Bookkeeping Handmaid

Services that postpartum doulas can offer clients

Hey ladies, I’m a birth supporter myself. I do not offer any services or support as a business but simply support women as a way of life. A lot of my attention goes into running my bookkeeping business.

Here are some packages and services that can be offered to families during the period after childbirth. What you do as a postpartum doula truly makes a difference. If women ever need other women, it is during this vital time that is so often neglected and forgotten. Many women are not able to properly heal after birth because they have so much that needs to be done and so little help, if any help at all. This can cause stress and take a toll on the body causing unnecessary bleeding and etc.

Feel free to change the package names to something other than basic names. Something that aligns with your business brand and etc. Also, try taking services from one package and add it to another. I hope these are helpful.

1. Basic Support Package (Hourly/Short-Term)

  • Description: This package is designed for families who need short-term or occasional support.
  • Services:
    • Assistance with infant care (feeding, diapering, soothing)
    • Light housekeeping (laundry, tidying, etc.)
    • Emotional support and reassurance
    • Answering questions about newborn care
    • Help with breastfeeding or bottle feeding
    • Meal preparation for the family
    • Serve food to mama while she’s in bed
    • Show mama how to do “baby wearing”
    • Educate on how to swaddle a baby
    • Run a bath for mama, add herbs if needed (after bleeding has stopped)
    • Prepare warm tea or liquid

Duration: 3-4 hours per session, available on an as-needed basis (e.g., a few times a week).

A Good Fit For: Parents who may need occasional breaks or help with specific tasks in the first few weeks.

2. Comprehensive Postpartum Care Package

  • Description: A more intensive package offering consistent support in the first few weeks after birth.
  • Services:
    • Newborn care (feeding support, sleep routines, babywearing)
    • Lactation or formula-feeding support
    • Support on how to use a Brest pump properly
    • Postpartum recovery guidance for the mother
    • Light household tasks (meal prep, laundry, cleaning)
      • Ask the family what they could use the most help with
    • Sibling care, helping older children adjust
    • Emotional support, including checking to see the mama is sinking into sadness
    • Education on baby cues, sleep patterns, and soothing techniques
    • Show the mama or family how to use cloth diapers properly
      • Share how to properly take care of the cloth diapers
    • Educate and show mama how to use “elimination communication” for early potty training
    • Offer a foot rub or massage/foot soak in salt

Duration: Daily or several times per week, typically for 3-4 hours per visit over 4-6 weeks.

A Good Fit For: Families looking for consistent, hands-on help during the early weeks of adjusting to life with a newborn.

Photo by John Finkelstein

3. Overnight Support Package

  • Description: Designed to help parents get restful sleep while the doula takes care of the baby overnight.
  • Services:
    • Nighttime infant care (feeding, diapering, soothing)
    • Feeding assistance for breastfeeding mothers (bringing baby to feed)
    • Sleep training and newborn sleep routine assistance
    • Light housekeeping (bottle cleaning, laundry) while the baby sleeps
    • Ensure that mama’s bed is comfortable and warm
    • Ensuring parents get uninterrupted rest

Duration: Typically, 8-hour shifts during the night (e.g., 10 p.m. to 6 a.m.). Some prefer 6-hour nights. Choose what works best for you.

A Good Fit For: Parents who need help with newborn nighttime routines or who are struggling with lack of sleep.

Photo by MART PRODUCTION

4. Breastfeeding and Lactation Support Package

  • Description: Focuses on assisting new mothers with breastfeeding challenges.
  • Services:
    • In-depth lactation consultations
    • Help with latching, positioning, and nursing pain
    • Education on milk supply, pumping, and storing breast milk
    • Guidance on feeding schedules and addressing common issues (e.g., engorgement, mastitis)
    • Emotional support and encouragement

Duration: Individual sessions, or package of 3-5 sessions over the course of the first few weeks.

A Good Fit For: New mothers who need support in establishing or troubleshooting breastfeeding.

5. Postpartum Wellness Package for the Mother

  • Description: This package centers around the physical and emotional recovery of the mother after childbirth.
  • Services:
    • Postpartum recovery guidance (healing from birth, body care)
    • Light massage and relaxation techniques
    • Meal preparation focusing on postpartum nutrition
    • Baby care to allow the mother to rest and recover
    • Support for postpartum emotional health (anxiety, etc.)

Duration: 2-4 hours per visit, multiple visits per week for 4-6 weeks.

A Good Fit For: Mothers seeking a balanced recovery after childbirth with an emphasis on self-care.

Photo by cottonbro studio

6. Sibling Support Package

  • Description: Provides support to families with older children, helping them adjust to a new baby.
  • Services:
    • Care for older siblings while parents focus on the newborn
    • Involving siblings in newborn care (in age-appropriate ways)
    • Emotional support for siblings adjusting to a new family dynamic
    • Help with school routines, playtime, and meals for older children
    • Family bonding activities

Duration: Varies based on family needs, can be structured around key moments of the day (e.g., mornings or after school). Speak to the family and find a time that works for you as well as for them.

A Good Fit For: Families with older children who need support during the transition period.

Photo by Askar Abayev

7. Virtual Postpartum Doula Support

  • Description: Offers remote support through video calls, phone consultations, and messaging for families who may not be able to receive in-person support. This service is very popular and allows you to serve families that you otherwise would never have been able to serve because they are not local.
  • Services:
    • Virtual consultations on newborn care, feeding, and sleep routines
    • Emotional support and check-ins
    • Guidance on postpartum recovery and self-care
    • Virtual breastfeeding support and education
    • Assistance with creating routines for baby and family

Duration: 30-60 minute sessions, available as needed.

Ideal For: Families in remote areas or those who prefer virtual assistance.

8. Custom Postpartum Care Package

  • Description: Tailored to the specific needs of the family.
  • Services:
    • A mix of any services from the packages above based on the family’s priorities
    • Flexible scheduling to accommodate specific needs (e.g., help during peak times or for special events)
    • Transition into motherhood (help the mother adjust and hold space while she shares what has changed since the new baby has arrived as well as how her life will be different moving forward)

Duration: Customizable based on client preferences.

Ideal For: Families who need highly individualized support.

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