Postnatal Doula services
What is a postnatal doula?
If you think back in time, what happened when mothers gave birth?
They often had emotional and practical support from female relatives. They were expected to stay in bed, rest, feed baby and bond with the new little life they had grown.
What happens now?
Mothers & birthing people are expected to jump back to a physical energy from pre-birth, expected to keep up with household chores whilst also juggling the demands of a new baby.
Too often, women & birthing people are left with too many demands and sometimes their mental and physical health can suffer. That is where a postnatal doula comes in. Someone who will care for you, so that you can care for your new baby and other children if you have them.
This is something that is very close to my heart as I personally struggled to keep up with the expectations of myself and others and found myself struggling with postnatal depression and anxiety when I had my daughter in 2017. I am passionate about providing support to new mums and their families during this time. I aim to provide you and your family with the knowledge and encouragement to become calm, empowered and fully independent.
A postnatal doula can be seen as a companion or a knowledgeable guide through the postnatal transition.
The range of services offered cover:
- emotional support; being a listening ear, debriefing on birth experience, being a support to you, your partner or extended family
- practical support; being an extra pair of hands, helping with other children, helping with housework, preparing meals or looking after baby while you rest, nap or shower
- informational support: all support offered will be from evidence based research and will give you an array of choices to make on how you would like to parent. This includes: giving nutritional advice, support with infant feeding, safe sleep advice...the list goes on
- signposting to other services where needed
I offer services both online and in Aberdeen.
Here are some links to other pages which describe what a postnatal doula does and why you should consider hiring one.
AIMS https://www.aims.org.uk/journal/item/postnatal-doula
Younique Postnatal Blog (I completed my training with Victoria from Younique Postnatal) http://www.youniquepostnatal.co.uk/blog/4594069694/So-What-Does-A-Postnatal-Doula-Do/11234490
Learn More
My postnatal doula training was completed with Younique Postnatal.
http://www.youniquepostnatal.co.uk/
There are numerous packages which I can offer.
The base rate for my services is £22.50/hour but there may be additional charges depending on the services you require.
The support is flexible and can be tailored to what you need or to what you can afford.
Please contact me for more information if you are interested in hiring me as a postnatal doula.
Postnatal doula services
Emotional Support
- De-brief on birth experience.
- Listening ear to support a range of feelings, emotions or situations. This can be for the birthing person, their partner and extended family.
- A sounding board for ideas on a range of parenting issues.
- Continuous checking in with emotional and mental health and well-being at each session.
- Emotional support for you partner and wider family.
Practical Support
- Looking after baby while mum/birthing person rests/sleeps/showers/attends to other child.
- Helping with an older child.
- Helping with local errands (picking up provisions, dropping things off).
- Supporting with infant care - demonstrating nappy care, baby bathing, infant feeding, safe sleep, swaddling etc.
- Preparing drinks, snacks or meals - making sure mother/birthing person is hydrated and fed.
- Under-taking simple household chores - putting on or hanging up a washing, washing dishes, putting away dishes, light tidying, putting away soiled baby clothes, light hoovering.
Informational Support
All informational support will be provided as evidence based research and will give you a range of options to choose from. This will allow you to make independent but informed choices on a range of topics, including:
- Infant feeding.
- Safe sleeping.
- Parenting methods and choices.
- Physical recovery for mum/birthing person (breast/chest care, caesarean care etc).
- Signposting to further services should you or your family need them.
Things which will not be offered
- I will not make decisions on your behalf.
- I will not give medical advice.
- Household tasks - ironing, intense housework (such as cleaning bathrooms).
- Being solely responsible and alone (in the house) with an older child.
- Changing nappies of an older child.
Package options
Hourly Rate: £22.50/hour (for virtual support too)
Please go to the Services and Bookings page for more information on the different packages:
Basic Package (25 hours) £700 pcm
Essential Package (50 hours) £1100 pcm
Deluxe Package (75 hours) £1500 pcm
Contact me for more information
How to proceed
What should I do next?
If you are interested in hiring me as a postnatal doula to support you in your postnatal period. This is what will happen:
Firstly, we will have a telephone or zoom consultation to talk through when you expect to need my support, what kind of support you are looking for, what sort of parent you would like to be.
Most importantly in this consultation we will explore if we are a good fit - do our ideals and methods of parenting match? This is hugely important to begin to this journey on the same page.
Then, if we both decide to continue on the journey together then you will be offered the opportunity to prepare a postnatal plan with me. We will draw up an agreement together and we will work out a schedule/timetable which works for us both.
YOUNIQUE POSTNATAL
TO FIND OUT MORE ABOUT MY TRAINER VICTORIA
Photo Gallery
