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What is a Postpartum Doula? Postpartum Doulas are trained in postpartum adjustment, newborn characteristics, care, feeding, and development, and the promotion of parent-infant bonding. They are experienced in supporting families through postpartum experience. Coming into the home during the fourth trimester following birth, the doula's role is to provide education, non-judgemental support, and companionship, and to assist with newborn care and family adjustment, meal preparation and light household tasks. Postpartum doulas offer evidence based information on infant feeding, emotional and physical recovery from childbirth, infant soothing and coping skills for new parents and can make appropriate referrels when necessary.
Benefits of Postpartum Support Research by experts tells us what many have long suspected: That those new parents who have support and feel secure and cared for during this time are more successful in adapting than those who don't. Studies have shown that cultures in which women are cared for by others for a defined period of days or weeks and are expected only to nurture themselves and their babies during that time, have superior outcomes in postpartum adjustment. We know that women who experience support from their family members, care providers, counselors and peer groups have greater breastfeeding success, greater confidence, less postpartum depression and a lower incidence of abuse than those who do not. 
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