A Week In The Life of A Doula (Sort of): Part 1, Postpartum Visits

I say "sort of" because I've compressed some of these activities into a single week to give an idea of the full scope of doula work and I've also modified situations/people to maintain client privacy. These are all things I've done on the job, though. Every moment has been wonderful!

Day 1: Postpartum Visits Day! So many times people assume a birth doula is only that: zeroing in on the birth and then zooming out of the picture. We go deeper, though, and the two postpartum visits I include in my package are just as important as being there for the birth.

I stop and see one family where we discuss how nursing is going, and then I focus on tending to the newborn so the mom can do a special, uninterrupted activity with an older child. My primary aim is to keep the newborn content and secure, but while she is, I work on some light housework tasks that feel anything but light to a mom in the throes of postpartum recovery.

Second visit of the day: Braaaaand new, teeny tiny baby where my client is alone for a few hours, through no fault of her awesome extended support network. Having someone to bridge that support gap is a precious part of my job. I snuggle the newborn while mom catches up on desperately needed sleep. Those moments with him are precious, and it feels even better to know mom is being taken care of too. When she's awake, we practice a few different latching positions. Before I leave, I prepare nutritious, healthy snacks that are easily accessible and also make sure her water bottle is filled (just like I did at her labor ;)).

Third visit: We talk about some of my client's feelings about her birth experience while also tending to some physical concerns that remain after birth. Taking the time to talk about these things in the comfort and security of her home helps make a real difference for confidence and peace in the postpartum period. I also offer relief measures for some of the physical recovery issues this mother is having.... okay, and also make sure her water bottle is filled before leaving. New mothers so often have themselves on the back burner and it's important for someone to, as the famous doula saying goes, "mother the mother." Many OBs only do six week postpartum check-ups, and mothers really benefit from someone being there for them considerably before then.

When I take a break from visits in the afternoon, I text a couple of other mothers to check in on their postpartum recovery. They'll get in-person visits too, but the lifeline of a text can make a real difference in someone's day. These texts include links to reputable videos on some good latching practices and articles on specific questions the mothers have, so they don't have to wade through Google while sleep deprived. Texts help us make note of specific issues to discuss in person too, at the next appointment.

Final Visit: This client is dealing with a surprising issue with her nursing and it's making everything a struggle, emotionally and physically. Because it's the weekend, she's having trouble getting in touch with other support. We had set up for a different time for my first postpartum visit, but I am able to quickly rearrange my schedule and stop by to see her at the end of the day. We spend time discussing the struggle and coming up with ideas to help work around it; this one triggers some emotional reactions too, so I prioritize helping the mother sort through the feelings the situation causes. And as a final pragmatic grace, I get the sheets on her bed changed out, because that's something that feels impossibly hard when you're recovering from childbirth, but it's also one of those things that feels amazing to have done.

I scoot towards home, collecting my own children from their babysitter's house where they've been having a total blast (and there are usually a couple shouts of, "MOM! Do we HAVE to go?!"), and make sure to take some notes on my visits to help me process them better and be better prepared for future clients. It's definitely been a wonderful day and I'm so thankful that these families have allowed me into their intimate spaces at such a special time. Being there for a birth is amazing, but it's only a small part of what life is like when a newborn joins the family, and being there for that transition is such a privilege.