A Day With a Postpartum Doula
Imagine you gave birth 5 days ago. You’re lying on the couch, its 8:30am. Your bummy is sore, your boobs are sore. You feel that sick feeling in your belly from lack of sleep, and you can see piles. Piles everywhere. Piles of laundry. Piles of toys your 5 year old left out. Piles of dishes from dinner last night. Pump parts are strewn about the kitchen. Your snack basket only has wrappers left and you’re too tired and hungry to get up and make breakfast.
Then I arrive.
I ask how the night went. I ask when you ate last, and who's had breakfast. I wrap the baby to my chest while I take the 5 year old to the kitchen with me to make everyone breakfast. You get a shower and back into bed. While your big kid eats, I bring your breakfast to you in bed, with your favorite tea. There's enough time to eat before baby will be ready to eat. So we let you have some quiet time. I start the laundry and unload the dishwasher till she wakes up and starts rooting around.
I bring her to you with your water bottle filled with fresh ice water.
I know which pillows you like to use to nurse her with, and I brought them with me. I help you get comfortable, and once she’s nursing, I sit on the foot of the bed and we talk. Talk about the rising anxiety, how needy your 5 year old is and how drained you feel by her, but also how much you miss spending time with her. You remembered something else that happened at the birth, and you just wanted to process it. We talk about everything that feels important to you today and everything you hope you’ll be up for. I know how important it is for you to get a nap, and get to snuggle with your big kid whose struggling with the transition.
After baby eats, she’s ready for a big sleep again, and I take her with me and close the door behind me.
The dishwasher hums, your pump parts drip dry in the draining tray. The floor becomes visible, toys returned to their bins. I add fresh snacks to your basket. I refresh your diaper changing station, and put all the tiny clothes back in their drawers.
When you wake up, you find us reading on the couch, and it’s almost time for baby to get woken for her next feeding.
“Hey! How do you feel?"
"Better."
