Finding the right postpartum support you can trust in the Bay Area is crucial in the weeks and months after giving birth. But choosing a quality postpartum doula requires more than a quick search - you’ll want to ask certain questions about experience, services, and more to ensure that they are a great fit for you and your family. Here are three questions to consider asking while you interview a potential doula.
1. What Experience Does the Doula Have?
When choosing a postpartum doula, you’ll want someone with years of relevant experience in your corner. Being able to lean on a doula who is well-equipped with the right skills can make all the difference for a new mother.
Start by asking your potential postpartum doula about their professional experience in helping new parents, and if they have attended any specialized programs or trainings regarding newborn care. How many years have they worked as a doula in San Francisco or elsewhere? How many families have they helped in that time?
It may also be helpful to know if they have experience with families with similar needs or challenges. For example, a first-time mom may want to know if the postpartum doula they’re interviewing has assisted other first-time parents in the past.
While considering a postpartum doula, it’s also important to assess the softer skills they bring to the table. Beyond practical skills, such as breastfeeding support and postpartum care, a highly experienced doula brings the empathy and understanding that mothers need during this intensive phase of life.
2. What Support & Services Does the Doula Provide?
Each postpartum doula’s services can vary, so it’s critical that you ask for a clear explanation of what they provide and what you can expect for support. Typically, doulas offer a range of emotional, physical, and practical help that makes it easier for moms to care for their babies and themselves.
On the practical side, postpartum doulas can assist with breastfeeding guidance, soothing techniques, healthy habit formation, bonding with baby, and more. It’s important to ask about these specifics, especially if there are certain responsibilities of motherhood that seem especially daunting to you. For example, a new mom who is struggling with breastfeeding would benefit from the help of a Bay Area postpartum doula who provides lactation support.
Emotional support is another important service to ask your potential postpartum doula about. A postpartum doula should be an empathetic listener, helping you process the birth experience and adjust to the changes that come with motherhood. They can also offer useful advice on self-care and emotional well-being, which often fall by wayside while caring for a new baby.
3. Does the Postpartum Doula’s Support Reach the Whole Family?
The role of a doula can extend beyond supporting mother and baby - they can also guide the entire household as the family adjusts to the arrival of a new baby. During the interview process, you may want to ask how they approach care for the whole family unit.
Many doulas will involve partners in the postpartum process, providing advice on how they can best support the mother and bond with their baby. This may include teaching them how to soothe the baby, assisting with nighttime routines, or simply building confidence as they adjust to parenthood as well.
Furthermore, a postpartum doula can help create a calm home environment by addressing concerns that family members have and providing gentle guidance when it’s needed. Asking your potential doula about their approach to involving the rest of the family will help you decide if this doula is right for your needs.
Professional Postpartum Doula Support in San Francisco
With more than 10 years of experience in supporting young families with sleep training and postpartum doula services, Evi Kantor provides the practical and compassionate assistance you need to navigate the postpartum period. For doula services in San Francisco and throughout the Bay Area, get in touch with Evi today.
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