Clients Ask: What Does a Day Doula Do?

The benefits of postpartum support are indisputable. An extra set of hands and a reliable, professional source of information in those early weeks with your new baby can make all the difference to your early days of parenting. Your “Fourth Trimester” can go from “information overload” and chaos to one that is peaceful and designed to meet your educational and practical needs! But what kind of help is right for your family? Should you prioritize nighttime sleep support or a day doula?

How to Determine What You Need

Many families calling Metropolitan Doulas for support ask during their initial call with our intake coordinators, Amber and Elisha: Should we choose daytime or overnight support? Which would we need more? In response, we help create a unique support plan by learning about your family and what matters most to you in those postpartum weeks. Of course, no one can predict your baby’s personality exactly, but we have a LOT of experience in anticipating what will work best for you.

What Does a Day Doula Do?

All of our doulas are able to provide evidence-based answers to your questions about your birth and recovery, baby’s development, and feeding. But if you find yourself anxious about the hows or asking is this normal, daytime support might be best for you.

• Is bathing a slippery, squishy, new baby necessary?
• How do I know if breastfeeding is going well?
• What is the best way to soothe a fussy newborn?
• Is this color in the diaper normal?
• How do we do tummy time if my baby hates it?

These are common (and totally normal) questions often asked by first time parents — and where a day doula can really shine! Your daytime doula will be alongside you to assist with all of the educational, emotional, and practical support needs of your family as they come up. They will model the tricky, hands-on daily care of your newborn.

But a day doula’s newborn care expertise doesn’t end there — we are also able to assist with sibling adjustment, prepare nourishing family meals, demonstrate how to use baby gear, and take care of household needs like washing baby laundry, bottles, and breastpump parts. All of this in addition to providing excellent newborn care while you take time to rest and recover.

What Does a Day Shift Look Like?

Doula shifts during the day are typically four hours in length — enough to assess and assist in 1-2 baby feedings, wash and fold a load of laundry, and carve out time for parents to shower and/or nap. Generally, a shift often begins with a brief update on how your recovery is going, what is new or different in the baby’s behavior (including since the last time your doula visited), and a quick review of your goals for the day. Some parents like to start the day out with coffee and a doula. But if you prefer having help in the late afternoon, when everyone’s energy starts to flag, we offer that support too.

As you will hear when you call Metropolitan Doulas, your family is unique and no two shifts may look alike over the course of your postpartum journey. Day doulas are specialists in adapting and responding to new or changing needs, so you and your baby receive care that is specific and seamless.

But what if this doesn’t sound like the support your family needs? Head over to our blog about overnight support to learn more about how a doula can help in the wee hours, too!