Posted on

Every New Parent’s Dream

In-Home Postpartum & Breastfeeding Support

by guest blogger, Krista Maltais of Koru Care

Imagine coming home with your newborn baby for the first time; the nursery is organized, the laundry is folded, lunch has been prepared for you, and best of all, someone is waiting to help you take care of your little one and answer any questions you may have. No, this is not a dream or a service reserved only for the rich and famous; Postpartum Doula care is a growing profession and available for any woman who wants it.

Postpartum Doulas care for the entire family as a unit; they provide education, companionship, and assistance with daily tasks so the family can focus on transitioning and adjusting into their new roles. They can also help parents achieve the confidence and skills needed through practical suggestions and competent demonstrations. The role of the Postpartum Doula changes every day in order to ensure the family’s needs are being met.

DSC_0618

In addition, Postpartum Doulas provide personalized, long-term, breastfeeding education and assistance in the privacy of your home. They undergo thorough lactation education and training as part of their certification; they are able to educate parents about understanding milk production, newborn feeding cues and satiation, evaluate latch and breastfeeding experiences, as well as provide constant encouragement and support. Postpartum Doulas also guide partners to become actively educated and supportive of the breastfeeding mother as well as feel included in the feeding process through tips and suggestions. Many parents find that having a Postpartum Doula’s assistance helps ensure breastfeeding empowerment and success for their family.

New parents are dealing with a multitude of changes and demands during the first weeks and months of their baby’s life. Postpartum Doulas help ease and enrich families’ early parenting and breastfeeding experiences. After all, what parent doesn’t feel like they are living in a dream after having a nap, a long hot shower, a hearty meal, and the education, confidence, and skills to feed and raise their baby?

To find out more about the benefits of postpartum care and in-home breastfeeding support, visit: www.KoruCareDoula.com

About the Author: Krista Maltais graduated with a B.S. in Family Studies from the University of New Hampshire and has been an active Postpartum Doula for more than 7 years and Advanced Lactation Consultant for more than 4 years. It is her passion to assist families as they transition into life with their newborn. Her service area covers Southern Maine, Southeast New Hampshire, and North Shore Massachusetts.

Koru Care Postpartum Doula Services
Krista Maltais, PCD(DONA), ALC, B.S. Family Studies
603.918.9298
KristaDoula@gmail.com

 

About Healing Hands Community Chiropractic

Our mission at Healing Hands Community Chiropractic -Portsmouth, NH is to promote and support the overall health, well-being and highest quality of life of all individuals and families in our community through affordable chiropractic care.

 

Healing Hands Community Chiropractic is a health -care model intended to increase access to chiropractic care by offering adjustments in an open setting and fees on an affordable sliding-scale, without income verification.  By doing so, we offer the people of our community the opportunity to receive treatment as often as they need, to get the results they deserve with no insurance hassles -simply paying what they can for only $20- $40!

Click here to book now!

Posted on

Postpartum doulas provide vital support to the Community

by Guest Blogger, Darcy Sauers of Dover Doula

Postpartum doulas are knowledgeable professionals who assist families during the critical 12 week period immediately after the birth of their baby.  They “mother the mother” and offer physical, emotional and informational support to the family, as well as practical help.  My expertise in mother and baby care enables me to assist with postpartum comfort measures, breastfeeding support, non-judgmental guidance in infant care techniques, information on normal postpartum restoration, and family emotional assistance through this major transition.

 

As a postpartum doula, I provide essential support during the modern postpartum experience, a time when many mothers today feel uninformed, isolated and anxious.  Traditionally, the postpartum period was a “nesting period”, when a new mother was attended by other experienced mothers.  They helped take care of her and her family, so that the mother could focus on the vital tasks of postpartum recovery, emotional adaptation to great change and getting to know her precious little one.

 

Today, few families have such support, and frequently become exhausted and overwhelmed by the immense work of becoming parents.  Postpartum doulas gently guide and support families through this transition so that they may get off to the best start with their new baby.

 

The practical help that is included with my postpartum doula services varies from client to client and day to day.  But it usually includes:  simple meal preparation for the family, comforting and diapering the baby, answering the phone and door, taking care of the baby and older siblings while the parents nap, shower or take a much-need break.  I even assist with light household chores such as laundry and dishes.

 

If you are pregnant and live in the Seacoast area, I encourage you to contact me to schedule a free prenatal meeting to discuss your postpartum needs.  In this meeting we discuss everything from your experience with babies to your relationship with your mother-in-law.  We’ll discuss any food allergies/preferences, your plans for feeding the baby, your cares and concerns and create a plan around your specific needs.

 

Once your baby is born, I come to your home to offer experienced, non-judgmental support.  At each visit, I chat with mom to assess the day’s situation.  Throughout my shift, I provide mom with nourishing snacks, meals and plenty of water.

 

A postpartum doula is not a maid, though, nor is she a nurse.  I leave diagnoses and clinical procedures to medically trained personnel, but will make referrals to medical professionals if I notice anything of concern.  It is commonly felt that a doula can help a mother stay healthy and reduce her chances of postpartum complications.  I do this by educating the mother and enabling her to focus on her recovery from birth and to rest as much as possible.  I always keep my clients well nourished and hydrated and help to reduce incidences of sleep deprivation and postpartum depression.

 

Studies have shown that with the help of a postpartum doula, breastfeeding duration is increased, while feeding problems and depression decrease.  Also, parents report feeling more confident and less stressed or anxious.

 

Many women express concern at the cost of hiring a postpartum doula, but with some planning and some calls to your insurance company I find that most families can make it happen.  I’ve even had clients who were reimbursed for doula care from their Flex Spending Accounts.  Other clients “register” for doula care and take advantage of the gift certificates that can be purchased on my website.  I firmly believe that every new mom needs support.

About Darcy of Dover Doula:

 

Darcy Sauers of Dover Doula offers postpartum doula services, lactation counseling and prenatal yoga classes in the Seacoast area.  She is nationally certified by DONA (Doulas of North America).  Darcy is knowledgeable about many aspects of the postpartum period, including infant care and development, normal postpartum restoration and cesarean recovery, breastfeeding assistance, postpartum depression, facilitating bonding and more.  For more information, visit her website www.doverdoula.com.  To schedule a free, no obligation prenatal consultation, call her at 603-988-5945.

About Healing Hands Community Chiropractic
Our mission at Healing Hands Community Chiropractic -Portsmouth, NH is to promote and support the overall health, well-being and highest quality of life of all individuals and families in our community through affordable chiropractic care.

Healing Hands Community Chiropractic is a health -care model intended to increase access to chiropractic care by offering adjustments in an open setting and fees on an affordable sliding-scale, without income verification.  By doing so, we offer the people of our community the opportunity to receive treatment as often as they need, to get the results they deserve with no insurance hassles -simply paying what they can for only $20- $40!

Click here to book now!