FAQ

Q. What is a postpartum doula?

A. A postpartum doula is a specialist in newborn care and motherhood support. Postpartum doulas are professionally trained to assist in the transition of the mother and the family in the first days, weeks, or months after delivery. The purpose of a postpartum doula is to foster a smooth transition for the expansion of the family, while supporting the mother’s emotional and physical recovery and her ability to breastfeed and bond with baby comfortably.

Q. What does a postpartum doula do?

A. A postpartum doula supports the mother and entire family with professional in-home services. Postpartum doulas work in the families home providing baby care, extra hands, light housework, meal prep, breastfeeding support, emotional support, relationship support, sibling transition support, occasional errands and postpartum education. A Mother Medicine postpartum doula is specifically trained in Chinese medicine, and Ayurvedic wellness services. With this additional training a Mother Medicine postpartum doula’s visit also includes nutritional homemade meals for the entire family, treatment of postpartum related health concerns, and wellness services like Biodynamic Craniosacral sessions, Acupuncture, Abhyanga oil massage, Cupping, V-Steams and medicinal herbal blends. More info - What We Do.

Q. How can a postpartum doula help me?

A. A postpartum doula can serve as an anchor in the joyful yet overwhelming transition into motherhood or the expansion to a larger family unit. Here are a list of a few things your Mother Medicine doula can help you with: preventing common postpartum infections; preventing or treating postpartum mood disorders, increasing milk supply; assuring sleep for mom; troubleshooting feeding concerns; provide up-to-date information and baby education; extra hands around the house to care for baby, siblings, and complete light household cleaning; cook nutritious meals for mother and family; save you and your partner time by running errands; assist in the healing of uterine and vaginal steaming through professional herbal steams; offer confidence to new parents; answer common postpartum questions and concerns; help soothe a colicky baby; offer peace of mind with a confident and neutral presence in your home to support you and baby; support and problem solve sibling transitions; and offer a sense of nourishment and care through regular wellness services for mom. See our postpartum packages

Q. What do I do to prepare for my postpartum doula experience?

A. Nothing! The only recommendation we have is that whomever you choose to be your postpartum doula you should do an in-person interview to make sure they are a good fit for you and your family. After deciding who to work with during your postpartum experience we also highly recommend having your doula come to your home for a prenatal visit to discuss your expectations, introduce the entire family (including pets), decide priorities in services, ask any remaining questions and come up with the best support plan for you! 

Q. What are the credentials to becoming a postpartum doula?

A. Technically anyone can claim themselves to be a postpartum doula. HOWEVER, most postpartum doulas are extensively and professional trained in postpartum care. The Mother Medicine postpartum doula is credentialed through DONA International Doula Services with additional credentials  in providing women’s healthcare including an acupuncture license through the medical board, a Master’s in Traditional Chinese Medicine and Acupuncture, Ayudoula certification and additional trainings in Biodynamic Craniosacral touch and postpartum massage. To see Mother Medicone’s credentials - Meet Emma.

Q. Is there any difference with Mother Medicine to other doulas?

A. The Mother Medicine Difference is two-fold. First, the Mother Medicine doula has extensive training and is considered an expert in the field of women’s healthcare. This additional training allows the ability to offer wellness services not typically received with postpartum doula care, along with Traditional Chinese medical care to address postpartum symptoms or treat mothers with chronic health conditions. Second, our inspiration for our Mother Medicine services our deeply rooted in ancestral tradition. The Mother Medicine sees a connection between the nurturing of mothers’ and the healing of our planet - Mother Earth. We honor this connection between our collective existence and the lessons of nature through the respect and practice of ancient healing modalities. This is The Mother Medicine difference.

Q. How long should I get postpartum doula care for?

A. This is up to you and your family! We recommend at least one month of consistent care. Many mothers around the world receive postpartum care for closer to 6-12weeks. (See Our Packages) This is a discussion you can have with your postpartum doula, with the ultimate goal being to foster empowerment and confidence within the family when the postpartum window or care closes.

Q. Does my doula watch my children?

A: A doula’s main priority is to care for mom and baby, but we often care for siblings as well through our visits. This would be a good question to ask your postpartum doula as you decide together your priorities and needs during your time of care.

Q. Does my doula run errands?

A: doula is available to support the mother in the best way possible. If that means running errands, most postpartum doulas are accustomed to doing that for the family as needed. Our priority at Mother Medicine is to nourish our mother’s in-home whenever possible, but errands can sometimes be the most supportive thing to offer. This is a perfect question to discuss during your interview or prenatal visits.

Q. Does insurance cover this?

A: Currently, postpartum care is not a covered service through insurance. Mother Medicine’s mission is to make this service more available and affordable and we are taking steps to partner with an OBGYN and hopefully get credentialed through insurance in time.  

Q. Can this be covered through my work?

A: Possibly! Mother Medicine is working to contract through clients’ places of work. Some corporations are starting to cover both fertility and postpartum services to women at the workplace. 

Q. Do you work with families with other children and pets? 

A: YES! We love working within a full family and we can provide some calm amongst the storm. The Mother Medicine postpartum doula is comfortable with pets too!

That said, pets need to be comfortable and safe with new visitor interactions. A prenatal visit is an excellent time to establish if the pet will be comfortable with your postpartum doula.

Q. What is the partner’s role? Does this benefit my partner?

A: Your partner can be involved in your postpartum period in whatever way you prefer. A postpartum doula should be trained and comfortable in supporting the caregivers relationship in whatever form. The Mother Medicine doula views the partners support of postpartum care services as important as your doula becomes an integrated part of this time of life. Most partners benefit greatly from the mother’s postpartum doula care. At Mother Medicine not only do we provide meals for the entire family, saving time for other caregivers and nourishing other children, we help with light house cleaning, and running errands. Perhaps most importantly the Mother Medicine doula supports the mother’s healing. A happy, whole, and vital mother is invaluable to the partner, baby, and entire family. 

Q. Do you do overnights?

A: At this time we do not provide services for overnights. Our mission is to provide support during regular business hours when other caregivers are less available. Through our restorative wellness services and assured time for mother to rest, your Mother Medicine doula will ensure extra rest and restored energy. You should be receiving plenty of rest with our postpartum doula services!

Q. Do I need to supply any supplies of my own?

A: No! In fact, you will be provided with your own v-steam, handmade, cedar box during time of service for the Golden Oak and Silver Elm packages. However, the cost of any purchased herbs, supplements, or food for cooking will be reimbursed by the family and in addition to the package pricing. See our recipes

Q. Do you work with mothers who have cesareans?

A: Absolutely! I had an unplanned cesarean myself and understand the intricacies and additional challenges that come within this type of recovery. Whether you plan to have a c-section or it comes as a surprise, it’s important to set up a recovery plan for yourself after any major surgery.

Q. Who is this service for?

A: These services are for you. All birthers deserve to be ushered through the postpartum period, without exception. We all deserve to be mothered, especially during this vulnerable time. And all birthers require some amount of healing on every plane - body, mind, spirit.