What is the difference between a “baby nurse” and a doula?
A baby nurse (who, by the way, is often not a nurse at all) cares only for your infant and provides no care for you and no instruction in baby care. As a doula, I nurture both the mother and the baby (and often the father). I mentor you and answer your questions in a gentle, non-judgmental way. I offer physical and emotional support with the aim of building your confidence so that you are soon more comfortable taking care of your baby. Youll learn practical tips for swaddling, dressing, bathing, soothing etc. your baby. In addition, I provide skilled breastfeeding help. And, as my client, you have access to a collection of books and DVDs on birth, breastfeeding and baby-related topics from my lending library. If time allows, I also handle household chores, such as shopping, cooking nutritious meals, tidying up, laundry, errands and caring for siblings.
The concept of the “baby nurse”, which dates back at least two generations, is to focus strictly on the baby’s needs. Baby nurses are caretakers ~ they care for the baby’s needs and generally do not provide guidance or instruction to new parents. The philosophy of the doula is to “mother the mother” ~ serving her needs so that she can in turn focus on meeting the needs of her baby (or babies). In the process of attending to the mother’s needs, the doula may engage in household duties, meal preparation, or caring for older siblings. Most often, the postpartum doula shares her specialized knowledge, expertise and experience to provide parents with guidance and instruction in the areas of breastfeeding, sleeping, and soothing their baby. The doula’s goals are more focused on supporting new parents as they work towards meeting their goals for their baby and their family unit, and upon meeting the new mother’s needs until she is feeling comfortable on her own. A doula empowers both mother a
