Overnight Newborn Care to the Rescue!
You’re scrolling through Instagram and your favorite influencer just posted about how big of a help her night nanny was. Your mind races through these thoughts- “A night nanny? What is a night nanny? Is that for the rich and famous? Do I to have need a mass following on Instagram to qualify? Would I even WANT a night nanny?” You quickly switch over to Doctor Google to search night nannies in your area.
If you’re in Indianapolis not a whole lot of options are going to pop up. We absolutely have them, but they are mostly hidden gems. Insert Indiana Birth & Parenting which is home to the best overnight (and daytime) postpartum doulas in the area!
And now we’ve got you wondering what a postpartum doula is, don’t we? Below you will find EVERYTHING you need to know!
what is a postpartum doula?
Our postpartum doulas are experts in all thing’s pregnancy, childbirth, postpartum recovery, and newborn care and development. Our postpartum and newborn care specialist training + certification, along with experience, allow us to fully support the WHOLE family as they transition into life with a new baby. As postpartum doulas, we adapt to the varying needs of the family and provide a plethora of services that include- educational support, companionship and emotional support, hands on newborn care, light household tasks to keep your house moving, errands, and more.
what is the difference between a postpartum doula and a night nanny (night nurse)?
***Night Nurse is an outdated description and should no longer use the term “nurse” in their job description unless they are an RN***
The biggest difference between a Night Nanny and a Postpartum Doula is going to be who the nanny or doula is caring for. Night nannies are specifically hired to care for the baby, while postpartum doulas are trained in caring for the WHOLE family. In addition to baby care, we provide informational and emotional support to new parents as they adjust to life with a newborn. We give advice and encouragement on what is normal for babies. We can help with navigating the throes of bottle and breastfeeding. We can educate on sleep and what is normal for your baby based on age. And we are happy to help with simple quiet tasks such as folding a load of baby laundry or cleaning and prepping bottles.
Another perk you get with a doula is we are trained to spot early signs of postpartum depression and postpartum anxiety. We cannot diagnose, but we can see behavioral and/or physical symptoms that pop up- sometimes before anyone in the house notices. Again, WE CANNOT DIAGNOSE, but we sure as heck can get you connected with various treatment options and providers in our area- urgently if needed.
Since we’re certified labor doulas, we know birth...and we know what happens physically during those first few days/weeks/months after delivery. When something pops up and you’re not sure what to do, we can help you decide if it’s normal, common, or emergent- and support you through it all.
what does a day shift look like?
Dayshifts look different for every family and each day that we come. In the early days our goals when we come into your home are mostly focused on Mom:
Have you slept?
Have you showered?
Have you eaten?
Have you seen the sun?
What is a task around the house that would clear some brain space for you to relax?
Sometimes that means we are doing baby care to allow you the time and space for self-care. Other times that means we are prepping a meal or loading the dishwasher so you can cuddle with your baby guilt free. Our day shifts are typically 4-5 hours which allow us enough time to fit in a little bit of everything. As baby gets a little older and you are starting to learn your baby’s cues, we tend to focus on establishing a routine and habits to set your baby up for success. A good daytime routine is ALWAYS the first step in having a great nighttime routine.
what does a night shift look like?
At nighttime the goal is SLEEP! And not just for you, but sleep for your baby as well. We in no way do any sleep training for newborns as training is not recommended until at least 4 months of age and only if your baby is developmentally ready--but we absolutely are masters at guiding you and your little one into routines and habits that will set everyone up for success down the road.
If we are still serving your family at that 3 to 4 month mark we can continue to gently guide you and your baby into routines + schedules that will lead them to sleeping through the night.
In an interview we were once asked if we hold babies at night- and the answer without a doubt is YES! We know that newborns need held at all hours of the day and we tend to their specific needs while also creating a space where they are given the tools to sleep on their own.
how often will you come to my home?
The sky is the limit! We have the flexibility to meet your needs. Our typical scheduling runs from Sunday-Thursday for overnights and Monday-Friday for dayshifts with occasional availability on the weekends. Some clients want us 5 nights a week, and others feel that 2-3 nights a week really gives them the break and rest they are looking for.
who would come to my house?
We have four wonderful doulas to meet the varying + evolving needs of our clients. Depending on the schedule you are looking for, we typically set up each family with a primary doula and a secondary doula to fill in the gaps with any scheduling conflicts or extra needs of the family.
are you on call?
Unlike birth doula services, we are not on call for postpartum families. However- we do have a great understanding of the importance of flexibility and availability when supporting families with postpartum doula services. We make every effort possible to fill the needs of your family. We are also available and happy to answer any questions you have on the days we’re not in your home. Think of us as your BFF + Magical Baby Fairy!
how long do you typically work with each family?
That’s up to you! You purchase hours instead of a block of time with us. This allows for a tailor-made schedule that fits your family best- with the flexibility to tweak the schedule depending on your needs. Some parents desire heavy support in the beginning, a little less after a few weeks, and then more support again. Some parents love how we can transition nighttime care over to daytime support based on their developing baby’s needs.
We typically support families anywhere from 2-16 weeks, or until the baby is sleeping through the night most nights. Some families need help during the initial recovery period, and others want more long-term support.
where in my home will you and the baby be?
Typically, the best way for you to get quality sleep is to have us in a place where you can’t hear us getting up with baby through the night. We are completely flexible regardless of your set up! We’ve had a set ups in the basement, in a guest room, in a living space with a couch, in a home office or nursery with an air mattress. Because of the nature of the job we do rest when the baby is sleeping so we just require a space for us to rest and a safe space for your baby to sleep.
what if i’m breastfeeding?
You can still breastfeed AND have overnight support! We simply bring the baby to you when it’s time for them to nurse and we come back when you’re finished to soothe + diaper baby. We can even sit with you and assist you with nighttime feedings.
We can only imagine the feelings you’ll have the first time you hand your baby over to your doula for a night of rest. We can see it in your eyes when we arrive— it’s emotional and a little foreign feeling. But as mothers who have pulled the all-nighters with our own sweet babies, we KNOW, like really KNOW, how important the need for sleep is for both your physical and emotional health.
As we chat for a few minutes, we see your shoulders relaxing and your eyes becoming heavier— you’re starting to welcome the idea of sleep. You gingerly hand your baby to us- we gently reassure you that we will take care of them like they are our own.
We lock eyes and you know everyone is going to be just fine…wonderfully, amazingly fine.
