Who's Got A Post-Partum Doula?

I'VE got a post-partum doula!

Two, actually.

One of these two incredible, lovely, compassionate women was highly recommended by a friend, and the other was highly recommended by my midwife... and it just so happens that they work together!

Quite considerate of them, isn't it?

Once Little Girl is born, one of them will cover nights, and the other will cover days-- not full time, but as often as needed over the first few weeks.  Long enough to get Little Girl and I off on the right foot.  They'll help me with breastfeeding and swaddling and all kinds of things I know little or nothing about yet.

Now, to those of you out there in the world, it might seem early to already be booking anyone for anything post-partum.

But this is L.A.  

And the best post-partum doulas book up FAST and EARLY.

My midwife emphasized at my twenty-week appointment last week that I should get started ASAP on collecting recommendations and setting up interviews.  And I definitely did my due diligence collecting recommendations... but I only set up this one interview.

I could tell from everything my friend said that I would like and feel comfortable with the doula who covers days, and I figured if I liked her I would probably like her partner.

I was right!

I met them both for coffee this evening, and felt instantly that I would be comfortable with them in my house, seeing me at what will likely be my most vulnerable, and trusting them with my little baby.

That's a lot to get in an hour.  

But when you know, you know.

And I knew.

Suddenly, I'm feeling a lot less stress about those first few, fragile, exhausting weeks.

Between the doulas, my usual household support team, and my parents-- who will thankfully be coming for a couple of weeks as well-- Little Girl and I should be pretty well taken care of.  

The dogs will get fed and walked, the house will get cleaned, food will be cooked, laundry will get done, the yard will be taken care of, the mail will be brought in... and I'll get to focus exclusively on bonding with Little Girl and enjoying her adorableness with my parents.  

We'll be able to get to know each other without every day stressors and obligations, and with the compassionate support of these two very special women.

I really couldn't be happier.

 

Comments

[Gord Lacey]

Doulas are AWESOME! We had one for the birth of our little guy (a month ago today - yup, it was on Christmas), and she was such a huge help. I imagine having a post-partum doula would be absolutely amazing.

One thing my wife and I did was Hypnobabies - self hypnosis for childbirth. My wife managed to deliver without any drugs, and it was a fairly quick, easy delivery. Our doula was pretty amazed. There are a number of instructors around LA, so it's something you may want to look into (if you want a natural childbirth, that is). Worked really well for us.

[Cath]

I wish I had had one for the birth of my twins. It was tough! Actually just having someone cook for me would have been great.

[Christi]

Congrats! Sounds like a HUGE load off your shoulders.

[jerie b]

here is a funny about our baby nurse (also in high demand in la.) we brought babies home on a saturday..i had been in the hospital 32 days..i wanted to be home w/our babies...so i told my mother & sister to go home for the night..we wanted to bond as a family.(STUPID)..sometime in the night new daddy comes to the nursery...one in the bed crying, i'm holding the other one and he's crying and i'm crying the most...he says: 'when the sun comes up i'm calling dorothy'-- who was not scheduled to come til monday...she stayed a month then we renegotiated for a couple of more weeks...she took care of them and my mother and sister (and plenty of friends) took care of us...
'when the sun comes up'...we laugh about that still...sweet memories...she had them on the same schedule...heaven...when they napped so did i...trust me on that...sweet dreams tonight

[yogini cowgirl]

I love how consciously you are approaching the birth of your baby girl! It's so exciting.
Before you swaddle your little bundle ... consider taking this course ... http://www.iahp.org/
These people started their work with brain-injured children over 50 years ago and have developed a course for well-children that is just AMAZING.
It's in Philadelphia. It's one week. And it's INCREDIBLE what we don't know about infant brain development. I didn't take the class until my daughter was 18 months and I could almost kick myself for all the advantages I DIDN'T know to give her.
Sending you so much love ...