Although we can sometimes help with last minute support, it's always a good idea to secure your support as early as possible. This gives you a chance to go through the interview process and have your choice of professionals!
What is a Postpartum Professional?
Postpartum Professionals are trained support specialists who assist the new mother, her baby and her family within the first few months after the birth of the baby. They may be a PNSW, doula or an RN/RPN. They are patient, non judgemental andknowledgeable about newborn care & breastfeeding. The goal of a Postpartum Professional is to nurture the parents into their new roles. As they experience success & their knowledge & self-confidence grow, their need for professional support will diminish.
What are the benefits of having postpartum support?
The benefits of having postpartum support are:
· Increase parents confidence in their skills
· Increase success of breastfeeding
· Facilitating parent-infant bond
· Decrease postpartum mood disorders and depression
· Greater feeling of support for and from both mom and dad
· Increased baby soothing skills often leading to sleeping longer stretches sooner
· Better coping skills
· Fathers and siblings feel included in life with a new baby
What will my Postpartum Professional do?
A Postpartum Professional supporting a family during daytime hours might…
· Provide hands-on education on infant and mother care
· Create a nurturing, restful atmosphere in which parents may eat, shower and nap
· Shop for groceries and prepare meals
· Spend time with the baby, allowing parents to cuddle and have quality time with
older children or just be alone together
· Introduce parenting tips, helping parents to learn skills that will enable them to cope
with their new responsibilities
· Screen for hurdles such as breastfeeding challenges or postpartum mood disorders
· Make referrals to any local or informational resources that the parents might need
· Work herself out of a job by helping parents to gather the skills and resources that
they will need in the upcoming weeks and months
· Help to organize the nursery and home
· Take care of the baby’s laundry
· Offer a listening, non-judgmental ear
· Help with housework such as washing dishes, sweeping floor, etc
· Help initialize a routine for your baby and your family
Our Postpartum Professionals also offer Night Support!
A postpartum professional supporting a family during the “overnight” hours might
do everything listed above as well as…
· Assess and help with breastfeeding
· Diaper and burp baby, so that mom does not need to move around – she can just stay cozy
in her bed to feed and snuggle baby
· Preparing snacks and beverages to the mother while feeding her baby at night
· Prepare pump supplies or bottles for the next feeding or the next day
· Take the contentedly fed baby to another room and help the baby to go back to sleep,
so parents can sleep soundly between feedings
· For bottle fed babies, feed babies so parents may get a few extra hours of sleep
Postpartum Professionals are trained support specialists who assist the new mother, her baby and her family within the first few months after the birth of the baby. They may be a PNSW, doula or an RN/RPN. They are patient, non judgemental andknowledgeable about newborn care & breastfeeding. The goal of a Postpartum Professional is to nurture the parents into their new roles. As they experience success & their knowledge & self-confidence grow, their need for professional support will diminish.
What are the benefits of having postpartum support?
The benefits of having postpartum support are:
· Increase parents confidence in their skills
· Increase success of breastfeeding
· Facilitating parent-infant bond
· Decrease postpartum mood disorders and depression
· Greater feeling of support for and from both mom and dad
· Increased baby soothing skills often leading to sleeping longer stretches sooner
· Better coping skills
· Fathers and siblings feel included in life with a new baby
What will my Postpartum Professional do?
A Postpartum Professional supporting a family during daytime hours might…
· Provide hands-on education on infant and mother care
· Create a nurturing, restful atmosphere in which parents may eat, shower and nap
· Shop for groceries and prepare meals
· Spend time with the baby, allowing parents to cuddle and have quality time with
older children or just be alone together
· Introduce parenting tips, helping parents to learn skills that will enable them to cope
with their new responsibilities
· Screen for hurdles such as breastfeeding challenges or postpartum mood disorders
· Make referrals to any local or informational resources that the parents might need
· Work herself out of a job by helping parents to gather the skills and resources that
they will need in the upcoming weeks and months
· Help to organize the nursery and home
· Take care of the baby’s laundry
· Offer a listening, non-judgmental ear
· Help with housework such as washing dishes, sweeping floor, etc
· Help initialize a routine for your baby and your family
Our Postpartum Professionals also offer Night Support!
A postpartum professional supporting a family during the “overnight” hours might
do everything listed above as well as…
· Assess and help with breastfeeding
· Diaper and burp baby, so that mom does not need to move around – she can just stay cozy
in her bed to feed and snuggle baby
· Preparing snacks and beverages to the mother while feeding her baby at night
· Prepare pump supplies or bottles for the next feeding or the next day
· Take the contentedly fed baby to another room and help the baby to go back to sleep,
so parents can sleep soundly between feedings
· For bottle fed babies, feed babies so parents may get a few extra hours of sleep
The relationship between the Postpartum Professional and her clients requires the same maintenance as other important relationships in life, such as marriage or close friendships. It is important that communication remain open, as clients’ needs or priorities may change with time or experience.
The professional anticipates these changes and will be prepared to remain flexible in her role.
The professional anticipates these changes and will be prepared to remain flexible in her role.
