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Why Hire a Postpartum Doula?
and factual information, reassurance and hands-on support with children and
household organization. By "mothering the mother", the doula enables the new
mother to recover from her pregnancy and birth and focus her energy on
bonding with her new baby.
Parents are able to care for their children with the reassurance that non-
judgmental support and an extra set of hands are available when they need
them. Through this support, the doula is able to help parents and older
children integrate the baby into the family in a loving, gentle manner.
(taken from DONA Position Paper: The Postpartum Doula’s Role in Maternity Care)
Copyright DONA 2005
In other words, new parents who have support and feel secure and cared for
after the birth of their baby, and who are encouraged to nurture not only their
babies but themselves, will be more successful in adapting and adjusting to
this new period.
Often in our society, a big emphasis is put on pregnancy and birth. After birth,
new parents are sent home where they sometimes feel ill-prepared to take
care of this new baby (or babies in the case of twins or triplets). In the past,
the new mother had help from her own mother, her aunts and friends, but
reality is now different, and even if these resources would love to extend the
help, greater distances or work makes these resources sometimes unavailable.
The Postpartum Doula is there to fill this gap and smooth the transition into
parenthood.
A Postpartum Doula may also be a big help with families who are welcoming
twins or triplets, or to families who have older children. The extra pair of
hands greatly help parents and keep them serene, knowing that every child
(twins, triplets or older sibling) receives all the attention he deserve.
Benefits in having a Postpartum Doula:
and factual information, reassurance and hands-on support with children and
household organization. By "mothering the mother", the doula enables the new
mother to recover from her pregnancy and birth and focus her energy on
bonding with her new baby.
Parents are able to care for their children with the reassurance that non-
judgmental support and an extra set of hands are available when they need
them. Through this support, the doula is able to help parents and older
children integrate the baby into the family in a loving, gentle manner.
(taken from DONA Position Paper: The Postpartum Doula’s Role in Maternity Care)
Copyright DONA 2005
In other words, new parents who have support and feel secure and cared for
after the birth of their baby, and who are encouraged to nurture not only their
babies but themselves, will be more successful in adapting and adjusting to
this new period.
Often in our society, a big emphasis is put on pregnancy and birth. After birth,
new parents are sent home where they sometimes feel ill-prepared to take
care of this new baby (or babies in the case of twins or triplets). In the past,
the new mother had help from her own mother, her aunts and friends, but
reality is now different, and even if these resources would love to extend the
help, greater distances or work makes these resources sometimes unavailable.
The Postpartum Doula is there to fill this gap and smooth the transition into
parenthood.
A Postpartum Doula may also be a big help with families who are welcoming
twins or triplets, or to families who have older children. The extra pair of
hands greatly help parents and keep them serene, knowing that every child
(twins, triplets or older sibling) receives all the attention he deserve.
Benefits in having a Postpartum Doula:
- Increased success of breastfeeding;
- Less chance of infant dehydration and hospitalization with health
complications due to informed care and appropriate referrals; - Less exhaustion, anxiety and apprehension during early weeks;
- Greater understanding of newborn emotional and physical need and
behavior; - More independent control of baby's care due to education and early
positive experience; - Increases parents’ confidence in their parenting skills;
- Facilitates parent-infant bonding;
- Dad back at work with less anxiety;
- Hiring a doula gives relatives a way to give constructive help.
Helping Hands Doula
| Aline Paradis PCD(DONA), CLC Certified Postpartum Doula and Lactation Counsellor, Ottawa, ON, Phone: 613-612-8289 email: aline@helpinghandsdoula.org |
