Today we have a guest post from the folks over at WHAT TO EXPECT. Enjoy!

After waiting for nine long months, your baby is finally here! Your exhaustion and relief quickly gives way to exhilaration and pride as you hold your little one in your arms. Because the physiological and hormonal changes that occur during pregnancy and after birth take a toll on a birthing person’s physical, mental and emotional health, support is critical. A postpartum doula is the perfect professional to support you in this major life transition and to help you adjust to your new roles and responsibilities.

Ways a Postpartum Doula Will Help You Survive the First Days of Parenthood

1. Reduces breastfeeding challenges

Breastfeeding/chestfeeding issues can be very distressing, especially for first-time parents. Most birthing parents assume that they will not face any issues with breastfeeding their baby. However, researchers found that 92% of their survey group reported problems breastfeeding their babies 3 days after giving birth. A postpartum doula is trained to help you find the ideal breastfeeding position(s) for you and your baby. Your doula can also help troubleshoot any breastfeeding challenges you may face to ensure that you and your baby are thriving.

2. Improves your bond with your baby

Adapting to your new role as a parent can be challenging and even overwhelming at times. A postpartum doula will help you take care of your little one by assisting with all baby-related chores such as changing diapers, bathing and comforting and can spot you as you learn these skills. Your doula may also handle light housekeeping chores such as washing dishes, a bit of cooking, and doing the laundry to ensure that you get the rest you need in order to heal and so that you don’t feel overwhelmed. This will also help you enjoy quality time with your baby and ensure a stronger bond.

3. Reduces your risk of depression

According to the World Health Organization (WHO), healthcare professionals focus more on the prenatal and childbirth period and less on the postpartum period. However, the early postpartum period is a crucial time for the health of both the birthing parent and child. While up to 80% of all new parents experience the “baby blues”, at least 10-20% of postpartum mothers suffer from postpartum depression (and dads or partner can experience it, too). Studies show that a lack of emotional support during the postpartum period is associated with a higher risk for postpartum depression. Doulas provide emotional support which helps to reduce the risk of depression and anxiety.

4. Improves your confidence

Becoming a parent is an exciting and life-changing experience. However, the physical and hormonal changes that you have undergone can sometimes cause feelings of overwhelm, which can diminish your confidence. Studies show that a postpartum doula can enhance parental self-confidence and self-esteem. A doula will be able to address your concerns, take care of you as you learn to care for your baby and offer tips while encouraging you to trust your parental intuition through the various tasks and skills of parenthood. Your doula can also offer pointers on how to read your baby’s cues so that you’re better able to understand baby’s needs.

5. Helps everyone adapt to the new family dynamics

A new baby changes the family dynamics, and it can be particularly challenging if you already have children. Older children are often jealous towards their new baby brother or sister. A postpartum doula will help your children adjust to the “new normal” and will even find ways to ensure that they still get to enjoy daily alone time with you. If your children are old enough, your doula will include them in baby-care tasks such as changing diapers – where they are in charge of handing over each item. This can help your child/ren bond with baby during the first few days and feel proud that they’re able to help. It’s equally important for you to spend time with your partner, and having a doula to take care of some of the chores will make it easier for the two of you to enjoy some quiet time together.

According to What To Expect, first time parents, couples expecting twins and women who had a complicated delivery will benefit the most from a postpartum doula. In addition to finding the right doula, and an ideal (for you) midwife or OB (NYC recommendations here), this is the best time in your life to ask for help from your partner, family, and close friends to form your dream birth team that will support you through pregnancy, childbirth and beyond. You can also speak to friends and family members who have their own children in order to get a better understanding of what to expect in the initial days of parenthood. It’s ideal to interview postpartum doulas and choose one before you deliver your baby so that you’ll have someone on deck to help from the moment you bring your little one home.

Expectant parents often underestimate how much support they’ll need after birth. Be wiser than the rest of us; plan ahead and build in the support you’ll need for a smooth transition into parenthood.

For further reading on why you might benefit from hiring a postpartum doula, read “But What About the Postpartum Doula? ACOG’s New Recommendations for Postpartum Care”

Today, Stephanie, who’s an attorney for an organization called Protect Democracy, shares the story of her daughter Kimathi’s birth, which was an induction that Stephanie was able to move through without any pain meds and with the support of a doula. She shares how she chose a doula who was Latina as she wanted someone who could understand her background and experience as a Puerto Rican woman and help her most effectively advocate for herself as needed. She also describes some of the creative ways she found much-needed support through social media, especially after birth, and will also touch on the challenges and changes in the nature of her relationship with Kimathi’s dad toward co-parenting early on in their daughter’s life and how much more support she needed as a result.