Sun Valley Helping Hands
Loving Care during the
"4th Trimester"
The first 6 - 12 weeks postpartum are often referred to as the 4th trimester. During that time, a new mother needs a lot of downtime, encouragement, and assurance to heal, recover, rest, tend to herself and her baby. Especially the first few weeks, it is essential to provide Mom and Baby with a safe, quiet, calm, healing environment as well as knowledge and experience.
A Postpartum Doula is “a trained professional who provides continuous physical, emotional, and informational support to a mother after childbirth to help her achieve the healthiest, most satisfying experience possible.”
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Here's some more info on the care Postpartum Doulas provide:
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"Mothering the Mother "
What does a Postpartum Doula do?
A postpartum doula’s job depends a lot on the family’s need for help. Every job offers a different experience. If the mother has given birth, we help with the physical recovery of the woman. If baby was born through cesarian, I turn into a Post-surgery caregiver for mom in addition to postpartum doula. If baby is adopted, I mostly help with newborn care, emotional support, and help around the house. A Postpartum Doula’s education enables her to provide help and education about newborn care, baby and mom's health, sibling and family adjustment, breastfeeding issues, sleeping, swaddling, baby-wearing, etc. based on reputable sources.
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As your postpartum doula, I am not a newborn care specialist or babysitter, but I am experienced in newborn care and helping new parents get comfortable with all issues related to their infant and parenting.
However, my main focus is the mother’s healing, rest, recovery, and feeling good and confident on this incredible new life’s journey.
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As your Postpartum Doula, I Offer:
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Education before and after birth.
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Comfort and Kindness during this time of vulnerability, newness, and uncertainty.
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Chores around the home including cooking meals, laundry, light cleaning, pet care, sibling care, etc.
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Help parents learn about and feel comfortable with their Newborn
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Professional referrals such as lactation consultants, pediatricians, postpartum support groups, parenting classes, etc.
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Overnight help.
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In general, anything to help mother and newborn rest and recover after childbirth.
This mother explained how I was of help, better than I could. Thank you Rene.
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After the birth of my first son and underestimating the needs of the postpartum period, I knew that I wanted a different experience for my second child. Erika as our postpartum doula was perfectly the solution we needed!
Erika anticipated what I needed before I even knew myself — the precise thing a postpartum brain needs!! Whether it was holding the baby while I napped, washing dishes, preparing a nutritious meal or a sitz bath for me, sharing knowledge about breastfeeding or newborn cues, I felt safe and cared for by Erika. Her energy and presence itself was reassuring, not to mention her incredible intuition and healing nature, which put me and my infant son (my husband and older son, too!) at ease.
Anytime Erika was in our home, or even just knowing that she would be back again soon, I felt so confident and secure.
My second postpartum experience could not have been more different than my first -restful and peaceful, thanks to Erika as our postpartum doula - the absolute best gift to our family!
Rene Thomas Smey, MOT, OTR/L Occupational Therapist