06/21/2023
Did you know that you can have a doula for not only labor but also for the postpartum phase of childbirth? They are known as Postpartum Doulas! For our Woman Crush Wednesday, we asked postpartum doula Julia Thibaud to explain a little bit about what a postpartum doula does and how they can be beneficial during the postpartum period.
This is what she had to say:
“Congratulations – you’re pregnant! Now the fun begins: where am I going to give birth? Who will I choose for a provider? Can I really not eat sushi during pregnancy? With so much emphasis placed on pregnancy and birth, the time after your baby arrives can feel like an afterthought.
The period we refer to as “postpartum” (sometimes also called the fourth trimester) can bring some of the highest highs of parenting: meeting your baby, hearing their coos, seeing them smile for the first time. And! There can also be dizzying challenges: adjusting to a suddenly altered sleep schedule, understanding how and when to feed your baby, figuring out when to feed yourself, filing paperwork and scheduling appointments. It’s no wonder parents get overwhelmed!
Enter the postpartum doula. A postpartum doula can help with so many aspects of the transition to parenthood: physical recovery after birth (emotional, too), nursing or bottle feeding your baby, keeping your water bottle filled and your fridge stocked, paying special attention to an older sibling who’s adjusting as well, and when something falls outside of scope, they can refer you to a trusted specialist, from pelvic floor physical therapists to lactation counselors and beyond.
The support and care that a postpartum doula can offer will serve your family not just in the days, weeks, and months postpartum, but for years and years to come.”
If you want to find out more about Julia’s work, you can visit her website:
www.doulaetc.com
Or follow her on Instagram:
