Doulas primarily provide emotional, physical, and informational support during pregnancy, childbirth, and the postpartum period. Their main focus is on the well-being of the mother and to assist in the childbirth process. The services offered by doulas can vary, but they typically do not include household cleaning tasks. Here's a breakdown of what different types of doulas do:
- Birth Doulas support you before, during, and shortly after childbirth. They offer guidance on birth plans, pain management techniques, and emotional support but do not perform medical tasks or household chores like cleaning.
- Postpartum Doulas offer support after the baby is born, which can include help with infant care, breastfeeding support, and assisting with the emotional and physical recovery of the mother. While their focus is on the mother and baby's well-being, some postpartum doulas might offer light household help, such as tidying up the kitchen, doing a bit of laundry related to the baby, or preparing simple meals. However, extensive house cleaning is generally not within the scope of a doula's services.
If household cleaning is a priority for you during the postpartum period, you might consider hiring a professional cleaning service or someone who specializes in household help. Some families choose to do this in addition to having a postpartum doula, so they can fully focus on the baby and recovery while someone else handles more significant household tasks.
