Most new parents are focused on everything leading up to the birth of their baby. They prepare the baby’s room, take care of getting everything the baby will need, and pack a bag to be ready to go to the hospital once the new mother goes into labor.

However, they completely forget about preparing for all the post-birth changes. When the new baby arrives home, the parents’ routines can be entirely thrown off balance.

Most babies will not sleep through the night, and their schedules can run completely opposite that of their parents. Fortunately, new parents can get postpartum help at home from a postpartum doula or baby nurse.

Preparing for the Postpartum Period

The postpartum period is approximately six to eight weeks after giving birth and returning home. During this time, the new mother needs plenty of time to reset and recover. Therefore, her only focus for the first two to three weeks should be caring for herself and the baby.

All other household responsibilities, including cooking, cleaning, running errands, paying bills, grocery shopping, etc., need to be performed by someone else. Unfortunately, many new dads or domestic partners attempt to take on all these additional responsibilities.

They soon discover, between being awakened at night, helping care for the baby, along with a lack of sleep while working and keeping up with everything around the house, it is just too much to take on by themselves.

Another concern new parents face is remembering to eat nutritious meals. However, since their focus is entirely on the baby, they may skip meals, rely on fast food, and eat unhealthy snacks. This, too, will cause the new parents to be tired and lethargic and increase the risks of getting sick since the immune system is also compromised.

Most importantly, the new mother needs time to adjust to all the hormonal changes, emotional changes, and physical changes her body experiences postpartum. These changes can place added stress on the mother when she is trying to focus on more than just the baby.

The best way to prepare for the postpartum period is to get the postpartum help you need at least for the first two to three weeks after bringing your baby home.

What Is a Postpartum Doula?

A postpartum doula is there to support the entire family, including you, your spouse or domestic partner, and your other children. Some of the more common types of postpartum help and duties your postpartum doula can perform include:

• Light Housekeeping
• Meal Preparation
• Breastfeeding/Bottle Feeding Support
• Assistance with Physical and Emotional Recovery
• Family Support
• Sibling Care
• Newborn Care Assistance (Diaper Changes, Bathing, Rocking, etc.)
• Running Errands
• Teaching Parents Baby Soothing Techniques

What Is a Baby Nurse?

Unlike a postpartum doula, a baby nurse’s primary focus is the baby and parental support. They will provide infant care to give the parents a break so they can rest, relax, and focus on themselves by offering the following services:

• Feeding the Baby
• Caring for the Baby Overnight
• Lactation Assistance
• Diaper Changes
• Bathing
• Sterilizing Bottles
• Infant Laundry

In addition, they provide assistance to help the baby start to transition to a more regular schedule of sleeping and feeding that reflects the parents’ schedule.

What Type of Postpartum Help at Home Is Best?

The type of postpartum help at home you need depends on your specific needs. For example, if you have other children, a postpartum doula could be a better option since they also provide care for your other children. On the other hand, if this is your first baby, a baby nurse might be more beneficial to give you time to sleep, relax, and recover.

Some new parents also hire a postpartum doula to help during the first two to three weeks since they offer light housekeeping, meal preparation, and other services a baby nurse does not. Then, once the parents have adjusted to their new baby, they switch to a baby nurse for continued support for their baby.

As you are preparing for your baby’s arrival, now is the time to start thinking about the postpartum help you will need once you bring the baby home. For help finding a postpartum doula or a baby nurse, or both, please feel free to contact Staffing at Tiffanie’s at 866-484-5550 today!