A Day in the Life of a Postpartum Doula
What do we really do as postpartum doulas? We'll show you in this photo essay by the talented Sally Cavanaugh Films and Photos.
Sally Cavanaugh is a birth and newborn photographer in Wichita who we cannot recommend highly enough! We work hard to find only the absolute best professional resources to recommend to our clients, and after working with Sally on this shoot we can confidently say that her amazing work, gentle and creative spirit, and professionalism make her a true gem! She can capture every meaningful and beautiful moment from your maternity photos, to the look on your face as you meet your baby for the first time, to the precious fresh newborn poses. Visit her website to inquire about your maternity/birth/baby photos, as well as follow her on Facebook.
The following photos are copyrighted and may not be used without permission for any reason.
I arrive at my shift and settle in, chatting with the kids and exclaiming over how many new rolls the baby has. I ask my client what her priorities for the day are, and start making a mental note of what time I will start lunch, and what time I will rock the baby while I send her to enjoy a quiet bubble bath. My client and I sit and enjoy an actual conversation between grown-ups, as I make her a week's supply of homemade baby wipes. Being a new mom gets lonely without another adult to talk to and share with throughout the day!
That moment when you really want to take a nap, but you're the mom and you have four kids. But wait! You have a postpartum doula, so that means you get to take that nap after all. :)
It's easy to enjoy those sweet moments of cuddling and paying attention to your littles, when you know your doula is taking care of all the pressing household tasks like lunch, laundry, and thank you notes.
When it's time to feed the baby, I stand by to make sure that she is comfortably supported by pillows in the right places, baby is latching well, and her glass of water is nearby.
Sally creatively captures all of those little in-between, unscripted moments that beautifully make up a family.
While she rests and soaks in the snuggles, I head into the kitchen and start preparing an Instagram-worthy lunch filled with the healthy fats, proteins, and veggies she needs to keep up her strength and milk supply.
Today, she gets to eat a hot lunch, with both hands. ;)
Sometimes I take care of all the household things so that the parents can enjoy holding the baby and get a break from everything else. Other times, I give them a break from holding the baby. ;)
Hiring a postpartum doula isn't just having someone to do the dishes and laundry. Anyone can do that for you. While we do things like that, sure, what it really means to have a postpartum doula is empowerment as a mother/parent. It's about you recognizing that as a caregiver, you will be at your strongest when you allow someone to take care of you for once. It's about not having to do this alone, or with people who don't attune to your needs or support your parenting style.
It's about honoring and loving yourself enough to keep your own cup filled, so that you can overflow love and care to your spouse and children. It's about saying "YES, I deserve to have my needs met, too." You are worthy of being cared for and listened to during this precious and vulnerable time in your life - recovering from birth and learning how to parent this new little life.
No frantic late-night Googling required. :)
He deserved a rested, fed, alert, low-stress mommy!
