Night Nurse verses Overnight Postpartum Doula services in Dover and , NH area
What’s the difference between a night nurse and a postpartum doula?
After your baby is born, there are so many decisions to be made. And so many sleepless nights! One decision that can greatly impact your postpartum experience is whether to hire a postpartum doula or a night nurse.
While both provide assistance during the early weeks or months with a new baby, there are significant differences between the two that make hiring a postpartum doula the better option.
First and foremost, a postpartum doula provides support for the entire family, not just the baby.
Postpartum doulas provide practical hands-on help, including emotional and informational support. This can include help with breastfeeding, household tasks, light meal preparation and assisting new mothers with recovery.
At Dover Doula, we also provide overnight postpartum doula support to help parents get as much sleep as they possibly can.
On the other hand, a night nurse is typically focused solely on the baby's care during the nighttime hours.
Our postpartum doulas are also happy to wash bottles, fold a load of laundry or fill & run the dishwasher while they are in your home.
Night Nurse options in Dover and Portsmouth, NH area
While night nurses are very popular in Boston and New York, postpartum doula support is more of the trend here in the Seacoast area of New Hampshire and Maine.
A postpartum doula goes beyond just caring for the baby by also helping new parents navigate the various changes that come with having a new baby. From adjusting to decreased sleep to managing changes in family dynamics, a postpartum doula provides guidance and support. In addition, postpartum doulas can provide support and resources for postpartum mood disorders like postpartum depression, postpartum anxiety and postpartum OCD.
Night nurse vs. Overnight Postpartum Doula
Night Nurse: A night nurse is a professional caregiver who provides overnight care to the newborn, allowing parents to rest and sleep. They are usually trained in newborn care and can assist with feeding, diaper changes, and calming techniques. The night nurse's primary responsibility is to attend to the baby's needs during the night while allowing the parents to rest. In most cases, the person is not actually a credentialed nurse.
Postpartum Doula: A postpartum doula is a trained professional who provides emotional, physical, and informational support to parents during the postpartum period. Unlike a night nurse, a postpartum doula is also trained in breastfeeding and bottle feeding so they can answer all your questions while they are in your home. Our postpartum doulas are also happy to wash bottles, fold a load of laundry or fill & run the dishwasher while they are in your home.
Email or text Dover Doula to find out more about overnight postpartum doula support at (978) 308-2880.
Darcy Sauers is a postpartum doula and lactation counselor and owner of Dover Doula since 2010. Dover Doula provides compassionate and professional postpartum doula support to families in the Seacoast area.
All Photos by: TARA Photography