Are you in this situation?
Just had your baby but struggling to cope after birth?
Coming home after one month in the confinement centre and struggling with baby care home alone with no help?
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 support!
We mother you while you mother your baby
In Malaysia, Singapore and most of 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!
We offer postpartum doula services for newborn mothers. We will mother you while you learn to mother your newborn baby.
Imagine having someone to guide you on how to navigate the early days of motherhood and breastfeeding, how to decipher the baby's cried and understand your baby's needs and preferences, prepares freshly-cooked warm, nourishing meals for you and your family, holds your baby while you take a bath, guides you on how to massage your baby and most of all, ENJOY your time with your newborn baby.
We offer postpartum doula services for newborn mothers. We will mother you while you learn to mother your newborn baby.
Imagine having someone to guide you on how to navigate the early days of motherhood and breastfeeding, how to decipher the baby's cried and understand your baby's needs and preferences, prepares freshly-cooked warm, nourishing meals for you and your family, holds your baby while you take a bath, guides you on how to massage your baby and most of all, ENJOY your time with 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
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REJUVENATE PACKAGEAntenatal Home Visit x 1
Postnatal Home Visit x 20 Birth debriefing session Personalised deep relaxation MP3 Baby massage private lessons Dunstan Baby language, newborn care & breastfeeding group class Fees: RM 7,699 |
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. This will usually take about an 1 hour.
* Postnatal Home Visit - Usually around 2-3 hours each visit, Monday to Friday. 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 10 km/ 15mins from Petaling Jaya, Selangor 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. This will usually take about an 1 hour.
* Postnatal Home Visit - Usually around 2-3 hours each visit, Monday to Friday. 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 10 km/ 15mins from Petaling Jaya, Selangor 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.
MALAYSIA POSTPARTUM 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 of 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!
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 of 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 as you chat about your concerns and worries as a newborn mother. We understand you as we have been there before ourselves. Every mother is different with different needs and circumstances so have a discussion with your postpartum doula during the antenatal home visit.
how much does it cost for postpartum doula support in malaysia?
Depending on how many days you need help for, we have different packages for you to choose from. Fees range from a very affordable RM 1,999 onwards. We are happy to discuss payment plans if you have financial constraints.
i am planning to go to a confinement centre, do I still need a postpartum doula?
Depending on how supported you feel at the confinement centre, some mothers still feel they need personalised, one to one care which may not be readily available especially in bigger confinement centres where you feel like you are just one of the many customers there and pretty much everything is done according to SOP. A postnatal doula supports you on a one to one basis for a period of time. During that time, you are highly likely to be the only client so all attention and care will be dedicated to you and your baby.
A postpartum doula can also help support you after you return home from the confinement centre. Many mothers find it very overwhelming to be home alone with the baby, their husband or partners are back to work and they have to feed, bathe, clean, swaddle, soothe, burp, change diapers, cook etc alone without help especially when they are feeling sleep deprived. The possibility of going into postnatal depression is also there when you feel unsupported, anxious, helpless, stuck and isolated. Having a trusted, qualified doula come and take over the care of your baby while you rest and sleep gives you the much needed break and me-time for you to reset and take a breather so you can carry on enjoying being a mother and not dreading it.
A postpartum doula can also help support you after you return home from the confinement centre. Many mothers find it very overwhelming to be home alone with the baby, their husband or partners are back to work and they have to feed, bathe, clean, swaddle, soothe, burp, change diapers, cook etc alone without help especially when they are feeling sleep deprived. The possibility of going into postnatal depression is also there when you feel unsupported, anxious, helpless, stuck and isolated. Having a trusted, qualified doula come and take over the care of your baby while you rest and sleep gives you the much needed break and me-time for you to reset and take a breather so you can carry on enjoying being a mother and not dreading it.
i am hiring a confinement nanny, do I still need a postpartum doula?
Sometimes we heard stories of confinement nannies from hell. Mothers feel stuck with a person whom they feel don't understand what they want in terms of how they want their babies and themselves to be care for. Sometimes, they don't feel respected of their choices like feeding choices or meal choices. Only to be told that it is how things are always done and they should just listen and follow the confinement nanny's ways. Short of firing the confinement nannies and going without support, you could consider hiring a postpartum doula who understands and respects you. Someone who has gone through professional trainings and provide evidence-based information for the care of mother and newborn baby while being aware and respectful of the different cultural traditions and confinement practices.
how are you different from a traditional confinement nanny?
Our postpartum doulas have undergone professional trainings and are equipped with evidence-based information to help and guide you as you navigate the early path of motherhood. Through various and varied experiences and trainings, we provide breastfeeding support, tried and tested ways to understand your baby better so it will be much easier to work with your baby, emotional support at a time when your maternal hormones are in a flux and also support to your partner/husband which is so often neglected. Fathers need a lot of support as well, both emotional and physical guidance to care for his baby and support his wife & partner.
How long do i need the support for?
Depending on how you birthed your baby (whether naturally or by cesarean), we generally observe mothers needing 2 to 3 weeks to feel more or less recovered physically and more settled in terms of breastfeeding and caring for their newnborn babies. So I would say that would be the minimum. You could go for less days if you are constrained by your budget or stagger out the visit days to 2-3 visits per week. We are open to discussion on the visit schedule.
Why do you only offer weekdays visits?
You will likely to have your partner or family or friends visiting you on weekends. As more people are available on weekends to help you out, book postpartum doula support only for the days when family help is less available.