what does a nighttime postpartum support visit look like?

Nighttime visits can include some of what a postpartum doula might accomplish during a daytime visit (see previous post), fitting in time for chatting, questions & support. A doula brings a calm, quiet nighttime energy into your home  and fine-tunes the visit toward maximizing your family's sleep.

Here are some ideas specifically suited to nighttime support!

• If you're breastfeeding your baby, they are brought to you to nurse as needed, then gathered up when you're finished
• Nursing sessions can be for dozing off with baby at the breast while your doula watches over you, for support or friendly chatting while you're nursing, or for quickly pumping while your doula takes care of bottle-feeding your expressed breast milk elsewhere
• You get to take a break from changing diapers, burping, and soothing your baby for a nice long stretch — all night!
• If exclusively bottle feeding, you and your partner sleep the night away while your doula tends to your little one entirely
• Appropriate household tasks or some food prep are quietly done for you
• Pump supplies and/or bottles are washed and prepared for the next day
• Get help organizing your nighttime routines for optimizing sleep for all