What is a postpartum doula, and should I consider hiring one?
There are doulas that specialize in helping families after the baby is born, easing the burdens of daily life so you can concentrate on your baby. Postpartum doulas don’t have medical degrees but rather are trained or experienced in providing care during the first days or weeks after childbirth. They’ll do all sorts of things to help ease your transition to new parenthood — from caring for you and your baby and offering breastfeeding advice to cooking, babysitting, running errands, and even doing light housework. Maybe you don’t have relatives who are able to pitch in after you have your baby. Or maybe you’d simply prefer to use a doula’s services instead of, or in addition to a relative’s help. Either way — if you can afford to hire someone — you’ll find the help of a good doula invaluable. Even if your mate is eager to take over household duties while you recover, letting someone else do some of the work allows the two of you precious time with your baby and with each other.
