in-home nurturing support for families with newborns
Katie Jarratt, CPD, RN, BSN Certified Postpartum Doula (CAPPA) former Mother/Baby & Pediatric Registered Nurse mother of two | serving the Atlanta area
Adding a new baby to the family is one of the most beautiful yet overwhelming life transitions we can experience. Becoming a parent for the first time or the third time can bring unexpected challenges. Many parents navigate the first days and weeks after birth alone without much support or guidance. A postpartum doula can help.
What is a postpartum doula?
Postpartum doulas specialize in expert normal postpartum and newborn care. The postpartum doula provides evidenced-based information and hands-on assistance with things such as infant feeding, emotional and physical recovery from birth, mother-baby bonding, infant soothing, and basic newborn care (americanpregnancy.org). Postpartum doulas provide in-home care and support for families through the first few days, weeks, or months after birth.
The focus of a postpartum doula’s work is caring for the newly postpartum mother and newborn as a couplet, and “mothering the mother”. Families often seek out postpartum doula services when they are lacking a support system outside of their nuclear family. The postpartum doula may fill in the caretaking role that might traditionally be filled by a caring member of the extended family who has experienced having babies of her own. Other families may have a strong support system in place, but choose to use a postpartum professional to fill this role rather than or in addition to a family member.
Imagine having a gentle, nonjudgmental caregiver to sit with you and help you learn to breastfeed, cook you a meal, do your laundry and dishes, hold your baby while you shower and nap, listen to and calm your worries and fears. The postpartum doula’s role will change from day to day as the needs of the family change, tailoring support to meet your family’s needs.
_________________________________easing you into the journey of parenthood
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In the days and weeks following birth, families need the opportunity to recover, rest, learn, process, bond, be nourished, and find balance in order to thrive. I can help bring all of these aspects together to make your postpartum experience all that you hope for it to be.
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RECOVER
I offer assistance with postpartum comfort measures (vaginal birth or c section recovery). I ensure that you are nourished, hydrated, comfortable, rested, and supported. This promotes optimal postpartum healing and recovery in the days and weeks after birth.
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REST
One of the greatest needs of the postpartum family is rest. Caring for a newborn around the clock is exhausting. The presence of a postpartum doula gives parents a much needed break and opportunity for rest. I will help create a calm and peaceful environment in your home so you can relax. You will be able to rest easy knowing your newborn is being cared for by an experienced doula/nurse.
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LEARN
I help parents navigate the newborn learning curve that can be quite overwhelming. I offer education and instruction on all things postpartum and newborn. Breastfeeding, pumping, all the baby basics including diapering, bathing, swaddling, soothing, feeding, development, sleep support, and everything in between. I will walk you through it all.
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PROCESS
I will provide space for you to safely share and process your birth story and all the emotions that come along with it. We can process the emotional aspects of childbirth and motherhood together. I provide the delicate emotional support that is needed for mothers dealing with postpartum depression/anxiety as well.
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BOND
Having a postpartum doula takes the stress out of the postpartum period so you can rest, recover, and bond with your new baby as a family. My ultimate goal as a postpartum doula is to empower parents to care for and bond with their baby and each other as a family.
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NOURISH
I offer in-home meal preparation to help families feel less overwhelmed in this season of life. Nourishing your body is an important part of postpartum recovery, and often gets overlooked when you are in survival mode with a newborn. Keeping the whole family nourished and well-fed is so important in family adjustment to a new baby.
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BALANCE
Having a newborn can shift your priorities, relationships, and routines. I will help you find your new normal and establish new family rhythms and routines that fit your lifestyle. I can assist with home management including tidying, organization, laundry, dishwashing, meal prep, and errands.
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THRIVE
I am here to help families thrive in this new season of life with a newborn. When postpartum families have the opportunity to recover, rest, learn, process, bond, be nourished, and find balance in the early days of parenthood, it makes all the difference and gives them the best possible start on this amazing journey.
you don’t have to do this alone.
Having a postpartum doula means you will have a trained postpartum professional by your side to help you navigate the daily ups and downs of becoming a first time parent, or becoming a parent again. When things get hard, as they inevitably do at some point in those early newborn days, I will be there for you and we will get through it together. I will be a helping hand, a listening ear, and sometimes a shoulder to cry on. I will be part of your support network, empowering and encouraging you to gain confidence in your new role. It truly takes a village to raise a child, and I would be honored to be part of your village during your baby’s early days.
to learn more about all of the specific ways I can support your family, see the “services” menu tab.
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