Postpartum Care for Moms & Newborns
| The Postpartum Doula | |
Hi! I'm Kathleen Petryshyn, a San Diego Postpartum Doula. Thank you for taking the time to stop by and learn more about the role of a postpartum doula and about me as a postpartum doula. I hope after reading through the information I have provided, that you will consider me as you are choosing someone to come into your home and assist you after the birth of your child.
The birth of a baby permanently changes the lives of parents and other family members. One baby can dramatically affect the lives of new parents, but when there are two or three babies the adjustment can become more than overwhelming! For new parents the challenges can seem endless....recovering from the birth experience itself takes time. In addition you now have total responsibility for the newborn(s), sleepless nights, trying to manage infant feeding and care, adjusting to the unique personality of the new baby(s), coping with all the emotions this transition holds for everyone in the family, and then of course there are the everyday needs and adjustments of the household. Who has time or energy left for household organization? Sometimes a family needs more support at home than they had expected. With all these challenges, it can be an extremely stressful time. Many new parents find themselves unprepared, isolated and overwhelmed during this transition. This is where I come in and can help you.
It is clear that the importance of support, advice and assistance in the weeks and months following birth is essential. As a postpartum doula, I am a neutral, third party, non-judgmental, quiet presence in your home. I am trained in postpartum adjustment, understanding newborn development, care and feeding and the promotion of parent-infant bonding. I am experienced in supporting families through the postpartum experience. Coming into your home (or assisting during your hospital stay) following your birth experience, my role, as your doula, is to provide quality, non-intrusive, physical and emotional education, support and companionship. In addition, I am able to assist with newborn care, family adjustment, and to make appropriate referrals when necessary.
As a postpartum doula, I understand that parents, whether new or experienced, need time to adjust to all of the additional responsibilities the birth of their child has added. My role is to teach, encourage and support parents to listen to and trust their own instincts in meeting each of their children's needs, thus making the transition into parenthood more joyful and much easier without the stress of doing it all alone.
Nothing can compare to the bliss that surrounds a newborn and her mother.
from Meditations for New Mothers by Beth Wilson Saaverdra