Clients Ask: What Does a Night Doula Do?

You’ve read the baby books, taken the baby care classes, and feel totally confident that you can do this…. But what happens when you’re so sleep deprived you barely remember what day it is, with another daytime shift with your newborn a few hours away? Nighttime parenting can be a whole different world and the perfect time for a night doula to step in, so you can rest and be ready for whatever the next day brings.

How would your new parenting journey feel if you could count on a solid night of sleep a few times per week? That’s where overnight support from a postpartum doula can help.

Why Use a Postpartum Doula at Night?

Postpartum support looks different for every family. Some families seek a night nurse, night nanny, or newborn care specialist — providers who focus solely on your baby’s growth and development, including their sleep and feeding. Our postpartum doulas offer the same services as a night nurse/nanny or newborn care specialist AND MORE. We support your entire family’s non-medical educational, practical, and emotional needs, during the day and through the night. This includes your need for rest and sleep.

For more information on daytime postpartum support, read our post on what a day doula shift has to offer. And read on to learn more about our overnight postpartum care.

What Does a Night Doula Do?

Overnight support from Metropolitan Doulas generally looks like this: your doula arrives around 10pm and spends a few minutes with you before you head to bed. During this time, they can check in with you about your and your baby’s day, answer any non-medical questions about your recovery and your baby’s growth and behavior, and clarify any changes or goals for the night ahead. Once both of you feel caught up, you hand off your baby to your doula and get yourself to bed.

Through the night, your doula will take care of your baby’s wakings and feedings. How does this work if you’re lactating? Your doula will bring your baby and/or pump to you, help you position and latch comfortably, take care of diaper changes, and soothe your baby while you get back to sleep. If your baby is extra gassy or needs help staying asleep, your doula will be there to calm them and help build age-appropriate and healthy sleep habits.

Once your baby is settled, your doula will also clean any breastpump parts or bottles, giving you a head start on the day ahead. Some may take care of light household chores as long as it doesn’t interrupt the family’s sleep. This could include folding laundry, but will probably not include vacuuming your home.

Your doula will depart in the morning, typically after you wake well-rested and ready to enjoy the day with your new family member. They may leave you notes or spend a few minutes filling you in on any details from the night. If you feel a longer chat is needed, that works too, but we prioritize your rest! You and your doula may choose to spend some time in the morning or schedule a day shift for more conversation.

How Do I Know If I Will Need Night Doula Support?

It can be hard to predict needs until you are postpartum and home with your baby. Doulas get it. Some families find a combination of daytime and nighttime support to be right for them, while others opt for one or the other.

As you will hear when you call Metropolitan Doulas, your family is unique and no two shifts may look alike. Night doulas, like 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.

Head over to our blog about day doula support to learn more about how a doula can help when the sun is out and, whichever way you decide to go, rest assured that Metropolitan Doulas has the right support for you.