Frequently Asked Questions
What do postpartum doulas do?
The goal of a postpartum doula is to supply you with accurate and relevant information regarding newborn care, feeding difficulties, parent care, and postpartum mental health, while supporting you emotionally during this major life transition. This can look like a lot of different roles all combined into one immensely helpful support person. Brainstorming solutions for sleeping arrangements, suggesting and preparing nutritious snacks for postpartum recovery and milk production, processing all the changes your body and mind have gone through during pregnancy, labor, birth and recovery, while answering all your questions with accurate and easily accessible resources are all included at the beginning of your postpartum care. After we have identified and prioritized your physical, emotional and practical needs, we will create a plan that satisfies these postpartum essentials, while also making your life a little bit easier during the exciting, yet exhausting newborn stage. Sometimes this looks like setting up a meal train, prioritizing your to-do list, giving specific suggestions to your partner/family/friends for the most helpful ways to assist you, or talking through your birth experience to process your hopes versus what actually happened. Whether I am changing, rocking, or swaddling the baby while you shower and sleep or tidying up while we catch up on the baby’s latest surprising developmental shift, my primary purpose is to support you during this sensitive and overwhelming postpartum period.
How can a Certified Lactation Counselor help me virtually?
During the first several weeks postpartum, a lot of questions related to lactation arise that may have been discussed quickly right after the birth or mentioned briefly at pediatrician visits. My job is to help you get immediate answers to your lactation questions with the most accurate evidence-based information, so that you can get back on track with your jobs of feeding your baby and recovering from birth. In addition to fast access to information, I am here to assist you in figuring out how breast/chestfeeding can fit into your new reality, while also maintaining time for your mental health and physical well-being. I will work with you to troubleshoot common lactation challenges and together we will create a sustainable infant feeding plan for your family during this time of intense physical and emotional demands. I will also check in with you weekly to answer questions, offer resources, and share parenting encouragements to make you smile.
|
What is a Certified Lactation Counselor (CLC)?
“The Certified Lactation Counselor® (CLC) certification is the premier National Certification in Lactation Management in the United States. CLC certification means that a person has received training and competency verification in breastfeeding and human lactation support, including assessing the latching and feeding process, providing corrective interventions, counseling mothers, understanding and applying knowledge of milk production including in special circumstances and other commonly encountered situations.”
My CLC course was taught by the instructors at the Healthy Children Project, Inc.'s Center for Breastfeeding and I completed my certification in February 2022 through the exam administered by the ALPP (The Academy of Lactation Policy and Practice).
My CLC course was taught by the instructors at the Healthy Children Project, Inc.'s Center for Breastfeeding and I completed my certification in February 2022 through the exam administered by the ALPP (The Academy of Lactation Policy and Practice).
What does a night shift look like with a postpartum doula?
During a night shift, the goal is for everyone in the family to get as much sleep as possible. Some ways I might help facilitate this include, burping, swaddling, rocking and doing all the diaper changes, while the lactating parent simply feeds the baby. For a bottle fed baby, I will take care of all overnight infant care including feeding the infant pumped milk or formula. When the baby is sleeping, I can complete light chores to help make your start to the next day as smooth as possible. This may include washing dishes, wiping down surfaces, washing and cutting fruits and vegetables, packing lunches for family members for the following day, folding laundry or any other task that will ease your mind, so that you can sleep soundly, reassured that things will look brighter in the morning. Additionally, we will spend a little of that precious time discussing how you can create solutions for sleep that are sustainable for your family and which will allow everyone to get the most sleep possible when I am not there.
|
What is NOT within a postpartum doula’s scope of practice?
Postpartum doulas are focused on supporting the birthing parent, baby and family in the weeks following birth which often involves caring for the newborn, tidying up, and preparing snacks; however, postpartum doulas are not nannies, cleaners, or cooks. Instead our role is to use our connections to refer you to other professionals who can assist with those particular services. Additionally, doulas are not medical professionals, though we will provide you with resources and information to increase your confidence in approaching your medical care team with knowledgeable questions and concerns.
What COVID precautions are you taking and how do you handle illnesses? (Updated Feb. 2024)
Everyone in my household is fully vaccinated for COVID including the 2023 fall booster and we all receive yearly flu shots. We also continue to mask when indoors in public. My family members test immediately, if anyone presents with any cold symptoms. I will inform you, if anyone in my family has any cold symptoms or if I have a known exposure to anyone who has been sick. I will wear a mask for the duration of my time in your home. I expect the same transparency regarding sickness for anyone who has been in your home and I ask that you mask when we are in the same room together (except when I am assisting with overnight breastfeeding/chestfeeding support). I am absolutely willing to take further precautions upon request.
Postpartum Doula Chapel Hill・Postpartum Doula Orange County・Postpartum Doula Triangle・Overnight Postpartum Doula Chapel Hill ・Overnight Postpartum Doula Orange County・Overnight Postpartum Doula Triangle・Virtual Postpartum Doula・COVID Cautious Postpartum Doula・Masked Postpartum Doula・Vaccinated Postpartum Doula・Lactation Counselor Chapel Hill・Lactation Counselor Orange County・Lactation Counselor Triangle・Virtual Lactation Support・COVID Cautious Lactation Support・Breastfeeding Support Chapel Hill・Breastfeeding Support Orange County・Breastfeeding Support Triangle・Virtual Breastfeeding Support・Prenatal Breastfeeding Class・Chestfeeding Support Chapel Hill・Chestfeeding Support Orange County・Chestfeeding Support Triangle・Virtual Chestfeeding Support・Prenatal Chestfeeding Class