Still curious as to what an evening/overnight postpartum doula actually does? I typically come over in the early evening, sit down with your family, and ask about the birth and if you have any questions or pressing needs.

From there I may do a myriad of things from setting up several feeding or nursing stations for the mother with snacks and beverages, to stocking the fridge with healthy snacks, making a late-night grocery run, making a sitz bath and/or compresses for the mom, changing the bed sheets, etc. all while the dishwasher is running and I've thrown in a load of laundry. When baby is awake, I can often answer most newborn-care related questions but more than anything help with breastfeeding or bottle-feeding; this means latching technique, setting up a feeding schedule, teaching different nursing positions, showing mom how to use a breast pump or manually express milk, etc. I also help teach mom simple and safe postpartum exercises so she can begin to re-gain her strength.

For the overnight portion I typically sleep in the same room as the baby or nearby with a baby monitor. When baby wakes, if mom is breastfeeding I bring baby right to mom and get her set up comfortably, provide support and answer any questions she may have. I then typically burp, change, and swaddle the baby and put him/her back to sleep. If baby is bottle-feeding then I typically do the feeding so that mom can get much-needed sleep. I also wash all bottles and breast pump supplies. In the morning I can watch the baby while mom enjoys a shower or breakfast.