Intuitive Eating and Postpartum Services
Four types of service a postpartum doula provides
Practical
Physical
Emotional
Informational
Educational
If you have questions, your postpartum doula has answers, informed by both experience and education, to help you make informed choices for your family. We can recommend products, review plans or schedules, and help you interpret official guidance. We can also teach you how to assess the quality of any advice you're getting from friends and family. Our advice will always be evidence-based and unbiased, to the best of our ability. When it comes to postpartum and newborn care, there are plenty of schools of thought to chose from, but what matters most is what is going to work for *your* family.
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We often hear the question, "is this normal?"
Most often, the answer is yes. But when it's not, you want someone who can point you in the right direction.
We maintain an extensive referrals list of local area resources, so you can always get the help you need.
Emotional
The emotional needs of a new mother are far more complex than most people realize. There is truly no way to be completely prepared!
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One important aspect of recovery from pregnancy and childbirth is debriefing your experience with someone who understands what you've been through. It's tempting for new moms to downplay the intensity and emotion of their story, to avoid making anyone feel uncomfortable. With your doula, you can share it all - the good, the bad, and the ugly - and feel safe from judgement, always.
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Modern data clearly demonstrates that the majority of birthing parents experience "baby blues" (unexplained sadness) in the first few weeks after delivery. This sometimes develops into a more serious mental health issue. The assistance of a doula has been demonstrated to prevent postpartum mental illness, but as a matter of routine, we screen all new parents (dads and partners, too!) for PPD and PPA.
Physical
Although a doula is not a medical professional, there are plenty of ways we can physically support you. Pregnancy, birth, and the first few months with a newborn are incredibly taxing on the body.
Some specific services we can provide include:
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- Postpartum stretches and muscle activation for early recovery from pregnancy.
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-Positioning for comfort and success during the early weeks of breast and/or bottle feeding.
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- Fitting wraps and carriers for pain-free babywearing.
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- Recovery support for any birthing injuries (including Cesarean surgery).
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- Application of heat, ice, gentle massage, and herbal compression wraps for aches and pains.
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- Counseling on postpartum nutrition following the Intuitive Eating model.
Practical
All the postpartum advice and counseling in the world is only useful if the parents are available to hear it. With all the new and changing responsibilities, it's easy to get overwhelmed. That's where your doula can step in to be of practical assistance.
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We can provide hands-on help with newborn care, from swaddling and bathing, to nail trimming and diapering. Or, be the extra set of hands you need to grab a shower, nap, feed yourself, or spend time with your older children.
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We will also contribute to light housekeeping, including keeping the laundry going and making sure good quality food is prepped. We can change the sheets, clean up the nursing station, empty the diaper pail. And while we lighten the household to-do list, you will get a bit more time to bond with your newborn, connect with your partner, organize your thoughts, or just sleep.
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We provide trauma- and eating disorder- informed postpartum doula support for families of all kinds.
Here at Honest Bodies we believe in keeping it real about babies and parenting. We also believe every family deserves qualified help after the birth of a child. We provide education, emotional support, and practical assistance that encourages the entire household to participate and uplift one another through this season of change.
Think of your doula as a warm and knowledgeable visitor who might change your sheets or prep a meal while offering pro tips on postpartum health and infant care, before taking over for a while so you can connect with your partner or take a shower.
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Doula services begin at $40/hour.
Schedule a 1:1 to learn more about packages and pricing
"A postpartum doula provides evidenced-based information on things such as infant feeding, emotional and physical recovery from birth, mother-baby bonding, infant soothing, and basic newborn care. Research shows that moms, dads, and babies have an easier time with this transition if a good support team is in place."
-American Pregnancy Association