Postpartum Doulas
and Services

Comprehensive Postpartum Support

Northshore Lactation Consulting is committed to providing postpartum care of the highest quality, ensuring that families receive complete support during this important transition. Our primary goal is to make the experience of welcoming a new family member as smooth and comfortable as possible, offering expert guidance and compassionate care throughout the postpartum period.

Ongoing Postpartum Support and Individualized Care

Families who give birth in a hospital setting typically receive just one postpartum visit with their nurse-midwife or obstetrician, even though the American College of Obstetrics (ACOG) recommends ongoing postpartum care throughout the first 12 weeks after birth. Recognizing this gap in care, we provide additional postpartum visits and lactation consulting to promote better outcomes for both parents and infants.

Our approach is to view postpartum care as an ongoing process, not simply a single appointment. We offer continued services and support that are tailored to meet each family’s unique needs. This ensures that our care is comprehensive and responsive to the evolving challenges and changes new families experience.

As part of our commitment, our postpartum care includes a thorough assessment of the physical, social, and psychological well-being of the entire family unit. By addressing these key areas, we help families navigate the postpartum period with greater confidence, comfort, and holistic support.

Components of Our Postpartum Care Include the Following:

• Mood and emotional well-being
• Infant care and feeding
• Assess comfort and confidence with caring for newborn, including feeding method
• Sexuality, contraception, and birth spacing
• Sleep and fatigue
• Physical recovery from birth
• Health maintenance

Our complete Postpartum Care Package including the following:

• Lactation Consulting with an International Board Certified Lactation Consultant
  • Unlimited hour-long visits
• Midwife Led Postpartum Visits
  • Including hour-long office visits
• Postpartum Doulas Services
  
  • Day and nighttime hours in your home to attend to non-medical needs.

The program often starts with a pre-birth or post-birth lactation consultation at our office.

Our providers and doulas work as a team and when you use one of our postpartum doulas you have access to our midwives and lactation consultants. This is a unique and special service that is not available anywhere else.

 Lactation Consultation includes:

• Complete Medical History Review: Both the parent and baby’s full medical histories will be reviewed to inform the care plan.
• Thorough Physical Assessment: The lactation consultant will conduct a detailed physical assessment of both parent and baby to evaluate health and identify any factors that may impact newborn feeding.
• Infant Weight Checks: Your baby will be weighed before and after feeding to assess milk transfer.
• Assistance with Techniques: Guidance will be provided for latch and positioning to help optimize your feeding experience.
• Support with Supplementation: If supplementation is necessary, you will receive help in establishing an appropriate plan for your baby’s needs.
• Education and Q&A: The consultation includes education on feeding and baby care, as well as thorough answers to any questions you may have.
• Personalized Written Plan: You will leave with a clear, written plan outlining the next steps and recommendations for your newborn journey.
• Consultation Summary: A summary of your visit will be sent to your pediatrician or referring provider to ensure continuity of care and communication between your healthcare team.

Postpartum Visits

Our hour-long postpartum visits include caring for the parent(s) and newborn. The midwife will ask you questions about your birth, how you are feeling emotionally and physically and has the time to answer your questions. The midwife will weigh your baby, assess for neonatal jaundice and help with newborn feeding. The midwife will check your blood pressure, pulse and temperature and ask about your postpartum healing and can help find outside resources as needed.

Our routine postpartum and well-newborn care complements the care you are getting from your nurse midwife, obstetrician and pediatrician providers. Studies show combined care leads to the best possible outcomes.

With this model of care, you have direct access to our Licensed Midwives and Lactation Consultants through the phone, email and office visits.

All care with licensed midwives and lactation consultants is billed directly to insurance.

Postpartum Doula services that we offer are:

• Guidance and help with nursing, bottle feeding and/or pumping
• Techniques in soothing your baby
• Support in physical recovery from your birth
• Emotional support
• Prepare nourishing meals
• Light housework, such as dishes, laundry and other household tasks
• Newborn care and education
• Self-care
• Siblings care

We believe strongly in continuity of care and will try to provide the same doula or doulas throughout your time with us. 

Postpartum Doula services are not covered by insurance and the cost is $75 per hour with a 4-hour minimum shift.

Contact Us today to set up an appointment.