Just had your baby but struggling to cope after birth?
Feeling overwhelmed, isolated, sleep deprived or lonely?
First pregnancy and worried about not being able to take care of baby after birth?
No reliable family or friend support available after you birth your baby?
Second time mum struggling with newborn and running after a toddler?
Your cesarean (c-section) wound has not recovered yet but you have to cook and clean?
Suffering from postpartum blues or depression because you are just NOT coping with the new baby, new routine (what routine?!), not enough sleep, screaming toddlers, leaking breasts, dishes piling up in the sink?
You are not Alone! Get professional help!
We mother you while you mother your baby
In Asia, it is a custom and almost compulsory that after giving birth, newborn mothers are told to stay at home, in bed to rest for at least a month or up to 100 days! We call it the "Confinement Period" as mum is literally confined to her home while she and her baby is being taken care of. Her only job is to rest and recover from childbirth and spend time with her baby. Imagine That!
In Adelaide, South Australia, we offer postpartum doula services. Basically we will mother you while you learn to mother your newborn baby.
In Adelaide, South Australia, we offer postpartum doula services. Basically we will mother you while you learn to mother your newborn baby.
Supporting you the way you want
Emotional SupportChildbirth can be an intense experience. Being thrown into full-on motherhood immediately after giving birth, learning how to breastfeed, soothe and care for your newborn baby while recovering can be a wild emotional rollercoaster ride. We know what it is like. We will cry and laugh with you.
No judgement. |
Physical SupportCarrying your baby while you shower or sleep or use the toilet, cooking meals for you and your family, light household chores, grocery shopping, taking care of baby while you spend time with your toddler. Every family's need is different. Let's plan this together when we meet at the antenatal home visit on what your needs are and we will do our best to support you where you need them.
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Professional SupportAs a professional childbirth educator, newborn care, breastfeeding and baby massage instructor, I have supported over 400 mothers from pregnancy to their fourth trimester and beyond using evidence-based information, my own and others' experiences. My training in hypnotherapy also enable me to help mothers debrief and process their birth experiences effectively.
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"Thank you Bee for being there for me during my fourth trimester. Never thought it would be so tough but luckily we have your support”
- Samantha, mother of three
FOURTH TRIMESTER CARE PACKAGE
ESSENTIAL
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NURTURE PACKAGEAntenatal Home Visit x 1
Postnatal Home Visit x 10 Birth debriefing session Personalised deep relaxation CD Baby massage private lessons |
REJUVENATE PACKAGEAntenatal Home Visit x 1
Postnatal Home Visit x 20 Birth debriefing session Personalised deep relaxation CD Baby massage private lessons Dunstan Baby language, newborn care & breastfeeding group class |
THE DETAILS
* Antenatal Home Visit - We will meet up at your house and meet your family. We will go through in details what are your needs & preferences, your parenting philosophy or style, outline our expectations of each other, do a house tour and draw up a personalised care plan for you.
* Postnatal Home Visit - Usually around 3 hours each visit, Monday to Friday between 9.30 am to 2.30 pm. Depending on the situation and what needs to be done, we could shorten or extend the visit with the ultimate goal of having you in a good place before we go. Travel beyond 30 km from Tea Tree Plaza may incur extra charges.
* Birth debriefing session - private session to help you process what had happen and release any unpleasant feelings if any
* Personalised deep relaxation CD - Deep relaxation self-hypnosis track to help you relax fully with your personal parenting goals incorporated into the track.
* Baby massage private class - Learn how to massage your baby in the comfort of your own home. You will also learn massages to help your baby with colic, sleeplessness, congestion, gas, constipation, reflux, cold and coughs.
* Dunstan Baby Language, newborn care and breastfeeding group class - Learn how to listen to your baby's cue, nourish and care for your baby before your baby arrives.
* Antenatal Home Visit - We will meet up at your house and meet your family. We will go through in details what are your needs & preferences, your parenting philosophy or style, outline our expectations of each other, do a house tour and draw up a personalised care plan for you.
* Postnatal Home Visit - Usually around 3 hours each visit, Monday to Friday between 9.30 am to 2.30 pm. Depending on the situation and what needs to be done, we could shorten or extend the visit with the ultimate goal of having you in a good place before we go. Travel beyond 30 km from Tea Tree Plaza may incur extra charges.
* Birth debriefing session - private session to help you process what had happen and release any unpleasant feelings if any
* Personalised deep relaxation CD - Deep relaxation self-hypnosis track to help you relax fully with your personal parenting goals incorporated into the track.
* Baby massage private class - Learn how to massage your baby in the comfort of your own home. You will also learn massages to help your baby with colic, sleeplessness, congestion, gas, constipation, reflux, cold and coughs.
* Dunstan Baby Language, newborn care and breastfeeding group class - Learn how to listen to your baby's cue, nourish and care for your baby before your baby arrives.
POSTNATAL DOULA FAQ
Why get help after you give birth to your baby?
Traditionally, newborn mothers are told to take lots of rest - total bed rest for at least a week if possible to recover from childbirth and to receive help and support in caring for herself and her baby for at least 40 days. She is also advised not to eat certain food that can cause weakness and "wind" or gas in her body.
Mothers are told to eat certain food (typically warming, nourishing food) that promotes the discharge of lochia in the first week followed by a series of highly nutritious and "warming" food to help the body replenish what it has lost during childbirth like food high in iron. In Asia, we have "confinement nanny" or postpartum doula who live in with us and help us with the baby and everything else around the house from cooking to cleaning to laundry while we take our time to learn more about our newborn child and get to know each other, learn and gain support for breastfeeding and how to care for our baby.
However, in our modern culture, mothers are not given the same level of support afterbirth. Instead, mothers are asked to go home a day after giving birth due to lack of hospital beds. If they are lucky, they have a supportive partner or family or some friends who might come occasionally to help with the cooking and care of her baby. If she is not, she is left to her own devices.
New mothers struggle with getting breastfeeding right - getting the right latch or even not knowing how to hold their baby. She also lacks sleep as baby needs a feed every 2 hours (which is very normal by the way). She also has to cook and clean and run out to get grocery. If she has other children, she has to cope with screaming toddlers and newborn. Postpartum depression is not uncommon.
Sometimes, I have seen mothers who got a lot of support - from their mother and mother-in-laws. However, she is also depressed as they have very different views from her on how to care for her baby or on breastfeeding or just personality clashes. She ends up with postpartum depression too when the support she got was not the type she desires.
Did you know that?
- 80% of Australian mothers do not meet their breastfeeding goals?
- the main reason for maternal death is suicide?
Not asking for help after you have birthed your baby is doing a disservice to yourself and your newborn. There is nothing to be ashamed about to ask for help. You have just been through the herculean task of making this baby for 9 months and birthing him or her. Your body has been through a lot and you need proper care and rest to recover from this life changing experience. You are embarking on yet another life changing experience as a mother caring for her baby on the outside now. Ask for help! You are not alone!
What is a Postpartum / Postnatal Doula?
Think of your postnatal doula like your experienced, supportive sister who is there to help you out, physically and emotionally, with the baby so you can rest and relax after you birth your baby. She understands the emotional and physical needs of a newborn mother as she has been through that herself. Think of her as a mother helper - helping mothers ease into their new role as confident and empowered mothers. Think of her as someone who mothers over you as you learn to know your baby better in those early days or weeks postpartum. She is also a trained professional who offers evidenced-based information on breastfeeding, newborn care, baby bonding and is able to refer you to other professionals for help if needed.
What are the duties of a Postpartum / Postnatal Doula?
Depending on mother's needs, it could range from a comforting hug to taking care of your baby while you sleep or shower. A postnatal doula also provides breastfeeding support to cooking nourishing meals to folding your laundry to arranging for cleaners to crying & laughing with you. Every mother is different with different needs and circumstances so have a discussion with your postpartum doula during the antenatal home visit.
Traditionally, newborn mothers are told to take lots of rest - total bed rest for at least a week if possible to recover from childbirth and to receive help and support in caring for herself and her baby for at least 40 days. She is also advised not to eat certain food that can cause weakness and "wind" or gas in her body.
Mothers are told to eat certain food (typically warming, nourishing food) that promotes the discharge of lochia in the first week followed by a series of highly nutritious and "warming" food to help the body replenish what it has lost during childbirth like food high in iron. In Asia, we have "confinement nanny" or postpartum doula who live in with us and help us with the baby and everything else around the house from cooking to cleaning to laundry while we take our time to learn more about our newborn child and get to know each other, learn and gain support for breastfeeding and how to care for our baby.
However, in our modern culture, mothers are not given the same level of support afterbirth. Instead, mothers are asked to go home a day after giving birth due to lack of hospital beds. If they are lucky, they have a supportive partner or family or some friends who might come occasionally to help with the cooking and care of her baby. If she is not, she is left to her own devices.
New mothers struggle with getting breastfeeding right - getting the right latch or even not knowing how to hold their baby. She also lacks sleep as baby needs a feed every 2 hours (which is very normal by the way). She also has to cook and clean and run out to get grocery. If she has other children, she has to cope with screaming toddlers and newborn. Postpartum depression is not uncommon.
Sometimes, I have seen mothers who got a lot of support - from their mother and mother-in-laws. However, she is also depressed as they have very different views from her on how to care for her baby or on breastfeeding or just personality clashes. She ends up with postpartum depression too when the support she got was not the type she desires.
Did you know that?
- 80% of Australian mothers do not meet their breastfeeding goals?
- the main reason for maternal death is suicide?
Not asking for help after you have birthed your baby is doing a disservice to yourself and your newborn. There is nothing to be ashamed about to ask for help. You have just been through the herculean task of making this baby for 9 months and birthing him or her. Your body has been through a lot and you need proper care and rest to recover from this life changing experience. You are embarking on yet another life changing experience as a mother caring for her baby on the outside now. Ask for help! You are not alone!
What is a Postpartum / Postnatal Doula?
Think of your postnatal doula like your experienced, supportive sister who is there to help you out, physically and emotionally, with the baby so you can rest and relax after you birth your baby. She understands the emotional and physical needs of a newborn mother as she has been through that herself. Think of her as a mother helper - helping mothers ease into their new role as confident and empowered mothers. Think of her as someone who mothers over you as you learn to know your baby better in those early days or weeks postpartum. She is also a trained professional who offers evidenced-based information on breastfeeding, newborn care, baby bonding and is able to refer you to other professionals for help if needed.
What are the duties of a Postpartum / Postnatal Doula?
Depending on mother's needs, it could range from a comforting hug to taking care of your baby while you sleep or shower. A postnatal doula also provides breastfeeding support to cooking nourishing meals to folding your laundry to arranging for cleaners to crying & laughing with you. Every mother is different with different needs and circumstances so have a discussion with your postpartum doula during the antenatal home visit.