Postpartum Help Makes for Nurtured Families

Postpartum Help Makes for Nurtured Families

Corey Engmann never considered hiring a postpartum doula until she learned she was expecting twins. Feeling overwhelmed and worried about how she would handle twin babies, along with the pressing needs of her two-year-old, she turned to Teresa Marshall, a certified birth and postpartum doula, to help her after her twins arrived.

Marshall spent five nights a week for four months at Engmann’s home after the birth of the twins, providing support, encouragement and help. Her assistance enabled Engmann to get the sleep she needed to recover from a physically demanding pregnancy.

“I can easily say that hiring Teresa was the best thing I have ever done for myself and our family,” Engmann says. “During the day I could be present, loving and enjoying all three of my children. It wasn’t the endless cycle of fatigue and frustration as it sometimes was during the first few months with my first child.”

What is a postpartum doula? Postpartum doulas are trained to provide support and information on infant care, feeding, postpartum recovery, mama-baby bonding and infant soothing techniques.

The first six weeks after a newborn arrives can be a mixture of happiness and anxiety as moms settle into a new routine. Many of today’s new mothers lack the support network that generations of mothers have relied on. Close family and friends are far-flung and partners return to work within days. A postpartum doula can provide experience and valuable support that a new mother may be missing.

“A lot of women are waiting to have children until they are much older. Their parents are older or live in other parts of the country,” says Teresa Marshall, who in addition to her work as a birth and postpartum doula, is a facilitator for a pregnancy and postpartum depression and anxiety support group. “With postpartum depression a risk, it’s so important for women not to be isolated.”

The support of a postpartum doula can be especially helpful to mothers who:

• Have a history of depression or postpartum depression.
• Don’t have close friends and family nearby to rely on.
• Are expecting multiples.
• Have other little ones demanding her attention.

“I am convinced that Teresa saved my life,” says Engmann. “As most moms have felt at one time or another, I was often wondering and questioning if what I was doing was the right thing for my children–and with twins, the responsibility is so unbelievably overwhelming.” 

Mothering the Mother

A mom who spends hours alone with her baby can easily spiral into emotional and physical exhaustion, which can put her at greater risk for postpartum anxiety or depression. During this challenging transition period–often called the fourth trimester–a postpartum doula can provide calm reassurance and support to a new mama and her family.

“When moms feel supported at home and they are getting what they need, the rates of postpartum depression are reduced,” says Kate Kripke, LCSW, an expert in perinatal mood and anxiety disorders and contributing writer for PostPartumProgress.com. “There is a lot to be said about the role the postpartum doula plays in simply mothering the mother after she gives birth that can be incredibly preventative for lots of women.”

In addition to helping to care for the baby, postpartum doulas often help with light housework, errands, cooking, crowd control and caring for siblings. Many are also trained to recognize the signs of postpartum depression and provide resources to the moms they support.

“When doulas are educated in what to look for, they’re one of the first people to pick up on and identify when something is going on with the mom,” Kripke says.

What is postpartum depression? According to PostPartum Support International, one in eight women suffers from postpartum depression. Symptoms include insomnia, severe mood swings, a lack of joy, loss of appetite, overwhelming fatigue, withdrawal from family and friends and thoughts of suicide. (Additional symptoms can be found at MayoClinic.org). Postpartum depression can also interfere with healthy bonding between a mom and her newborn.

“When a baby is on the inside, a woman takes amazing care of herself. And when the baby is born, it becomes all about the baby. As soon as that mom starts to struggle and suffer, she will no longer have what is going to be required to care for her baby the way she wants to. Not because she isn’t a good mom or doesn’t love her child, but simply because she’s human,” Kripke says. “I find that the women who are enjoying motherhood the most and who feel the healthiest…are the ones who are receiving help.”

For more information about postpartum doulas and to find one in your area, visit http://www.dona.org. 

Redding Doula Collective

1727 South Street
Redding, CA 96001
(530) 395-9597
Website

Cristine Steele, SBD, CPD, is a Postpartum Doula with the Redding Doula Collective and Director of Postpartum Support. 

She is also a local Coordinator for Postpartum Support International.

Steele, who herself experienced postpartum depression and anxiety, says, “Struggling with a mood disorder during pregnancy or postpartum is very common. My clients have been appreciative that I am trained to educate, have a watchful eye for, and even screen for perinatal mood and anxiety disorders. I want to help lessen the stigma, and it starts by having a conversation.”

Her mission is to come alongside other moms and dads-to-be. Postpartum Planning helps to normalize all that can happen in that first year as they adjust to life with a new baby. Steele says, “We talk about the shifts that are bound to take place in their relationship and I give them space to brainstorm how to come together instead of drifting apart. We have real talk about the changes that hormones and lack of sleep have on mom. I educate on perinatal mood and anxiety disorders, so that if either the mom or partner (yes, dads get postpartum depression too!) does start to struggle in the postpartum season, they know where to turn to for help. In our culture nowadays we have essentially lost the concept that is the village. Women mentored women as a way of life, as did men. Communities took care of their postpartum moms and gave them space and time to heal and get to know their newborn. The older women took care of household tasks and brought the new mom bowls of nourishing soups that would replenish her physically and spiritually.” 

A postpartum doula can assist with breast or bottle feeding, help with meal preparation, sibling integration, light household tasks, and give new moms space for self-care (something that goes by the wayside after giving birth). A variety of support is available to fit every unique family’s unique needs.

The Redding Doula Collective is the contemporary village, come together to support mothers, newborns and their families before, during, and after birth.

Postpartum Support International

1-800-944-4773
Website

Cristine Steele, North State Coordinator for Postpartum Support International (PSI), says,  “Emphasizing that this resource is available would be of great value to our community.”

PSI is equipped with a “warm line”, a phone center that provides advice for anyone effected by a perinatal mood disorder, or family member concerned for someone they are close to. The caller can leave a message and a volunteer PSI coordinator will get back to them within 24 hours. This is not for emergency situations, but used as an initial line of support. The coordinator will provide immediate emotional support, and will connect callers to appropriate resources in their area. 

PSI’s website offers articles with information on perinatal mood disorders, as well as online support groups, and a list of local PSI coordinators and support groups. It is a valuable resource for anyone that is pregnant or postpartum. 

Mikalia Dyer, IBCLC

Breastfeeding in Paradise

Breastfeeding does not always come easily for every new mom and baby so the help of a lactation consultant (IBCLC – International Board Certified Lactation Consultant) is invaluable to these moms. IBCLCs work in many hospitals, doctor’s offices, and some have private practices that can even provide in-home lactation consults. It can be really beneficial to have the help of an IBCLC that comes to your home and helps you figure out breastfeeding using your everyday setup and the added benefit of not having to go somewhere with your brand new baby.

Mikalia Dyer is an IBCLC and doula who received her lactation consultation education through UC San Diego. She offers in-home lactation consults and classes, and she is forming a support group.

Says Mikalia, “I love being able to help moms in the comfort of their own homes, using their own couch and pillows, without the moms having to pack everything up and head to me when newly postpartum.”

 Mikalia Dyer, IBCLC
(530) 570-0278
Website

How you can help

Having a sense of community is vital to a new mom’s health and well-being. Here are ways you can help a new mom during those first few weeks home (always text or call ahead first):

• Coordinate an “online care train” where friends and family can sign up for time slots to deliver meals, take care of siblings, clean house or rock the baby. (Check out http://www.mealtrain.com.)
• Offer to rock the baby for a couple of hours to give mom a chance to take a shower or a nap.
• Deliver coffee and muffins.
• Drop off a fully prepared meal.
• •Babysit any older children for an afternoon.
• Offer to walk her dog, clean house or run an errand.
• Give her a gift card to her favorite take-out restaurant.