Postpartum support in Richmond, VA
Because your well-being matters as much as your baby’s
The 4th trimester is a time of transition: you’re not who you were before your child joined you out here, and you’re not quite who you’re going to be as a parent yet.
Much of this change happens rapidly (literally overnight!), leaving little time to process and adjust, much less tend to the everyday tasks that used to get done without much thought.
While a newborn can bring elation and a new dimension of love, joy, and awe to your life, postpartum and all that it entails can often feel overwhelming, isolating, and exhausting.
Enter: the postpartum doula.
As a postpartum doula I specialize in this tender, transient time, providing nurturing support and evidence based information to help you feel more confident and comfortable as you navigate the physical, emotional and logistical changes that occur in the weeks after birth.
“Meredith is super helpful, thoughtful, caring and kind. She’s truly supportive and does a great job of molding to just what a family needs.”
What does a postpartum doula do?
Some of the ways a postpartum doula supports you after birth:
Trusted Guidance
I listen to what’s on your mind and offer reassurance. I answer your questions (alllll of them) with evidence based information so you can make informed decisions and build confidence in your parenting along the way.
Feeding Support
I support your chosen method of feeding. I help you get comfortable with breastfeeding (it truly is an art AND a science) and identify which challenges are typical and which warrant an IBCLC to help get back on track.
Help Around the House
I do the dishes and the laundry. I make you a one-handed snack while you feed your baby. I tidy and organize your home space so it doesn’t feel as cluttered as your mind.
Meal Prep
I give you easy, nourishing recipe suggestions for when you feel like getting back in the kitchen again. Until then I chop, marinate, and prep a meal so there’s less to do later. I set up a Meal Train for you.
Emotional Support
As your newborn soaks in all the healthy benefits of skin-to-skin time on your chest, I remind you how much you’re accomplishing—for yourself, your baby & humanity—even when it feels like you’ve barely moved all day.
A Break
I listen some more while I fold the laundry. I hold & comfort your baby while you take a hot shower, a nap, or when you just need a break from someone needing you.
Local Referrals
I connect you with local resources for whatever your additional needs may be: lactation consultants, mental health providers, pelvic floor therapy, pediatric services, postpartum support groups, etc.
Family Support
I check in with your partner on how they’re adjusting and provide resources for them too. I help you find ways to involve (and stay connected to) your other children during this time of transition.
Maintaining Boundaries
I give you tools and scripts to use to handle those tricky boundaries with others when you can’t find the right words in the brain fog.
Essentially, a postpartum doula cares for you while you care for your baby.
Meet Meredith
Mom of two, DONA International trained postpartum doula supporting parents with newborns in Richmond, VA
As a mom of two, I’ve personally journeyed through the ups and downs of the fourth trimester twice, with my experiences fueling my passion for this work. While my primary objective is to support others through this tender time, my overarching mission is to highlight the importance of prioritizing postpartum care just as much as pregnancy care. Preparing for postpartum before birth can vastly improve recovery, feeding outcomes, mental health, sleep, and bonding.
