Earth Child SWMO
What is a Postpartum Doula?
A postpartum doula is a trained professional who can provide education, care and support to the family after the birth of a new baby. Postpartum doulas have experience in recovering from childbirth, baby care, breastfeeding, and infant sleep. They provide non-judgmental support while meeting the general needs of the family.
Postpartum doulas are sometimes confused with baby nurses, but postpartum doulas provide care to the entire family, not just the baby. They do not provide medical care to clients, but can provide families with important information so they can make informed decisions. Postpartum doulas help maintain a strong relationship between clients and their caregivers.
A postpartum doula’s duties may include:
​
Light Housekeeping
Postpartum doulas can clean up the home, wash dishes, wash and fold laundry, sweep and mops your floors, etc.
Sibling Care
A postpartum doula can look after and care for younger siblings, so mom (and dad) can rest, heal from birth, and get to know baby.
Breastfeeding Support
Breastfeeding can be very rewarding, but it can also be a challenge for some new parents and babies. A postpartum doula can educate and give tips for breastfeeding success.
Meal Preparation
Need a fridge full of prepared snacks? Want a nutritious meal, but are recovering from a difficult birth or a cesarean? A postpartum doula can prepare a warm, home cooked meal for your family.
Errand Running
Grocery store. Dry Cleaner. Drug store. You name it, we are on it.
Overnight Baby Care
Postpartum doulas are happy to care for your baby while you and your partner get some much needed sleep. Only be interrupted when baby needs to nurse, and leave the diaper changes and baby care to us.
Access to Community Resources
Our doulas are active in the birth community and have established relationships with many professionals throughout the Springfield area. They give mom access to a network of providers including lactation specialists, chiropractors, pediatricians and more.
Ayurvedic Postpartum Care
What is Ayurvedic postpartum care?
Ayurveda is the science of life and a system of ancient natural medicine recognized by the World Health Organization (WHO) and the National Institutes of Health (NIH). Ayurvedic medicine is the only medical science to focus on your own unique physical, mental and spiritual balance.
​
According to Ayurveda, one of the most sacred periods in a woman’s life is the 42 days or six weeks after delivering her baby. This time is considered even more important than the pregnancy itself because the new mother is as delicate as her newborn baby. The changes that happen physiologically after the baby suddenly leaves the womb are more dramatic than the gradual changes during pregnancy. This dramatic change has an immense impact on the mother’s emotional and mental state that naturally causes severe imbalances. If not properly attended to these imbalances lead to depression, psychosis and other psychiatric disorders.
Ayurvedic Postpartum care provides care to the mother in the first 40 days, ensuring her support inside and out through:
​
Setting up your nest–Mamas, partners, and older siblings need a space to rest, be nourished, and bond with baby. Nests can be prepped in any room of your home, including outdoor spaces for maximal intake of sunlight and natural surroundings as weather allows.
Meals–prepped in your home, warm in temperature, warm in nature. Meals are designed to help rekindle your digestion, and also assist with lactation.
Body Work–warm oil massage in your home to help ground and calm your central nervous system, provide you with inner calm, and soothe soreness from breastfeeding, birth and baby care.
Ceremony– provide Closing ritual
Yoni Steaming–vaginal steams with herbs designed for uterine tone, health and wellness.
Belly Binding–helps muscles and tissues through exterior support, find their resting positions. Binding is done and taught to mama to allow her the knowledge and technique to bind over and over.
​
The main goal is for mama and family to feel SUPPORTED, NOURISHED, WARM and RESTED during her postpartum time.