What is a Postpartum Doula
The terminology concerning postpartum help can be confusing. It is necessary
to differentiate Birth Doulas, Postpartum Doulas, and other postpartum help.
Postpartum Support Terminology
(taken from DONA Position Paper: The Postpartum Doula’s Role in Maternity Care)
Copyright DONA 2005
Doula: The word “Doula” comes from the Greek terminology and means
“Woman’s servant” or a woman who helps other women and offers support
through birth and during the postpartum period.
Postpartum Doula: A supportive advisor and helper, professionally trained to
provide postpartum support to the mother and the family.
Birth Doula: A person professionally trained to provide support to the woman
and partner during labor and childbirth.
Baby Nurse: A professionally trained or lay-person who comes into the home
and cares for a newborn baby. Some “baby nurses” are licensed nurses who
provide care for infants with medical needs. Others are laywomen who
specialize in the care of babies. Baby nurses are different from doulas in that
their role is specifically geared toward infant care. Doulas provide excellent
infant care, but their primary focus is educating and supporting parents and
providing breastfeeding support, emotional support, resources and any
necessary referral information.
Mother’s helper: a layperson, either adult or adolescent, who comes into the
home to assist parents with childcare and household tasks. A “mother’s
helper” is not trained in breastfeeding education, integrating the baby into
the home or the many other aspects of postpartum support.
The terminology concerning postpartum help can be confusing. It is necessary
to differentiate Birth Doulas, Postpartum Doulas, and other postpartum help.
Postpartum Support Terminology
(taken from DONA Position Paper: The Postpartum Doula’s Role in Maternity Care)
Copyright DONA 2005
Doula: The word “Doula” comes from the Greek terminology and means
“Woman’s servant” or a woman who helps other women and offers support
through birth and during the postpartum period.
Postpartum Doula: A supportive advisor and helper, professionally trained to
provide postpartum support to the mother and the family.
Birth Doula: A person professionally trained to provide support to the woman
and partner during labor and childbirth.
Baby Nurse: A professionally trained or lay-person who comes into the home
and cares for a newborn baby. Some “baby nurses” are licensed nurses who
provide care for infants with medical needs. Others are laywomen who
specialize in the care of babies. Baby nurses are different from doulas in that
their role is specifically geared toward infant care. Doulas provide excellent
infant care, but their primary focus is educating and supporting parents and
providing breastfeeding support, emotional support, resources and any
necessary referral information.
Mother’s helper: a layperson, either adult or adolescent, who comes into the
home to assist parents with childcare and household tasks. A “mother’s
helper” is not trained in breastfeeding education, integrating the baby into
the home or the many other aspects of postpartum support.
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Helping Hands Doula
| Aline Paradis PCD(DONA), CLC Certified Postpartum Doula and Lactation Counsellor, Ottawa, ON, Phone: 613-612-8289 email: aline@helpinghandsdoula.org |
