Postpartum Doula Services

Postpartum doulas provide non-medical support to new mothers and families during the postpartum period, offering emotional support, newborn care education, breastfeeding assistance, light housework, meal preparation, sibling care, and reassurance during the challenging transition to parenthood.

Doulas typically work daytime hours visiting families several times weekly for first weeks or months.

The service appeals to first-time mothers needing guidance, families without local support systems, those struggling with breastfeeding or postpartum adjustment, mothers recovering from difficult births, and families wanting expert early support.

Successful postpartum doulas provide judgment-free emotional support, educate on newborn care and feeding, help establish routines, handle practical tasks allowing mothers to rest and bond, and empower families with confidence.

The business operates through scheduled visits to families' homes during postpartum weeks.

The business model charges hourly rates typically $30-60 per hour or shift rates for 3-5 hour visits, with package pricing for multiple visits weekly during early weeks ($800-2,500+ for 2-6 week packages).

Overnight doula support commands higher rates ($200-400 per night).

Services include emotional support and reassurance, newborn care education and demonstration, breastfeeding and feeding support, light housework and meal preparation, sibling care and adjustment support, helping establish routines, running errands and practical help, and connecting families to resources.

Success requires postpartum doula training and certification (DONA, CAPPA, ProDoula), extensive newborn and postpartum knowledge, emotional support and listening skills, non-judgmental supportive presence, breastfeeding education, physical stamina for care tasks, and networking with birth professionals.

Initial investment includes doula training and certification, educational resources and materials, background checks and insurance, professional organization memberships, and marketing, totaling $1,000-4,000.

The business scales through building client base and referrals, package pricing for weekly visits, potentially overnight doula work, and training other doulas.

Marketing builds relationships with OBs, midwives, and birth doulas, targets expectant families, educates on postpartum support benefits, maintains online presence, and emphasizes evidence-based support.

The business offers deeply meaningful postpartum support, helping new families, flexible daytime schedule, recurring visit packages, and grateful clients.

Challenges include emotionally intense work with struggling mothers, building initial referral network, relatively modest hourly rates, limited weeks per family, and educating market on doula value.

Many postpartum doulas combine with birth doula services, specialize in breastfeeding support, add overnight newborn care, teach childbirth or postpartum classes, or become lactation consultants.