Postnatal Doula
Your job will always be to fill your baby’s cup. Mine is to fill yours.
“ I was in a bit of a state of panic when my partner went back to work and parents left. I feel like your support has helped ease me into coping with a new baby a lot better. I’m enjoying spending time with him rather than just feeling terrified. Reducing the number of times you came a week gradually made me realise I can do this.”
What will life with my new baby be like?
Imagine this: you’ve just given birth. You're at home, snuggled up on the sofa breathing it all in, listening to your baby’s soft sleepy snuffles.
You go to make a cup of tea… but the cups are all stacked in the sink. You’re hungry, but all the food is frozen… just toast again, then? And the dog is whimpering: he’s not been walked yet today… but it’s too wet to take the baby out…
And so that harsh, struggle of a reality you’ve heard about from all of your friends sinks in. The struggle has begun… unless… there was another way?
“I’m so pleased I had Gemma’s support, even though I was initially embarrassed about needing it. I wish I had known about postnatal doulas after my first child, and have been telling my friends about the support available.”
Why does the postpartum (postnatal) period feel so hard?
Whether you call it postpartum, the postnatal period, the new normal or a baby bubble, they all refer to the same vital period where the family is built.
Biologically, this is a time of closeness: when parents and their babies are able to connect and respond to one another, creating the oxytocin needed for attachment, bonding, feeding and positive mental health.
This is easier said that done: without an ever present tribe or community, and a culture that prioritises independence, new parents rarely ask for or get true support.
The resulting sleep-deprivation, stress from a chaotic environment, depletion from poor nutrition and tension from the other pressures creates adrenaline and cortisol. These counterbalance oxytocin and make things so much harder.
“I found you super supportive and kind, and you made it really easy. Initially I was way too embarrassed to ask for anything but I felt really comfortable leaving my baby with you to go for my naps; he clearly was very happy with you.”
What does a postnatal doula do?
As your postnatal doula, my job is not to snuggle your baby or to tell you what to do (unless you ask!). My role is to support you to navigate this new normal with as much positivity as possible. How I do that will absolutely vary from day to day, and from family to family. But, it might look like this…
Giving you a safe and non-judgemental space to talk and unload you fears, worries and anxieties.
Signposting you towards unbiased, evidence-based resources to help you make decisions and choices about you or your baby’s care.
Providing nutritious, strength-building and delicious food that you’ll be able to eat easily.
Creating a calm, relaxing environment by doing housework and providing aromatherapy scents.
Supporting your sleep by looking after your baby while you rest.
Easing the pressure of the mental load by doing shopping or food orders, daily chores or house-admin.
But why?
Because when you feel calmer, more confident, more relaxed and less irritated, you’ll produce more oxytocin.
And when you do that, the biological processes needed for attachment, bonding and feeding, as well as your own transition into parenthood, will always be better.
Born to Birth Cornwall: postnatal doula packages
Support looks different for everyone: my doula packages offer a different balance of services through pregnancy, labour & birth, and the postnatal period, to make sure you get what you need and want, at a budget to suit you.
Whichever package you choose to go with, you’ll receive the following as standard:
Continuous Whatsapp / phone communication for information, reassurance & signposting from the moment we sign our contract, until you decide you no longer need me.
An antenatal planning session* for us to get to know one another & to get a postnatal plan in place.
*where appropriate
-
Settling into the new normal of family life takes time: with 20 hours of postnatal support, this package gives the reassurance that support will not disappear overnight, alongside the freedom to taper down your visits to suit your growing confidence.
This package includes:
20 hours of postnatal support, delivered in sessions of between 2 and 5 hours.
Continuous virtual support (Whatsapp, phone, text or videocall) for the month surrounding your package.
Flexible scheduling week-by-week.
Travel costs (15 mile radius of my home)
£380
-
Finding your feet is best done when you feel supported: with 10 hours of postnatal support, this package will give you the confidence boost you need to get started in family life with a smile.
This package includes:
10 hours of postnatal support, delivered in sessions of between 2 and 4 hours.
Continuous virtual support (Whatsapp, phone, text or videocall) for the month surrounding your package.
Flexible scheduling week-by-week
Travel costs (within 15 mile radius of my home)
£200
-
This affordable and flexible option, gives you all the benefits of my knowledge, connections and empathetic, emotional approach, without the need to actually have me in your home.
This monthly package includes:
One calendar month of doula support via Whatsapp, phone call, text or video call.
Emotional support: check-in chats to support our mental health and mindset
Information signposting: access to unbiased, evidence based resources on everything from sleep to feeding, relationships to recovery.
Check-ins to suit you and your needs (eg: daily, every other day, and at a time to suit you)
£80 per month*
The Virtual Doula package is payable monthly, at the start of the month.
How to book a postnatal doula package…
Get in touch by email : let me know where you live and what stage of pregnancy you’re at.
We’ll chat over the phone, a video call or in person to talk through the kind of support you’d like.
Once that’s settled, and if I am the right fit for you, we’ll get down the business of contracts and booking in an approximate start date.