5 Signs You Could Benefit from Daytime Doula Support
Has someone told you recently that hiring a postpartum doula can benefit you as a new parent? Are you wondering if that’s truly something that will help you or if you really do need the extra support? Daytime doulas provide invaluable assistance to new parents, helping to ease the transition into parenthood. Here are five signs that you could benefit from daytime doula support:
1. You’re Feeling Overwhelmed
The arrival of a newborn can be overwhelming, especially when combined with the physical, mental, and emotional demands of navigating your postpartum recovery. Balancing breastfeeding, baby care, day-to-day life, and self-care can feel like an impossible task.
How a Daytime Doula Can Help:
A daytime doula can provide much-needed relief by assisting you with baby care, offering breastfeeding guidance, being a supportive presence as you deal with baby blues, helping with light housekeeping and even light meal preparation. This allows you to focus on recovery and bonding with your baby, knowing that you have an extra pair of hands to help manage daily tasks.
2. You Need Help Establishing a Routine
Newborns do not come with instruction manuals, and tapping into your intuition as a parent and establishing a routine can be challenging and take some time. From feeding “schedules” to understanding newborn sleep needs, finding a rhythm that works for both you and your baby takes time (and patience!) and knowledge.
How a Daytime Doula Can Help
Daytime doulas are experienced in helping new parents establish routines that promote the well-being of both baby and parents. They can provide guidance on how and when to feed your baby, share information about newborn sleep norms, and effective baby soothing techniques, helping you create a harmonious environment for your family.
3. You’re Struggling with Postpartum Recovery
The time it takes to recovery from birth will vary for each woman, and what you’ll experience as a part of your recovery will vary, too. Whether you are dealing with the aftermath of a difficult birth or navigating the baby blues, support is crucial.
How a Daytime Doula Can Help
A daytime doula offers both practical and emotional support during the postpartum period. They can assist with physical recovery by providing comfort measures, ensuring you get adequate rest, and offering emotional support to help you navigate the ups and downs of early parenthood. They can also provide you with referrals to practitioners to help with your recovery, such as a pelvic floor therapist or a mental health therapist that specializes in perinatal mood disorders.
4. You Have Older Children Who Need Attention
Balancing the needs of a newborn with those of older children (especially toddlers!) can be daunting and exhausting. Older siblings may feel neglected or act out as they adjust to the new family dynamics.
How a Daytime Doula Can Help
Daytime doulas can provide care and attention to older siblings, helping them feel included and secure. They can engage in activities with older children, assist with school routines, and offer support to ensure that all family members are adjusting well to the new baby. Additionally, because your older kids need one-on-one attention from you as well, your postpartum doula can provide baby care so you can give all your kiddos some much needed attention.
5. You’re Lacking a Support Network
Not everyone has family or friends nearby to offer support after the birth of a baby. Without a support network, new parents can feel isolated and exhausted.
How a Daytime Doula Can Help
A daytime doula can fill the gap in your support network, providing companionship, practical help, and expert advice. Don’t want to cook? They can set up a meal train and put the word out to the community. Need help catching up on laundry? They can get it done. Want some nutritious snacks but don’t have the energy to go to the grocery store? Your doula can run errands and handle light meal preparation.
If any of these signs resonate with you, it might be time to consider the benefits of daytime doula support. Daytime doulas are dedicated to helping families thrive during the early stages of parenthood, providing the support and guidance you need to navigate this new chapter with confidence and ease.
For more information about daytime doula services in Metro Detroit, Ann Arbor, and the surrounding areas, reach out and we’ll get you connected with some of our incredible doulas!