Should I Hire a Postpartum Doula or Infant Care Specialist?

Having help with a newborn or infant can make all the difference for some families in the early days and beyond. Knowing which care provider might be best can be a little confusing! We recommend exploring your options to best decide what care might suit your needs. Both Postpartum doulas and Infant Care Specialists can be helpful. Clients in the past have asked us about the benefit of both a Postpartum doula and Night nurse, or now known as an Infant Care Specialists, and we want to provide a little perspective.  While both postpartum doulas and Infant Care Specialists provide similar support in terms of newborn care during the postpartum period, there are distinct differences in the types of services they provide and their focus of care.

POSTPARTUM DOULA

 A postpartum doula is a trained professional who provides physical, emotional, and informational support to new parents and their families during the postpartum period. Postpartum doulas typically help families navigate the postpartum period as a whole in addition to helping to care for the newborn, which can be a great help for the breastfeeding family. They usually work with families in the first few weeks or months after childbirth. The National Library of Medicine states that women/parents who received doula care had 57.5% lower odds of postpartum depression and anxiety. It has also been found that women/parents who received doula care during labor and birth showed a 64.7% reduction in odds of postpartum depression/anxiety. 

Here are some typical duties and responsibilities of a Postpartum Doula:

  • Helping with breastfeeding or bottle feeding

  • Running errands for the family such as grocery shopping

  • Doing light housekeeping and preparing meals

  • Helping parents establish a new routine with baby

  • Providing reassurance and emotional support to new parents 

  • Assisting with newborn tasks like diaper-changing, feeding, or supporting parent as they nurse and/or pump for their baby

  • Providing education and information about postpartum recovery 

Doulas may also  have their own specialities outside of the scope listed since many have various backgrounds that broaden how they are able to help clients. It is important to understand that Postpartum doulas do not make medical decisions for their clients or administer medical care but can provide information, physical and emotional support,  and referrals to healthcare professionals when necessary. They are also trained to recognize potential problems or complications and can offer guidance on when to seek medical attention. Postpartum doulas may work individually or with an agency. They work to establish meaningful relationships with their clients, and can be available day or night for scheduled visits. The postpartum doula is focused on the overall wellbeing of the whole family dynamic as they transition to parenthood or welcome a new addition to their family.

INFANT CARE SPECIALISTS

An Infant Care Specialist is a trained professional who provides overnight care for infants during the first few weeks or months of life. Infant Care Specialists, formerly known as night nursess, offer parents the opportunity to get some much-needed rest while ensuring that their newborn is well-cared for during the night.

Here are some typical duties an Infant Care Specialist might perform:

  • Bottle-feeding the baby

  •  Monitoring the baby's vital signs and general health

  • Documenting the baby's feeding and sleep patterns

  • Soothing the baby back to sleep if they wake up during the night

  • Changing diapers and performing other basic infant care tasks

They may work with families for a few nights a week or provide full-time overnight care. They can be helpful for parents who are recovering from childbirth, experiencing postpartum depression or have other children to care for during the day. They are trained in infant care and sleep routines, however, and can offer valuable support and guidance to new parents during the challenging postpartum period in regard to the newborn.

Overall, the decision to hire either professional depends on the individual needs and preferences of the family. Some families may benefit from the support for both the parent and baby provided by a postpartum doula  while others may prefer the care and overnight support offered by an infant care specialsit for a newborn. It is, of course, always up to the parent to decide the kind of care they want to receive.

Angel Yarbor