Why Every New Mom Needs a Postpartum Doula

Introduction

Bringing a newborn home is one of the most overwhelming experiences for a new mother. Between sleep deprivation, physical recovery, and learning how to care for a baby, many parents quickly realize they need help. While family members may offer support, they often lack the expertise to guide new mothers through the challenges of postpartum recovery. This is where a postpartum doula makes a difference.

A postpartum doula provides physical, emotional, and practical support for both the mother and the baby. Unlike a baby nurse, who focuses solely on infant care, a doula helps mothers heal, navigate breastfeeding, and adjust to the demands of parenthood. Sanhu House offers in-home postpartum support, which includes doula care as well as newborn care specialists, lactation consultants, meal services, and wellness treatments. Mothers who prefer a structured recovery experience can also receive round-the-clock doula support at the Sanhu House postpartum retreat in Santa Monica.

What is a Postpartum Doula?

A postpartum doula is a trained professional who specializes in helping new mothers recover after childbirth. Their role is different from a labor doula, who provides support during delivery, or a baby nurse, who focuses only on newborn care. A postpartum doula is there to care for the mother as well, ensuring she has the rest, nourishment, and guidance she needs to heal.

What a Postpartum Doula Does

• Provides physical recovery support for mothers, including self-care guidance and rest management

• Helps with newborn care, including diapering, bathing, and soothing techniques

• Offers breastfeeding support, including assistance with latch, positioning, and milk supply

• Prepares nutritious postpartum meals that promote healing and lactation

• Assists with light household tasks such as laundry and nursery organization

• Offers emotional support to help mothers navigate mood swings, anxiety, and the challenges of new motherhood

While a doula plays an important role in postpartum care, Sanhu House’s in-home services extend beyond doula care. In addition to having a trained postpartum doula, mothers may receive night nurse services, lactation consultations, meal deliveries, and postpartum wellness treatments.

Benefits of Hiring a Postpartum Doula

Support for Physical Recovery

Healing from childbirth takes time. Many mothers experience fatigue, soreness, or discomfort after delivery, and those who have had C-sections require additional care. A postpartum doula helps by ensuring mothers get proper rest, nourishment, and guidance on postpartum healing techniques.

For those recovering at the Sanhu House retreat, postpartum care includes daily wellness treatments like postpartum massage, belly binding, and pelvic floor therapy. Mothers receiving in-home services benefit from one-on-one doula care, newborn support, and access to meal services that promote recovery.

Breastfeeding Guidance from the Start

Breastfeeding is one of the most common challenges new mothers face. Many struggle with painful latch, low milk supply, or difficulty establishing a feeding routine. A postpartum doula offers immediate assistance with:

• Positioning and latch correction

• Increasing milk production

• Pumping and milk storage guidance

• Troubleshooting common breastfeeding concerns

If additional support is needed, Sanhu House offers access to IBCLC-certified lactation consultants, available for both in-home visits and retreat-based consultations.

Help with Newborn Care

Many first-time parents feel unsure about how to care for their baby in the first few weeks. A postpartum doula helps mothers and their partners gain confidence in:

• Diapering, swaddling, and soothing techniques

• Newborn sleep schedules and feeding routines

• Recognizing infant hunger and sleep cues

• Safe sleep practices and nighttime care strategies

For mothers staying at the retreat, newborn care is available 24/7. Those receiving in-home services can customize their level of support, whether they need a postpartum doula for guidance or a newborn care specialist for overnight assistance.

Overnight Support for Better Sleep

One of the biggest struggles new parents face is lack of sleep. A postpartum doula or night nurse can provide overnight support, allowing parents to rest while their baby is cared for. Overnight support includes:

• Assisting with feedings, whether breastfeeding or bottle-feeding

• Changing diapers and soothing the baby back to sleep

• Helping establish a nighttime routine that encourages better sleep habits

Sanhu House offers overnight newborn care both in-home and at the postpartum retreat, ensuring that mothers get the rest they need.

Emotional Support and Mental Wellness

Postpartum hormones can cause mood swings, anxiety, and feelings of overwhelm. A postpartum doula provides reassurance and emotional support, helping mothers adjust to their new role. For mothers who are struggling with postpartum anxiety or depression, early support from a trained professional can make a significant difference.

Sanhu House integrates mental wellness support into its postpartum care model, offering mindfulness sessions, guided relaxation techniques, and emotional check-ins for mothers at both the retreat and in-home services.

Sanhu House Postpartum Doula and In-Home Care Services

Sanhu House offers two types of postpartum recovery experiences—a luxury postpartum retreat for full-service recovery and in-home care for mothers who prefer to recover at home with professional support.

Postpartum Retreat with 24/7 Doula Support

Mothers staying at Sanhu House’s luxury retreat in Santa Monica receive full-time postpartum care, including:

• 24/7 postpartum doula support

• Personalized newborn care and lactation guidance

• Healing postpartum meals

• Postnatal bodywork, including massage and belly binding

• Structured recovery support in a peaceful, stress-free environment

In-Home Postpartum Services Beyond Doula Care

For mothers who prefer to recover at home, Sanhu House provides more than just postpartum doulas. In-home care services include:

• Postpartum doula support for newborn care, emotional reassurance, and recovery assistance

• Night nurse services for overnight infant care and sleep support

• Lactation consulting to assist with breastfeeding, milk supply, and feeding schedules

• Meal services featuring nutrient-rich foods for postpartum healing

• Postpartum wellness treatments such as massage, pelvic therapy, and guided relaxation

Sanhu House customizes each in-home care plan based on the mother’s needs, ensuring she gets the right combination of support for a smoother recovery.

Is a Postpartum Doula Right for You?

Hiring a postpartum doula or choosing an in-home postpartum care plan is ideal for mothers who:

• Need extra support while recovering from a C-section or complicated delivery

• Want hands-on guidance with breastfeeding and newborn care

• Feel overwhelmed or exhausted and need structured postpartum support

• Want to establish healthy sleep routines with overnight newborn care

• Need help with meal preparation, postpartum wellness, and daily recovery

Sanhu House provides comprehensive postpartum recovery services, giving mothers the flexibility to choose between full-service retreat stays and in-home postpartum care.

Final Thoughts

A postpartum doula is one of the most valuable resources a new mother can have. Whether through breastfeeding support, newborn care, overnight assistance, or emotional reassurance, a postpartum doula ensures that mothers have the guidance and care they need to recover fully.

Sanhu House provides expert postpartum doulas as part of both in-home care and retreat-based recovery services, ensuring that every mother receives the postpartum care she deserves.

For personalized postpartum recovery in Los Angeles, visit SanhuHouse.com to book a consultation.