What is the Difference Between Postpartum Doulas and Baby Nurse?

July 12, 2017 by Ruth_DoulaCare Filed Under: Breastfeeding, Dad, Doula Care Staff, Mood and Anxiety Disorders?, Newborn Care, newborn sleep, Nurturing, Parenting, postpartum, Postpartum Doula, Pregnant, signs of Postpartum Depression, Sings of Postpartum depression

I’ve been a certified DONA postpartum doula for more than 20 years and this is the one question I always receive from expecting parents. It’s a question I wish I knew to ask when I was pregnant “What is the difference between Baby nurse and doula?”
I now know firsthand as a mother one of the reasons why I became a postpartum doula, what it feels like to have a baby nurse in your home when you feel so vulnerable and don’t know how to care for a baby, but I did not realise the baby nurse is not trained or knowledgeable about helping me with breastfeeding and not able to be supportive, it was not her job to teach me the day to day care of my newborn, I felt left out caring for my baby, she would sit and rock my baby all day as my husband and I longed to care for our baby, we had to ask permission from the baby nurse to touch my child.

From my experience as a mother, it was not hard to be drawn to doula work to help make the transition for other parents smoother and help them feel supported as they learn.

Some detail about the different jobs: Let’s start with the philosophical difference and training between a doula and a baby nurse. A certified “Postpartum Doula” came about to support breastfeeding and the transition to parenthood. So, all certified postpartum doulas have the training to help families that want to breastfeed unlike the baby nurse, that is not her job or her training, (naturally, doulas are also supportive and great with helpful tips on bottle-feeding or pumping).

My agency postpartum doulas are supportive, non-judgemental and knowledgeable professionals helping families find their own voice and style of caring for their baby.

Parenthood is a major life transition and postpartum doulas are trained to notice if the adjustment period is more overwhelming than normal and be available to listen with an open heart and knowledgeable ear. We can address concerns if needed and know all the community referrals for mental health resources or parent support groups.

The doula is different because we are there to promote the parents bonding with their baby learning how to understand your babies cues for feeding and sleeping, this is done with the doulas’ guidance, though her knowledge and training in developmental newborn milestones of newborns.

Doulas are there to address the needs for the whole family, so our role is one of the mentors, assistant, teacher, nurturer and helps with the siblings and family transition. That is not the responsibility or job of a baby nurse, and this makes the difference when you’re feeling vulnerable and recovering from the birth and learning about your baby.
Doulas differ greatly from baby nurses as they are not there solely to tend to the baby’s needs but to support, encourage and teach a family how to care for their own newborn (yes, we adore babies and will care for your baby while you shower, take a nap or need to go out).

A postpartum doula is a quiet practical non-judgmental presence in your home someone not there to take over physically leaving parents empty handed longing to care and understand their baby. A baby nurse’s job and role is to exclusively take care of the baby’s needs, feeds the baby, sleeps with the baby at night.

A doula takes care of you so you can care for your baby!

Doula Care Postpartum doulas know how to empower parents helping them learn to trust their own instincts and teaching them how they can meet their baby’s needs independently.

Postpartum Doulas have a saying “we want to work our way out of a job”. That means our job as a doula has been done well with a family when we are not needed and you’re feeling reassured as new parents and built-up your confidence able to care for your own baby.

Doulas are also flexible in our role and changes as needed for different families. The doulas with my agency besides being certified postpartum doula and certified lactation counselors, they have backgrounds and training as childbirth educators, lactation counselors, as Le Leche league leaders, massage therapists, yoga instructors involved in the birth community.

We understand new parenthood as experienced seasoned parents ourselves

Because families are busy bonding with their baby the doula is accommodating and helpful around the house; a doula will take care of necessary tasks for the family such as laundry, errands, tidying up and cook nourishing foods!

Healthy Pregnancy and Postpartum

December 18, 2016 by Ruth_DoulaCare Filed Under: Breastfeeding, Dad, Doula Care Staff, Mood and Anxiety Disorders?, Newborn Care, newborn sleep, Nurturing, Parenting, postpartum, Postpartum Doula, Pregnant, signs of Postpartum Depression, Sings of Postpartum depression, Uncategorized

Postpartum care: What to expect after a vaginal delivery

Your newborn may be your top priority — but postpartum care counts, too. From vaginal soreness to urinary problems, here’s what to expect as you recover from a vaginal delivery.

Pregnancy changes your body in more ways than you might have guessed, and it doesn’t stop when the baby is born. Here’s what to expect after a vaginal delivery.

Vaginal soreness

If you had an episiotomy or vaginal tear during delivery, the wound might hurt for a few weeks. Extensive tears might take longer to heal. In the meantime, you can help promote healing:

If sitting is uncomfortable, sit on a pillow or padded ring.
Use a squeeze bottle to pour warm water over your vulva as you’re urinating. Press a clean pad or washcloth firmly against the wound when you bear down for a bowel movement.
Cool the wound with an ice pack, or place a chilled witch hazel pad between a sanitary napkin and the wound.
Take pain relievers or stool softeners as recommended by your health care provider.

While you’re healing, expect the discomfort to slowly improve.
Contact your health care provider if the pain intensifies; the wound becomes hot, swollen and painful; or you notice a pus-like discharge.

Vaginal discharge
You’ll have a vaginal discharge (lochia) for a number of weeks after delivery. Expect a bright red, heavy flow of blood for the first few days. The discharge will gradually taper off, becoming watery and changing from pink or brown to yellow or white.

Contact your health care provider if:

You have heavy vaginal bleeding
The discharge has a foul odor

You have a fever of 100.4 F (38 C) or higher
Contractions
You might feel contractions, sometimes called afterpains, during the first few days after delivery. These contractions — which often resemble menstrual cramps — help prevents excessive bleeding by compressing the blood vessels in the uterus. These contractions tend to be stronger with successive deliveries. Your health care provider might recommend an over-the-counter pain reliever.

Contact your health care provider if you have a fever or if your abdomen is tender to the touch. These signs and symptoms could indicate a uterine infection.

Hemorrhoids and bowel movements
If you notice pain during bowel movements and feel swelling near your anus, you might have hemorrhoids — stretched and swollen veins in the anus or lower rectum. To ease any discomfort while the hemorrhoids heal, soak in a warm tub and apply chilled witch hazel pads to the affected area. Your health care provider might recommend a topical hemorrhoid medication as well.
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5 Signs, Knowing Your Baby’s Hunger Cues

May 16, 2015 by Ruth_DoulaCare Filed Under: Breastfeeding

Hunger Cues:

For a healthy, full term baby use your baby’s hunger cues to determine when your baby wants to eat.

Don’t feed on a schedule. Feed when your baby shows early signs of hunger. In the beginning, it may be difficult to differentiate between hunger signs and other reasons for fussing, but you’ll become good at it quickly and you’ll learn to know what your child is telling you.

Early Signs of Hunger: Stirring, stretching, sucking motions, sucking on lips, tongue, hands, fingers, toes, toys, or clothing, lip movements, eye movement under closed lids, increased alertness, squeaking, and light fussing.

Active Signs of Hunger: Rooting, trying to position for nursing, pulling on your clothes, fidgeting, squirming, breathing fast, and fussing.

Late Signs of Hunger: Moving head frantically from side to side, fussing and crying.

Signs of Fullness: If your baby stops sucking, closes her mouth, or turns away from the nipple or the bottle she may be full, or may be taking a break. Now is a good time to burp your baby or wait a minute before offering the other breast or bottle again. If your baby resists again, she is full.

Wakeful baby actively nursing, with a nice wide latch-on.

Reminders:

It’s best to feed your baby as soon as you see early signs of hunger.

Be careful not to confuse early hunger cues with active sleep. If you aren’t sure, wait to see what happens. Your baby will either go back to sleep or wake up and it will become clear.

Crying does not always mean hunger, In time, you will become an expert at reading your baby’s cues.

Babies know how much they need to eat. Don’t pressure your newborn to eat at certain time intervals or certain amounts.

Look for satisfaction between feedings, 8-12 feeds for breastfeeding per 24 hours, and 4-6 wet diapers a day, and alertness.