Should you hire a postpartum doula?

You may have a car seat, crib and onesies ready to go. But preparing for a baby also means thinking about what life will look like after you come home.

Some families hire a postpartum doula for extra support after birth. Also called a postnatal doula, this trained professional provides nonmedical physical, emotional and practical support for new parents and their families.  

“A postpartum doula is someone who is focused on the new mother and her needs,” says Jill Foley, M.D., an obstetrician and gynecologist with Sutter. “If she needs help with the baby, the doula can help. She can also help with physical and emotional recovery.” 

Not everyone needs or wants to hire a postpartum doula. If family members or friends live nearby and can reliably pitch in, new parents may already have the support they need.

If you don’t have that kind of help — or simply want additional support — a postpartum doula may be worth considering. “I recommend parents consider a postpartum doula if they think they are going to need more support,” Foley says. “Sometimes that’s a doula, and sometimes that’s family.”

A postpartum doula doesn’t provide medical care or replace your doctor, pediatrician or mental health professional. If you have concerns about your recovery, mood or your baby’s health, contact your doctor or care team.

What does a postpartum doula do?

The role depends on what you and your family need. Postpartum doulas can provide support with recovery, newborn care, feeding and the transition to life with a baby.  

An overnight doula may help with newborn care between feedings so a parent can get more rest.

“That way, the new mother can get some rest,” Foley says. “Even though the baby may need to be fed overnight, the postpartum doula can assist by bringing the baby to the bedside for a feeding and then handling everything else afterward, like changing, rocking and putting the baby back down to sleep.”

Other ways a postpartum doula may help include:

• Encouragement and emotional support
• Help with older children
• Light housework
• Meal preparation
• Newborn care while you shower or rest
• Practical information about bathing, diaper changes, feeding and postpartum recovery
• Supportive listening when you need to vent, cry or talk through frustrations 

Doulas can offer general feeding support and education, but they aren’t automatically lactation consultants or medical professionals. If you need specialized help, postpartum doulas can help connect you with the right resources.

How to choose a postpartum doula

Think about the support you want, when you’ll need it and how often. 

Ask for recommendations

Friends, your doctor or local doula organizations may be able to suggest doulas in your area. Interviewing a few candidates can help you find someone you feel comfortable with.

“The right doulaissomeone you can connect with and feel you can talk to,” Foley says. 

Ask about training and experience

Ask about training, experience and services. Certification isn’t required everywhere, but some doulas earn certification through organizations such as DONA International. If someone has additional credentials, ask which services are included in their doula role.

Consider your budget

Rates vary based on location, experience and whether you need daytime or overnight help. Ask what the rate includes and whether overnight care costs more.

Plan ahead when you can

If you know you’d like postpartum support, you can start looking. Planning ahead gives you time to interview doulas and discuss what you want those first weeks at home to look like. If your baby has already arrived and you realize you could use more help, it’s not necessarily too late.

A postpartum doula isn’t right for every family. What matters is having support that helps you recover, care for your baby and adjust to your new routine.