What is a postpartum doula?
Doula is a greek word meaning woman's servant.
Postpartum doulas are non-medical, trained professionals who provide physical, emotional and informational support to postpartum women and their partners during the first few days, weeks and months after giving birth.
postpartum doula
As your postpartum doula, my primary goal is to help you make a smooth transition into parenthood by providing aid, information about soothing techniques and unbiased education that will help you feel confident during this transition.
I specialize in traditional, holistic postpartum healing modalities like abdominal moxibustion, hot stone abdominal press, vaginal steaming, Bengkung belly binding, sealing ceremonies, Ayurvedic type cooking, hand blended teas to aid digestion and lactation. My goal is to "mother the mother."
Birth isn't the finish line, it's the starting point. Remember, the postpartum is a time of deep healing. Your body underwent drastic changes during pregnancy to accommodate your growing baby. You labored with your body to bring your baby earthside. If you're breastfeeding, your body is continuing to labor in order to nourish your baby. Your organs are finding their way back into their pre-pregnancy position in your body. Much is still required of your body during the postpartum period, and proper postpartum care sets you and your family up to thrive in the postpartum and beyond.
Fees- $200 per visit
Each 4 hour visit may include:
• Hands on breastfeeding support
• Emotional support for you and your family
• Education on baby care and feeding methods
• Education on baby calming/soothing techniques
• Grocery shopping and errand running
(Funds must be provided in advance)
• Infant care while you rest/work/attend to self care
• Baby laundry
• Light chores such as loading/unloading dishwasher, tidying up. Etc.
• Meal-prepping
• Time for answering questions
What are traditional
postpartum practices?
Every culture has their own postpartum healing traditions. Though the specifics vary, they all include: an extended rest period, hygiene practices, nourishing foods, and organized support for the new mother.
Cultures around the world have a 40 day postpartum rest period. In China it's called Zuo Yue Zi and is translated "sitting the month." In Mexico and other parts of Latin America it's called La Cuarentena and is translated "the quarantine." In Pakistan it is called Sawa Mahina and is translated "five weeks." In Japan it's called Sango No Hidachi and is translated "postpartum feeding." In Korea it's called Sanhujori and is translated "recovery after giving birth."
There is an Indian saying that ‘the first 40 days of life will impact the next 40 years of your life.' Proper postpartum care lays the foundation for continued good health as you embark on your motherhood journey. The most important part of the postpartum period is that you have a complete healing. These traditions help ensure that!
belly binding
Bengkung belly binding is a Malaysian tradition that provides holistic support to all of your abdominal and pelvic organs.
Wrapping or binding your belly after birth is an important piece of your recovery, and has been practiced in cultures around the world for centuries. Belly binding provides your postpartum body 360° support to assist abdominal wall retraction, improve your posture, stabilize loosened ligaments and provide full abdominal support while your vital organs return to their pre-pregnancy size and position.
vaginal steaming
In many cultures and traditions, it is thought that your postpartum body is cold. Heat is required to restore balance and facilitate healing.
Most women have heard of a sitz bath after birth. A sitz bath is a perineal soak made with herbs and/or Epsom salt. A vaginal steam differs in that instead of sitting in the water, you sit above the steam.
Vaginal steaming brings heat to your womb via your vagina. Steaming improves the circulation of blood and lymph, helps the placental site heal, helps your uterus return to it's pre-pregnancy size and position, soothes stitches and hemorrhoids, and is deeply relaxing.
hot stone abdominal press
This is another technique used to introduce heat into your postpartum body. It encourages your uterus to return to its pre-pregnancy size, aids digestion, promotes healthy bowel movements, and eliminates excess gas.
Warming spices are mixed and placed onto a cloth, while a river stone is heated. The heated stone and spices are then wrapped up and tied together. This bundle is dipped into warming oil and then pressed gently, but firmly onto your abdomen in a gentle, soothing manner.
moxibustion treatment
Moxibustion is another way to bring deep penetrating heat into your body. Moxibustion, or moxa, is dried mugwort leaves. This dried herb is burned in a moxa box that is then placed onto your abdomen. Moxa treatments aid healing by warming the abdomen, aids digestion, promotes circulation, and offers natural pain relief.