Parent Magazines’ Holly Pevzner interviews Aliza Bancoff, founder of International Doula Institute about postpartum doulas:

“There once was a village. Then there was just you and your partner. But today, more and more new moms are discovering a somewhere-in-between solution that involves hiring a care specialist for the baby (and new mom) to help out in the days and weeks following birth. Find out if you should consider hiring a postpartum doula.

What is a postpartum doula?

“A postpartum doula is a professional support person who’s trained to help not only the baby, but the family as well, in the days or months after birth,” says Aliza Bancoff, a birth and postpartum doula in Philadelphia and founder of International Doula Institute, an online training and certification program. Doulas provide education about infant care, like how to burp and bathe your baby. They look after your newborn so you can rest and recharge, knowing your little one is in good hands. “We also offer support in the practical side of things: Laundry, dishes, housework, cooking, errands,” says Bancoff. “Essentially, we mother the new mother, nurturing her so she can nurture her precious new baby.” (A baby nurse, on the other hand, solely focuses on the baby’s needs.)”

Read the entire article here:

http://www.parents.com/pregnancy/giving-birth/doula/should-you-hire-a-postpartum-doula/