Have you heard of a postpartum doula? I hadn’t really heard about what they are and what they might do but found out that they offer so much to new mommas, experienced mommas and their growing families. In todays blog post, I’m thrilled to share Longmont Postpartum Doula Emily Vlietstra with you! I sat down with her and we talked all about the postpartum experience and how postpartum doulas can help immensely! These incredible professionals are here to support, educate, and nurture you during the incredibly crucial first weeks with your newborn.

What is a Longmont Postpartum Doula and how do they differ from a birth doula?

Postpartum Doula’s exist to support families in the first 12 weeks after baby is born, which is known as the fourth trimester. Birth doulas really focus on prenatal support, supporting families through pregnancy, through labor and delivery itself. The type of support that a Postpartum Doula provides is newborn education, teaching families about their new baby, finding ways to integrate that new baby into their family if there’s older siblings at home, and also providing support to the sibling/s through that transition as well. We help with baby care and also just help with some of the things that, when you’re caring for a new baby, kind of slip by the wayside… like providing nourishing meals and light housekeeping, things like that!

Do you think that a Longmont Postpartum Doula would also be helpful for second and third time, seasoned moms?

For sure! I personally have worked with second time and third time moms. Postpartum Doulas help to create space for mom to have one on one time with baby. If this is a seasoned mom, this isn’t her first rodeo and she feels very confident in her ability to care for the baby, but maybe she’s not getting that one on one time with the baby because of things like household tasks that need to get done or the other children need caring for… we can help with that! Then on the opposite side, if mom is in the thick of it with the newborn and they’re not getting that one on one time with their older children, that can be a great opportunity for a postpartum doula to come in and do some hands-on baby care!

What inspired you to become a postpartum doula?

I really began pursuing my birth doula certification before realizing how important the postpartum piece is. A common theme that I was noticing when working with families as a birth doula, was that there’s such a focus on the pregnancy and giving birth and then people just kind of don’t think about what comes next, and for first time Moms, it’s a whole new thing they’ve never done before. Also living here in Colorado, a lot of people are here, disconnected from their family of origin, who would typically step in and teach you how to care for your baby, and to help take care of you while you care for your baby. In a lot of cultures, mom (Grandma) moves in and people come to you for 40 days so that you don’t have to do anything except for care for your baby. Here in such a great place that Colorado is, a lot of families are moving here and they’re separating from that family of origin that would typically be providing support. I just really noticed a need for support for families navigating through that for the first time.

What kind of training and certifications do you have as a Longmont Postpartum Doula?

I’m trained and certified through DONA international. DONA is a certifying body for birth and postpartum doulas and is very well known and respected in the space. I also received a more specialized training in breast-feeding support as well.

How do you personalize your services to meet the unique needs of each family?

I try to go into every visit with no expectations and no agenda. I really just try to show up with an open heart and open hands to see how I can be most helpful that day and for me I love that because every day can look totally different!

What does a typical day look like when you’re working with a family?

I like to check in with my families when I arrive to see how it’s been since my last visit. I like to see what challenges they have had and then really just ask how I can be most helpful on that day. One thing that I’ve noticed is that sometimes that question can actually be really hard to answer so I encourage families, prenatally, to create a list of household tasks that they do every day and then post that on the fridge so that way if the question “how can I help you today” is too overwhelming, there’s a list ready to reference. Another thing that I love doing is making food for my families. Often times, proper nourishing foods are overlooked due to the need for convenience in the postpartum period. I offer to make your favorite meals, either ahead of time or while i’m visiting and if nothing comes to mind, i’m happy to pull together one of my favorite recipes to bring! My Thai Chicken Soup and Sourdough is always a fan favorite!!

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How do you support new mothers who are struggling with breastfeeding or bottle-feeding?

It definitely depends on the issue. A lot of what I see is pain while breastfeeding. If breastfeeding is painful to mom, I’m trained to recognize if baby is latching well and offer different positions to help the baby to successfully extract milk. I can also help in recognizing when a new mom may need some additional support from an IBCLC and have a network of recommendations so mom may not even need to leave her home. For bottle feeding families, i help keep bottles clean! Its the thing that stacks up but you need them! I also help by having the bottle ready when its time to feed. For supplementing moms, i have strategies that can help baby transition between breast and bottle, too.

How do you assist with sibling adjustment after baby arrives?

I help find creative ways to facilitate letting the toddler be involved. I’m an extra set of hands to help keep baby safe while still allowing the older child to be a part of things. I can also help create space for mom to have one on one time with her older child by allowing her to know that her newborn baby is in trusted hands so she can spend valuable time with them.

How do you handle situations when a new parent is struggling with PPD or PPA?

Its such a delicate topic and i think the best thing i can do is to just be able to recognize the markers and equip the family with information to learn more about it. If I observe behavior that makes me think that someone in the family could use some more support, I lovingly give them resources or guide them to professionals who can help.

What is your availability and what is the process of hiring you?!

I offer daytime support in the mornings, most days of the week. My availability kind of varies because I typically don’t work with more than two families at once. The best way to get in touch, if you’re thinking you may want postpartum support, is to fill out an inquiry form on my website. From there, I offer a free 30 minute consultation. I have two options, one being in person and the other virtual, if it better suits your schedule.

What if you’re booked & not taking any more clients?

I work with a collective of doulas called Balanced Beginnings Doulas and there are amazing doulas that have a ton of experience. Chances are, if i’m not available, there is someone within the group that has availability to support you and would be a good fit!

How can I find you?!

You can reach me by call or text at (734) 649-5619 and my website is emboldenbirth.com! I am active on instagram as well, you can find me at @emily_emboldendoula!

Well, there you have it! That’s the scoop on how a Longmont Postpartum Doula can help postpartum mommas! The postpartum period can be both incredibly rewarding and challenging, so having the support of a knowledgeable, compassionate professional can really make all the difference.

So, if you haven’t already, go explore the world of postpartum doulas – you’ll be glad you did!

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