Decision Memo: Postpartum Doula
Worth her weight in solid gold. If you pay for one thing, make it this.
Our Verdict: Absolutely Do This
A postpartum doula was the single best investment we made. Not the stroller. Not the nursery furniture. The human who showed up, held the baby, taught us things, and let me sleep. Worth every penny.
What a Postpartum Doula Does
A postpartum doula is not a night nurse (who handles overnight baby care). A postpartum doula supports YOU - the parents - during the transition to having a newborn.
They can help with:
- Breastfeeding support and troubleshooting
- Baby care basics (swaddling, soothing, bathing)
- Light housework and meal prep
- Emotional support for parents
- Sibling adjustment (if you have older kids)
- Holding baby so you can shower, nap, or just exist
The cost:
- Per visit: $35-75/hour depending on location
- Package: Often discounted for multi-visit packages
- Our setup: 2x per week, 6 hours per day, for 8 weeks = ~$3,000 total
Compared to...
Night nurse: $250-400/night. Snoo rental for 4 months: $636. Postpartum doula for 8 weeks: ~$3,000. The doula helps you AND the baby AND your relationship AND your mental health. No contest.
Why It Matters
1. You cannot do this alone
Humans evolved to raise babies in villages. We don't have villages anymore. A postpartum doula is the closest thing to that village support. Someone who knows what they're doing, who isn't panicking, who can tell you "this is normal" when you need to hear it.
2. Your partner also needs support
The non-birthing partner is often expected to be the support person while also being exhausted and overwhelmed themselves. A doula supports both of you, which means you can support each other better.
3. Breastfeeding help when you need it
Lactation consultants are great, but they come for an hour and leave. A postpartum doula is there for hours, helping you through multiple feeds, catching issues in real time, offering encouragement when you want to quit.
4. Sleep is not optional
When our doula was there, I napped. Guilt-free. Because I knew the baby was in capable hands and I wasn't going to be interrupted. Those 2-3 hour stretches of real sleep were essential to my sanity.
5. Mental health protection
Postpartum depression and anxiety are real. Having someone check on YOU - not just the baby - makes a difference. Our doula noticed when I was struggling and gently encouraged me to talk to my therapist. That intervention mattered.
Our Experience
We hired Erica Hunt (LA-based, highly recommend if you're local). She came twice a week for about 6 hours each visit for the first 8 weeks.
What a typical visit looked like:
- She arrived, I handed her the baby, I went to sleep
- She did light housework while baby napped
- She helped me through a few breastfeeding sessions
- She answered my 47 neurotic questions without making me feel stupid
- She did body work/massage on my postpartum body
- She left, and I felt like a person again
What I didn't expect
I expected help with the baby. I didn't expect how much it would help my relationship with my husband. When we weren't both drowning, we could actually be kind to each other. The doula gave us the breathing room to remember we liked each other.
Who Should Consider This
Especially consider if:
- You don't have family nearby. No mom or mother-in-law to help? Hire one.
- This is your first baby. Everything is new. Having someone experienced is invaluable.
- You're planning to breastfeed. In-home support during actual feeds is better than YouTube videos.
- You have a history of anxiety/depression. Extra support reduces risk of postpartum mental health struggles.
- Your partner has limited parental leave. When they go back to work, you'll need backup.
- You're having multiples. Two babies = you definitely need help.
How to Find a Postpartum Doula
1. Ask for referrals
Friends, OB/midwife, pediatrician, local mom groups. Personal recommendations are gold.
2. Check certifications
Look for DONA, CAPPA, or other doula certification organizations. Not required, but shows training.
3. Interview a few
Most offer free consultations. Ask about their philosophy, experience, and availability. You want someone you feel comfortable being vulnerable around.
4. Book early
Good postpartum doulas book up. Start looking in your second trimester.
5. Consider what you actually need
- Daytime help: Postpartum doula
- Overnight help: Night nurse or night doula
- Both: Budget for both if you can
The Financial Case
| Item | Cost | What You Get |
|---|---|---|
| Snoo (rental, 4 months) | $636 | Maybe better sleep for baby. Maybe. |
| Designer nursery furniture | $2,000+ | Instagram photos. Baby doesn't care. |
| All the gadgets | $500+ | Clutter. Probably returned half of it. |
| Postpartum doula (8 weeks) | $3,000 | Sleep. Sanity. Breastfeeding support. Relationship preservation. Mental health protection. Actual help. |
If budget is tight, cut the other stuff. Keep the doula.
Common Objections
"It's too expensive"
Compare it to the fancy stroller, the nursery furniture, and all the gadgets you'll never use. Redirect that money to actual help. You can also do fewer visits per week, or a shorter duration.
"My mom/MIL will help"
Maybe. But can you sleep while they're there without guilt? Do they know current safe sleep guidelines? Will they respect your parenting choices? A doula is professionally supportive. Family can be... complicated.
"I should be able to do this myself"
This is toxic. Humans did not evolve to raise babies alone. Accepting help is not weakness. It's biology.
"I don't want a stranger in my house"
Fair. Interview a few doulas and find someone you click with. By week 2, they won't feel like a stranger - they'll feel like a lifeline.
Final Verdict
| Factor | Our Take |
|---|---|
| Value for money | Highest value item we purchased |
| Impact on sleep | Significant. Guilt-free naps during visits. |
| Impact on breastfeeding | Probably kept me from quitting in week 2 |
| Impact on relationship | Gave us breathing room to be kind to each other |
| Impact on mental health | Essential. Someone checking on ME, not just baby. |
| Would do again | Immediately. Already booked for baby #2. |
Bottom line
If you can only afford one "extra" thing for postpartum, make it this. Not the Snoo. Not the fancy gadgets. A human who shows up, helps, and lets you sleep. Worth every penny.
Not gospel
Not everyone can afford a postpartum doula, and that's real. If you can't, lean hard on your community, ask for meal trains, accept every offer of help. The point isn't "buy this specific thing" - it's "get support however you can." You're not supposed to do this alone.