As a postpartum doula, the first question I ask the soon-to-be parent I’m will working with is “who is on your team?”
I live in Brooklyn, New York, and it’s rare that I come across someone who is actually from Brooklyn, or even Manhattan. So many of us are transplants, choosing to start a life and raise a family in a place where we don’t have a strong support system. The historical “village” that is often referred to when talking about raising children is critical - for the birthing parent, their partner and the baby - and yet it is very hard to come by.
So when I ask “who is on your team?” I want to make sure the parent-to-be is able to feel supported throughout their postpartum journey. Their team may include family and friends, or it may include birthwork professionals such as doulas and lactation consultants. In a perfect world, it would include both.
No matter who you anticipate having on your “team”, here are a few professionals I would consider including in your team in advance of having your baby, so you can feel prepared and remove the stress of trying to find someone urgently. You can reach out ahead of time, and interview as few or as many as you’d like, to find ones you can call if you need them:
Postpartum doula
lactation consultant
mental health specialist
women’s health physical therapist (that specializes in pelvic floor)
your OBGYN
I recently took part in an Instagram Live with Dr. Whitehead of Downtown Women OBGYN (who delivered 2 of my 3 kiddos!) and we talked all about how to prepare for postpartum. You can check it out here!
