry, light housekeeping, grocery shopping, and meal preparation.
• Care of older siblings.
• Accompanying mother and baby to pediatrician appointments.
• Running errands.

Is a postpartum doula the same as a "baby nurse"?
Not exactly. A baby nurse typically focuses her care on the newborn alone. And, while some doulas are also nurses, a postpartum doula focuses her care on supporting the parents so that they can best care for their newborn. A doula does not take over care of the newborn, but helps the mother in a way that allows her to rest when her baby rests. A doula also encourages and teaches parents how to care for their newborn, to interpret their baby’s cues, and to trust their instincts in responding to their baby’s needs. Most importantly, however, a doula will adjust her services to meet the particular needs of each family.

When and how often will a postpartum doula work for me?
It depends upon the individual doula’s practice. Some postpartum doulas are available to stay with the family overnight, for a few days to a few weeks. Other postpartum doulas work for several hours during the daytime. Usually, a postpartum doula’s services are used in the first two to four weeks postpartum. However, many doulas will work to accommodate individual family schedules and needs.

When should I arrange for postpartum doula care?
It is best to arrange for postpartum doula care a couple of months before your estimated due date. Even though you will not know exactly when your baby will arrive, it is best to contract with a postpartum doula in advance so that you can ensure her availability. Of course, some doulas will be able to accommodate last-minute clients.

How much does a postpartum doula cost?
Nationwide, the fees are approximately $15 to $30 an hour, depending on the doula’s additional training and experience.

How do I locate a postpartum doula?
To locate a postpartum doula in your area, talk to your pediatrician and other mothers. Or, you can request a referral from one of the following doula organizations. DONA (Doulas of North America) can be reached at (206) 324-5440 or on the Internet at www.dona.com. NAPCS (National Association of Postpartum Care Services) can be reached at (800) 45-DOULA.