What to Expect on Your First Night With a Doula
You’ve just gotten through the first few days postpartum, full of doctors, nurses, family, and now you’re settling in at home. Later tonight, your doula will arrive.
At 9:00p she walks in calmly, washes her hands, and sits down with you. Checking in on how things have been, she listens and takes mental note of what needs to happen.
9:30p— Everyone is exhausted.
The day has been long. The baby has been constantly feeding. Dad has been wondering “am I doing this right?”, and naps for Mom are few and far between. You and your partner have looked at each other at least once today and said, “they let us leave the hospital with this baby?”
Your doula reassures you that all is well, and you are in fact doing it right. She shows Dad how to swaddle and talks with him through things he’s noticing with the baby; helping him feel like an active parent rather than just an observer. Then, she quietly takes your baby to the nursery so you can settle into bed.
10:45p— Baby is up, and hungry.
You’re probably thinking, “again? I just fed her.” Instead of panicking, your doula reminds you that yes, this is normal. She changes your baby’s diaper, and helps you get into a comfortable position to nurse. She is happy to sit with you, keep you company during the feed, and answer your questions.
1:00a— Midnight Feed
Baby is ready to feed again, and the doula reminds mom to stay hydrated. She fills her water bottle and brings her a snack to eat while she nurses. After the feed, baby is very sleepy and easily goes back down.
3:00a— Doula Snuggles Baby
Your baby gets a bit fussy and decides they’ve had enough of the bassinet. They just want to be held. Your doula knows this is normal in the early weeks, and gladly snuggles your baby until the next feeding.
5:00a— Morning Reset
The house is quiet. Everyone has gotten some rest.
Your doula is tidying the kitchen, resetting the space, and making small tweaks to help the morning flow a little easier.
Before ending the shift, she checks in with you one last time— making sure you have what you need to move through the day ahead.
