Let's get into it.
According to the American Pregnancy Association, a postpartum doula provides evidence-based information on things such as infant feeding, emotional and physical recovery from birth, baby bonding, infant soothing, and basic newborn care.
According to Merriam-Webster, a doula is a person trained to provide advice, information, emotional support, and physical comfort before, during, and just after childbirth.
That all sounds helpful, but at Sweet Peas, we take it a few steps beyond that basic definition.
We are experts in attunement.
We can read a room. When we come into a home, we first figure out what the vibe is there. What’s the energy level? What’s the mood? Who is stressed? Who is overwhelmed? Who is relaxed? Who is checked out? What needs doing? Who wants to help? Who is in the way?
Once we evaluate where things are, we will meet you there. We match your energy, and we assess with you what the most pressing needs are for the day. Then we do those things. Whatever needs doing, we either do it or facilitate a way for it to be done. We make it happen.
We are like that best friend who just gets you, who never judges you, who always helps you figure out what you need and then helps you figure out how to get it taken care of.
We are experts in postpartum recovery.
We aren’t medical professionals, and we know when something is outside our scope and when you need to contact your provider. We know the anatomy, physiology, hormonal shifts, possible issues, and how to help make this massively transformative time easier both physically and mentally for everyone involved.
We are experts in infant care.
We understand babies. We know what’s going on with them. We know how to soothe them, feed them, diaper them, monitor their well-being, and when to call their healthcare provider. And we share everything we know with you so that when we leave, you are the expert.
We are teachers, guides, cheerleaders, protectors, philosophers, and nurturers.
We bring everything we’ve got to the table. If you don’t know how to do something, we will teach you how to do it.
Whether you need just a smidgeon of guidance or a whole heck of a lot of it, we kindly and patiently guide you. If you need someone on your side telling you you’ve got this (because you do!), we will be your most enthusiastic cheerleader.
Do you need someone to help you hold boundaries, limit visitations, or politely decline unsolicited advice? We will protect those spaces for you.
Would you like to talk about all the different approaches to postpartum and newborn care and parenting and all the other things? We will chat openly in a non-biased way.
Most of all, we nurture you. We care for your physical needs, yes. But we do more. If you’re hungry, we feed you. If you’re overwhelmed, we take things off your to-do list. If you need a shower, we tend the baby while you do that. If you need to cry, we hold you. Whatever you need to feel cared for and supported in this earliest time as a parent, your doula will help you.
Sounds amazing, right?
It is. Contact us today to see about getting on our schedule. We would love to help YOU!
