You may have heard from friends or online influencers about overnight postpartum doula support or “night nannies” and you may be wondering what exactly this is and why would you even need one.
In short, an overnight doula is a trained newborn care specialist who will stay the night at your home to take care of the baby and allow you some deeper, uninterrupted sleep.
Wait, you might be asking. Doesn’t the baby sleep too?
Yes, babies sleep 16-20 hours a day, but what a lot of parents don’t realize is that babies don’t (and aren’t supposed to) sleep through the night. In the first few months of your baby’s life they will sleep in 2-3 hour chunks and wake when they are hungry.
The reason we actually want to see this happen is that an infant’s stomach is very small beginning at roughly the size of a cherry and then growing to the size of an egg at 1 month old. So they’ll need frequent feedings which can be disruptive to parents’ sleep.
A night doula will either bring the baby to you when it is time to eat or feed the baby if using bottles and formula, allowing parents to sleep the whole time through.
Ok, you might be thinking. But if I’m going to be nursing anyway and the baby sleeps for these chunks, is there any point to having a night time doula?
The benefits are that you still wake up less and get back to sleep sooner (and with peace of mind)! Feeding is typically done in 10-15 minutes and you can go back to sleep. Your doula will take care of nighttime changing and the rocking and soothing that baby often needs to fall asleep.
Here at Doulas on Bikes, we are also big proponents of contact naps and baby wearing. So to ensure the best sleep, as well as soothe and help co-regulate your baby, we’ll happily hold them all night long!
Benefits of a Night Doula
– More sleep for you: Wake up feeling rested and refreshed
– Less stress: Knowing your baby is in good hands while you sleep
– Happier baby: A well-rested baby is a happier and healthier baby
How it works
– Nighttime feedings: We’ll bring your baby to you for nursing, or handle bottle-feedings – Diaper changes: We’ll take care of nighttime diaper changes so you don’t have to – Soothing with baby wearing: We’ll help your baby relax and stay calmly asleep
A well-rested baby is a happier and healthier baby. A happy and healthy baby makes everyone’s life more at peace and joyful.
If you would like more information about hiring us as your nighttime doula, please connect with us to learn how we can support your growing family. Overnight availability depends on timing and age of baby, and must be within the central and west Toronto area.