Postpartum Care During A Pandemic // Guest Blog by Metro Detroit Doula Services
We all can agree that living through this pandemic is strange. Sometimes beautiful, sometimes scary, but all in all a weird time. The world is still welcoming new life though. And it may be the most joyous reminder that life is sweet and precious. For many this time adds some stress. During pregnancy perhaps birth plans changed, or birthing locations changed. There are cancelled baby showers, cancelled maternity shoots, and in-person support people like doulas have become virtual support people. What is life with a new baby like during this time? What can postpartum care during a pandemic be like?
Leaving the hospital with your newborn is a little different than usual.
The nurse is carrying the infant bucket seat with your new bundle while your partner is waiting in the car outside for you. There is no ceremonious moment of the family all leaving the labor and delivery floor and exiting the hospital together. But once in the car you and your partner discuss how crazy it is to be parents and left to care for this tiny new human! As you arrive home you want to get settled in. And then what? What does this postpartum time look like? What is the new normal? Who is here to help?
Enter the Postpartum & Infant Care Doulas!
Postpartum & Infant Care Doulas are support people for new families. They are unbiased, and offer emotional support, their baby and new parent knowledge, and will take care of the family and baby ( in non-pandemic times even spending the night so the parents can catch some sleep!). A doula's role is simply to add comfort and build confidence in families as they navigate parenthood. Attuning to the families needs and supporting the parenting philosophy of each parent.
In this period of social isolation doulas understand it may lead parents to feel even more alone. You carry a child for nine months, getting through the puking and the aches. Spend a day in labor working hard to meet this newborn. Way to go by the way! And then you are back home. Alone. No visitors. No one enters the home to help around the house and to tend to the newborn to provide a little break.
As doulas though we are always more than just physical support helpers! We also offer educational and emotional support. The pandemic CANNOT mess with that! More than ever parents may need that non-judgmental ear to listen to their adjustment to new parent life. A doula can be there to listen but also offer their guidance as they are experts in baby care and parenthood.
Daily 30 minute virtual meetings with your doula can help you feel that you have that expert in your corner and in your back pocket. From navigating feeding issues, to sleep patterns, to just talking about how good that first cup of coffee in the morning is…. your doula can be that extra companion in this time.
If you have given birth or about to, during this time here are 3 of my doula pro tips:
1. Figure out your support network:
Which of your friends and family will just listen to you? Many of us just need to be heard after having a baby.
Schedule meetings with your Postpartum and Infant Care Doula. While we all are sheltering in place a friendly video hello in the mornings may be just what you need to process how the night went and what goals or ideas you have for the day ahead
Have the numbers for your pediatrician, midwife/ob, lactation consultant, therapist, and any other support person you may want to reach out to at any moment handy. It’s comforting to have that first step of finding the number already done!
2. Have meals and snacks readily available.
This is a good time to create a basic order to save into your Shipt, Instacart, Clicklist, Curbside, whatever it is so that when groceries are low you can simply upload your basics and knockout the grocery order fast.
Splurge on pre-cut fruits and vegetables to help save time for healthy one handed snacks
Stay hydrated! Keep your water bottle full and near you. This helps with recovery and your health!
3. Be gentle with yourself.
Practice slow deep breathing
Lower your expectations. Then lower them again. This is advice I always give to new parents. No need to compare yourself to anyone else or an ideal of what you thought new parenthood would look like. Especially during a global pandemic. Those perfect Instagram pics, well we all know everyone is simply clearing out the clutter in the background of the shot of their baby ;)
Reach out about your emotions and check in with yourself on your feelings. It’s OK and normal to experience a range of emotions. But if any emotion is getting in the way of your daily activities it may be time to talk to someone about it.
Allow yourself to grieve if you are feeling any loss during this time. What you are living through is impacting your life and may have changed the dreams you had of what bringing a baby into the world may be like. It is ok to process those emotions.
To all the new parents having their babies in this pandemic, know you are not alone.
You may not be able to physically touch your support people but you have support! Taking your postpartum time one day at a time, really one moment at a time, will help get you through these early weeks. Revisit the tips above as often as you need. If you are looking for more tips or perhaps a Postpartum & Infant Care Doula to reach out to contact Metro Detroit Doula Services!
Authored by Andrea Stainbrook