Postpartum Doula, Doula-ing After the Birth

By Meida v. Baal , doula and maternity nurse

I enjoy preparing couples for the birth of their child. We get to know each other pretty well in the two months before the birth. So when the baby is born, it is a bitter sweet moment. Like the parents, I finally get to meet the baby for the very first time, but it is also a reminder that my job with this new family is almost complete.

When the couple of the baby in the picture hired me for a long weekend after the kraamverzorgende left, I was happy to take the job. A week of kraamzorg is sometimes not enough for new parents to adjust to their new role, especially those who do not have any family living in the Netherlands. I continued where the kraamzorg left off, by helping with breastfeeding and caring for the baby. I showed the mother how to latch the baby on in a rugby position, a position that was briefly touched on in the first week. I also did some daily cleaning and some light grocery shopping. This was an opportunity for the mother to rest more and learn more skills, and for me to get to know the newborn.

Tue, 24 October