Just had a baby and need support at home? Swedish doulas to the rescue.
New mom of two, Utaukwa Allen, answers our questions and talks about the difference the unique program made in the early weeks of her daughter’s homecoming.
• Knowing the doula was caring for her baby throughout the night allowed the exhausted mom to get the rest she needed.
• The doula’s help with the baby opened up time for mom to give her active toddler the attention he needed.
• Help around the house and with meals proved invaluable.
[3 MIN READ]
There’s no other time for your family like the days and weeks that follow bringing home a new baby. You want to savor every moment but that can be difficult when what you really need is an extra pair of hands. And a nap.
In an earlier article, we outlined a unique postpartum doula program that’s part of the Swedish comprehensive doula services, and the first ever hospital-based program of its kind in the country. Our doulas are dedicated to making the early days of your baby’s life easier for everyone as they focus on delivering customized care, including:
• Guidance for breastfeeding, chestfeeding, bottle feeding and pumping
• Care for your baby during the night while you sleep
• Meal prep
• Laundry, dishwashing and light housekeeping
• Suggestions and education on baby care
But what does all that really mean? And how does it work?
Hear directly from a new mother of two, Utaukwa Allen, who recounts the experience, answers questions and explains the difference the program made in her daughter’s homecoming.
A. There were several. Having someone who knew what you needed as a mother of a newborn, sometimes before you even knew yourself. Learning new techniques for comforting and caring for a newborn from someone who genuinely cared for you and your child. Having an extra person to help with child rearing at a major transition point who was reliable, nurturing, honest and genuine. Having an organizational guru help keep your home organized, tidy and beautiful.
But beyond those things, she encouraged and helped give me a positive outlook. She told me, “You are beyond just the role of being a mother, you have a whole universe that brings meaning to your family and to yourself.”
Q. What were some of the specific things your postpartum doula did that were helpful and supportive to you?
A. First, I had to have a C-section and my postpartum doula really went out of her way to make sure I could heal properly. For example, one morning I was exhausted and my pulse had accelerated. My doula said, “Find your pace, your rhythm. It has been a busy week for you. You have support and you are doing awesome. Be kind with yourself.”
Secondly, I really appreciated the overnight stays where my postpartum doula took primary care of my newborn. I knew that my baby was being taken care of by a trustworthy, warm and generous person while I was able to rest and recover. I was able to get a full night’s rest, recharge and have renewed energy the next day to take care of my baby, very active toddler and myself.
Q. What was surprising to you about the postpartum period?
What was great about our postpartum doula is that she understood a lot about navigating this new world of two children. Not only did she make our older son feel special and “seen” every time she came over, but she gave us the freedom we needed to spend one-on-one quality time with him while she diligently cared for our newborn.
She told me being a mother of two was, “new territory, but you have all the gifts within you already.”
Q. What would you tell someone who was undecided about whether to hire a postpartum doula?
It was amazing how much our doula could anticipate our family’s needs and jump right in and help without any prompting. I highly recommend the Swedish doula program.
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Find a doctor
The obstetricians at Swedish understand how important the first few weeks you bring home your new baby can be in giving your growing family a healthy start. Find a doctor you can trust in our provider directory.
Share your best postpartum advice for bringing home your #newbaby and whether a #postpartumdoula made a difference with the readers @swedish.
Related resources
Swedish launches first-ever hospital-based postpartum doula services
Care for yourself while you care for your new baby
This information is not intended as a substitute for professional medical care. Always follow your healthcare professional's instructions.