One of the things we love most about postpartum work is that it's so varied! There are as many different ways to support mums as there are ways to mother. And every family is different, so no two visits ever look exactly the same. This is what makes the work interesting, but it can also make it tricky to describe what we actually do.
So in this article we’re looking at some of the main ways Postpartum Education and Care Professionals work with mothers and families, to give you a clearer understanding of what the role involves.
Postpartum professionals provide emotional support
Becoming a parent is one of the biggest life changes that a person may ever go through. Navigating these changes can be messy (not to mention exciting, overwhelming, or surprising).
In the midst of all this uncertainty, a postpartum professional pays close attention to what a mother is expressing and feeling. Sometimes that means listening to mum share her birth story, other times it might be just sitting alongside her during a difficult morning.
“…there are so many ways that we can support women. I personally think that emotional support is one of the most valued ways; least valued in society, but most valued in that woman’s experience…. I like to see straight away how’s she going? How is she feeling? How is she adjusting? Is she feeling like she’s been discarded? Has she been fed? Has she been looked after? Has someone asked her how she is today?”
Of course friends and family can provide emotional support too, but a postpartum professional is there specifically to support the mother, without judgement or expectations about what she should or shouldn't do.
Postpartum care professionals provide practical help
When it comes to practical help, a postpartum professional doesn't walk through the door with a predetermined to-do list. Instead we tune into what is needed most in the moment.
For example one day we might see the laundry piling up because the baby’s been cluster feeding all week. We pop baby in the sling for a snooze and fold a couple loads of clean sheets, all the while chatting with mum. On other days we might batch-cook some yummy meals for the freezer, organise the pantry, take out the rubbish, set up a craft activity for an older sibling .... all those everyday tasks to keep a household functioning smoothly.
“We’ll sit down for a chat for half an hour or so… Then I’ll set up my massage table and put on some food for lunch. While the food is cooking, give her a lovely massage… and serve her lunch, potter around in the kitchen, maybe do a meal for later on in the day.”
Rather than asking, "How can I help?", postpartum professionals pick up the mental load, creating more space for maternal rest and recovery.
Postpartum professionals provide education
There’s a lot to learn with a new baby in the house: starting to breastfeed, changing a baby's nappy (or diaper, as you may call it!), installing a car seat, folding up a pram, using a baby carrier and so on and on...
A lot of the information new parents get from various sources is conflicting, out-of-date or just not relevant to their situation.
“Instead of necessarily heading to Google or waiting for a call back from the doctor… they can text me and say, ‘Is this normal? Do you have any tips or tricks for getting baby to sleep? I’m thinking about pumping — what should I be looking for? How do I start?”
Good postpartum education starts with recognising where parents already feel confident and where they need more support.
For example, a second-time mum might already know lots about newborn sleep but maybe she’s feeling overwhelmed by breastfeeding as it didn’t work out the first time.
Or another mum might feel quite confident with babies but is worried about recovering from birth.
And some parents just need reassurance that their baby's bizarre behaviour is totally normal (yup, they really do grunt when pooping).
Postpartum care professionals connect parents to resources
Often new parents are unsure of when to seek help, or who’s the right person to talk to, or they might not even know that help exists for their specific problem. A postpartum professional can cut through the noise and connect parents to the right resources for them.
For example, a mum might think experiencing recurring mastitis is unavoidable, but a postpartum professional would connect her with a lactation consultant.
Or a new dad mentions that he’s the only parent in his current friends group. As a postpartum professional we might recognise that he’s likely feeling a bit lonely and we tell him about a local dads group.
Postpartum professionals aren’t trying to solve every problem themselves; it’s more that we know who to call in any given situation to build the family’s village of support.
Postpartum professionals can work in many different ways
Some professionals choose to provide overnight support while some work strictly daytime hours. Some offer short visits of 2-3 hours while others might stay the whole day. Some offer their services for the first 6-8 weeks after birth while others might be with families for over a year!
“Not every family needs the whole shebang. Some families only need support with food. Other families only need support with a physical presence.”
This work is about staying curious: what support will be most valuable for this family at this moment? What’s the gap I can fill?
But at the end of the day the task itself is only part of the picture. The more important skill is noticing what’s needed (sometimes before the family even knows they need it). That’s the real value a Postpartum Education and Care Professional brings.
Curious about how to become a postpartum doula? Learn about our Postpartum Education and Care Professional Training here.
