Emotional.

The arrival of a newborn brings about many, many different emotions - sometimes all at the same time! A new mama’s hormones will keep her on her toes. A partner may not be sure how to navigate the new dynamic of their relationship. An older sibling might not be keen on sharing their parents. Any and all emotions are valid upon the arrival of a new baby. I’m here to help you feel heard. I’m here to truly listen to you. I’m here to give a hug and be a shoulder to lean on. I’m here to help notice when things might be a bit too much for you, and I’m here to help refer you to the best of the best in town.

Informational.

You may have read 100 books on what to expect once baby arrives, but nobody expects you to remember every last detail (or any for that matter - sleep deprivation is oh so real and it does a number on your memory!) As your postpartum doula, I’ll be your personal baby-google. I’m here to answer any and all of your questions (within my scope). If I don’t know an answer, I’ll do the research to find out. I’ll provide information on local resources and peer groups, and I’ll share some books from my own personal lending library if you’re keen to do some reading.

Important Note: I do NOT offer medical advice - I will refer you to the appropriate medical professionals.

Practical (Baby).

The happier baby is, the more well-rested and happy the rest of the family will be too. As your postpartum doula, I’ll share tips and tricks to keep your babe as happy as possible. Each newborn is unique and we’ll work together to discover what works best for you and your baby. Below are some examples of baby-specific tasks/topics in which we’ll make sure you are feeling 100% confident:

• Feeding - whether breast or bottle fed, we’ll make sure that baby is well-fed. I’ll guide you in different techniques and positions for feeding until we find what works best for you. I can direct you to peer support groups and proper professionals should there be challenges outside of my scope.

  • If you have any hesitation or questions about breastfeeding prior to the arrival of your baby, please reach out! I’m happy to help in preparing you for your breastfeeding journey as early as possible.

• Sleep - we’ll work together to find baby’s preferred sleep schedule/arrangement. I’ll help you to notice baby’s sleep cues and guide you through the trying times when baby doesn’t seem to want to sleep.

• Soothing - some babies like to be snuggled, some like to be bounced, and some like to be sung to. There are so many ways to soothe a baby, and we’ll find which ways work best for your little.

• Diapering - you may have never put a diaper on a baby before, and that’s okay! I’m here to help walk you through it and make sure you have optimal setups for diaper changing.

• Bathing - your little one may absolutely love bath-time, and they may also start out by absolutely hating it. We’ll work together to find the best way to bathe baby.

• Kangaroo Care - skin-to-skin contact has evidence-based benefits. If you’re keen, I’ll encourage you (all parents in the home) to take some time for skin-to-skin cuddles.

• Baby Wearing - using a wrap or a carrier for baby can be an absolute life saver! I’ll help teach you the safe ways to wear baby, and, if you’re comfortable, I’m happy to wear baby while you get some much-deserved rest.

• Sibling Interaction - it can be really tough for older siblings when a new baby arrives. It’s a big transition and I’m here to make it as seamless as possible. I can guide them through interacting with baby. I am happy to take baby so they can have some alone time with mom. I can plan special activities for them too. The goal is to find a happy balance for everybody - older siblings included!

Practical (Home).

Real talk: you’d rather get some much-needed sleep than unload the dishwasher and fold laundry. Truth be told, that’s exactly what you should do! I’m here to help keep your home tidy so that you can focus on healing and bonding with your new little one. I’m happy to tidy-up, fold laundry, give the floors a sweep, prepare some meals, and I’ll even run your errands.

Important Note: I do NOT complete deep-cleaning household tasks (for example: cleaning bathrooms, mopping floors, scrubbing windows, etc.)