What Happens During an Overnight Doula Shift
What actually happens during an overnight postpartum doula shift: the first conversation, arrival, breastfeeding and bottle feeds, the work between feeds, and the notes waiting in the morning.
By Karen, Certified Postpartum Doula
Letting someone into your home overnight while you sleep feels strange the first time. Most families ask us what actually happens. Here’s the whole night.
Before the first night
You choose your doula, and you talk before the first shift. That’s the time to cover what matters at 2am: how you’re feeding, where the baby sleeps, whether you want to be woken for every feed, and where the bottles and pump parts live.
If your pediatrician or lactation consultant has given you a feeding plan, your doula follows it. If not, they help you make one, and adjust it as things change.
Arrival
Your doula arrives in the evening. You agree on the start and end times when you book. Overnight shifts are a minimum of 8 hours and can run up to 12. Before you go to bed, tell your doula how the day went and anything that’s changed. If you are going to bed before your doula arrives, send her a quick text with any updates or questions.
If you’re breastfeeding
When your baby wakes for a feed, your doula brings the baby to you. After the feed, your doula burps, changes and settles the baby, and you go back to sleep. You still wake up for feeds, but that’s all you have to do. If you are pumping, you don’t need to wake up to feed; your doula can wash the pump parts and store the milk.
If you’re bottle feeding
Your doula handles the feeds so you don’t have to wake up. Of course, if you need anything, just ask.
Between feeds
Bottles and pump parts get washed, milk gets stored, and baby laundry gets done. Your doula follows the ABCs of safe sleep: baby sleeps Alone, on their Back, in a Crib or bassinet.
A night when your baby sleeps well isn’t wasted. It’s setting the foundation of longer sleep stretches and eventually consistently sleeping through the night.
In the morning
You wake up to notes on how the night went: feeds, diapers and sleep. When the pediatrician asks how feeding is going, you’ll have real answers.
If you’d rather stay up and ask questions or chat, that’s fine too.
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. We’re an accepted provider for Carrot, Maven and Progyny, and postpartum care is reimbursable with an HSA or FSA. The full breakdown is in what postpartum doula care costs around Boston. You can also read what families say about our overnight care.
Call 508-881-2200, text 508-766-0100, or tell us your due date or your baby’s age.