Frequently Asked Questions

Your baby has just come from a really comfy place in the womb. They have been in a warm, dark and mostly quiet place. Your baby was fed on demand, had the smell of amniotic fluid around them, the continuous sound of your heartbeat and not a care in the world. Now they have been propelled into this bright, noisy world, with its strange smells, and a continuous need to find a way to communicate their needs to you. All they want is to hear that heartbeat again. So keep your baby close, use a sling or wrap if it helps and know it won’t be like this forever.

This could be a number of things. I always say to parents, tune in, look at the bigger picture, what is going on for your baby and in your home? Are they hungry, looking for connection, needing some stimulation, a change of hands, a nappy change etc. It takes time to figure out your baby’s cues. Answering questions like these are very popular in my one-on-one consultations. 

In the early weeks and months after the arrival of your baby however that looks be it natural delivery, cesarean birth, adoption or surrogacy you can feel overwhelmed. It is a period of adjustment, learning to balance life around 24-hour care of your newborn. Reaching out for help is the first step. You could access non-judgemental support from a postpartum Doula like me in your area. Maybe speak with your PHN or GP if you are worried about how you are feeling. 

See www.doula.ie for a list of qualified, insured, and vetted doulas nationwide. 

I am so sorry you have had a traumatic birth, this can come in many forms. It may be important to you to understand the different stages of the birth and what caused the trauma. You can arrange an appointment with your care provider and ask them to sit with you and go over your notes to help you make sense of it all. You can then decide if you need further support from a counselor or other professional. Bairbre Brook of Birth Support offers a service on birth trauma; it may be an option for you.  

See www.doula.ie for a list of qualified, insured, and vetted doulas nationwide.

Having another pair of hands to take the load off when you have a newborn in your home can make life a lot easier. It is important to ensure that you think about what your needs may be and what kind of support would be important to you as a family. This could look like a cleaner coming in weekly, you may also like the support of a friend or family member, either helping in the home or dropping off meals or helping with older children, doing drop-offs or pick-ups. Maybe having a postpartum Doula coming into your home, be it once a week or more often for a few weeks is the best choice for you. This is a conversation you will need to have, I’m happy to answer any questions you may have on what kind of support a Doula can offer, or pop over to the other pages on my website. 

See www.doula.ie for a list of qualified, insured, and vetted doulas nationwide.

This is a lovely offer and something you and your partner will need to discuss together. Having support after your baby arrives is important, someone to help around the house, cook some meals, do a general tidy, get the shopping, watch over the baby while you take time to have a bath or a rest etc. This support needs to be non-judgemental and a benefit to you all.   Things to factor in, have your space in your home for her, do you get on, will she respect your parenting choices and support them, will you set ground rules, and boundaries and will there be a time limit on the stay? These are good questions to start with. If you answer no to most, maybe postpone the visit until later when you have settled into a better rhythm. You can still access support from a postpartum doula like myself, there are lots nationwide.