Pumping With an Overnight Doula: How the Night Works
How the night works when you're pumping and have an overnight doula: bottles, pump parts, milk storage and morning notes, plus lactation support and cost.
By Karen, Certified Postpartum Doula
Pumping takes a lot of work, day and night: the pump, the parts, the bottles, the milk to label and store, other than the actual pumping. At night, that’s all on your doula.
Before the first night
You choose your doula, and you talk before the first shift. Tell your doula how you’re feeding: pumped milk, formula or both, how much your baby takes, and where the bottles, pump parts and milk storage live. If your pediatrician or lactation consultant has given you a feeding plan, your doula follows it. If not, we help you make one!
During the night
When your baby wakes, your doula gives the bottle, then burps, changes and settles the baby back to sleep. You don’t need to wake up for feeds.
If you’re pumping during the night, your doula takes care of everything after the pump: pump parts washed, milk stored, bottles ready for the next feed. Of course, if you need anything, maybe a snack, just ask.
Bottles, pump parts and milk
Bottles and pump parts get washed, and milk gets stored. Baby laundry gets done too. By morning the kitchen is ready for the day.
In the morning
You wake up to notes on the night: feeds, how much your baby took, diapers and sleep. When the pediatrician asks how feeding is going, you’ll have real answers.
If you want help with breastfeeding or pumping itself
Our lactation support is $60 an hour, in person or virtual. We help with latching, pumping and building a pumping routine that works around your life. More about lactation support.
What it doesn’t include
A postpartum doula doesn’t give medical advice. If something looks wrong, your doula will tell you and point you to your provider.
Cost
Overnight postpartum care is $55 to $75 an hour, with an 8 hour minimum and up to 12 hours. An 8 hour night is $440 to $600. Postpartum care is reimbursable with an HSA or FSA, and we’re an accepted provider for Carrot, Maven and Progyny. See the full cost guide.
Call 508-881-2200, text 508-766-0100, or tell us your due date or your baby’s age.