Frequently Asked Questions

1.	What is a postpartum doula?
2.	What should I ask in an interview?
3.	I am sleep deprived. What should I do?
4.	What is the difference between a Night Doula and a Night Nurse or Night Nanny?
5.	Is a Night Nurse really a nurse?
6.	What is a Night Nanny?
7.	Ok, so how do they do all that and still get some sleep?

1.	What is a postpartum doula?
	Postpartum doulas are trained or experienced in providing postpartum care for the new family. Postpartum doulas offer families evidence-based information and support on infant feeding, emotional and physical recovery from childbirth, infant soothing and coping skills for new parents. They may also help with light housework, meal preparation, laundry, breastfeeding, and helping incorporate an older child into the experience while helping parents ease the transition of bringing a new baby home.

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2.	What should I ask in an interview?
	When interviewing any potential care provider one should always ask: What are your certifications? Do you know infant CPR? Can I call your references? Have you been Trustlined (best background check)? Can I have your Trustline Certification number? Have you recently been TB cleared? How many years experience do you have? What responsibilities do you take on at night? Do you support breastfeeding at night? and ask yourself: Do I feel comfortable with this person? How would it feel to have them in my home at night? Would I be comfortable breastfeeding in front of this person? How will this person interact with my partner? Did the references sound like they had a positive experience?

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3.	I am sleep deprived. What should I do?
	Ask a doula, babysitter, friend or relative to relieve you for a few hours to nap, eat, or take a walk. Take a deep breath and relax your shoulders. Pretend you live in a world where even a mom or dad deserve guilt-free sleep. Then ask your partner to take over more responsibility at night - or hire night care. Encourage dad to do bedtime. Consider a dream feed. Remember this too shall pass. Consider ordering from a grocery store that delivers. Consider paper plates. Take a bath with your baby. Play music to break the tension. Count to ten.

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4.	What is the difference between a Night Doula and a Night Nurse or Night Nanny?
	Night Doulas have typically received some training or certifications in specialties such as baby care, postpartum mother recovery, lactation, CPR, massage, homeopathy, and (or) counseling. Night Doulas help feed and care for the baby at night, they also care for the entire family, help support bonding and help facilitate a good start in breastfeeding. Night Doulas also help with laundry, dishes, snack preparation, diapering and soothing the baby so you, the parent, maximize your sleep.

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5.	Is a Night Nurse really a nurse?
	Some Night Nurses may have special training in nursing, but in many cases "Night Nurse" is a term used for a woman who has experience caring for newborns at night.

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6.	What is a Night Nanny?
	A Night Nanny cares for a baby or child so the parents can get a full night's sleep. This may include bottle feeding the baby and getting children back to sleep.

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7.	Ok, so how do they do all that and still get some sleep?
	One of the most commonly asked questions of nighttime care providers is "when do you sleep?" This is handled in many different ways. Some nap when they get home or before going to work. Some find the sleep they get between feedings sufficient. One thing to keep in mind when working with a nighttime care provider is they are perpetually living under sleep deprivation. Parents progressively obtain more sleep as a child ages. It may appear that Nighttime Care Providers charge a generous rate for their services, but remember they are not only committing to you the hours they are at your home, they are making a 24 hour sacrifice to give your family the best care they can.

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