All Postnatal services are available anytime from birth (can include hospital visit) for up to 3 months. Visits can be any day between 7am and 10pm, as regularly as you require.
Cost: from £10 per hour.
Postnatal doula
Whether this is your first or fifth baby, becoming a parent can be an exciting yet daunting prospect, although the transition can be made easier with good support.
A Postnatal doula is there for you, to do whatever you need to enable you to create the time that is essential in recovery from birth, adjusting to parenthood, bonding with baby and successful breastfeeding.
What the service includes:
-help and information regarding new baby care such as bathing, feeding, sleeping issues
-breastfeeding support- unhurried, encouraging support to help understand and establish breastfeeding
-help with other children or occupying them whilst you rest, walk, shower, eat or spend time with the new baby
-stay with baby whilst you rest, walk, shower, eat, read, catch up with emails or spend time with partner or other children or pick them up from school
-running errands, doing light household chores or cooking
-help accessing information, encouragement and support regarding parenting choices
-discussion about the pregnancy and birth
-discussion of any issues troubling you regarding your role as a new parent or just a supportive chat.
-'filter' visitors!
Available in blocks of 2-6 hours at a time. Night time support may be available on request.
Contracts completely dependant on what you need and can be negotiated along the way. Examples:
6 hours a day, once a week for 6 weeks
4 hours a day, 3 times a week for 4 weeks
2 hours a day, every day for 2 weeks then down to 2-3 times a week for the following month.
Breastfeeding support
Although breastfeeding can be deeply rewarding, it can at times frustrate even the most patient of women! Since we no longer live in a culture where we are frequently exposed to other women breastfeeding, extra support may be needed to help get the hang of it.
This service is particularly beneficial if:
-you feel you need extra support or information to help you become more comfortable or confident breastfeeding your baby
-if you have previously had problems breastfeeding and would like support through this experience to increase your chance of success
-if you are pregnant and would like more information about breastfeeding, whether or not you have decided to breastfeed yet
-if you are pregnant and would like information to help you initiate successful breastfeeding.
Birth discussion
Some women (or their partners) feel that their labour and birth experience was not what they were expecting. You may have found the birth traumatic, feel that you were completely out of control, or find the turn of events difficult to understand.
Discussing these experiences and trying to make sense if it all may help you deal with feelings of anger or disappointment, helping you to concentrate on your recovery and new baby and reducing the risk of developing postnatal depression.
This discussion can take place wherever you feel most comfortable, whether in your own home or elsewhere. You are welcome to be alone or invite your partner to attend.
If you feel that you need further help to deal with this issue, The Birth Trauma Association is an excellent organisation for both women and men, found at: www.birthtraumaassociation.org.uk. Please contact your GP or midwife for further guidance to the appropriate services.