What does a postpartum doula do?

Postpartum doula support is practical, non-medical help after birth, during the day, at home or in the hospital.

In-home postpartum support

In-home visits run 1 to 2 hours during the day and are shaped around what you need most:

• Feeding support: help with positioning, latching, and bottle-feeding routines, within a doula’s scope.
• Newborn routines: bathing, diapering, soothing techniques, and setting up safe sleep.
• Your recovery: help planning meals, rest, and your family’s support system.
• Talking through your birth: a safe space to process your labor and birth.
• Referrals: connecting you with IBCLCs (lactation consultants), pelvic floor therapists, or perinatal mental health specialists when needed.

Visits are daytime only, with no overnights. Travel within 50 miles of San Antonio is included.

Immediate hospital postpartum support

Hospital support happens within the first 12 hours after birth and lasts 1 to 2 hours. It focuses on skin-to-skin time, getting feeding started, and preparing for the move home.

Where the role stops

Postpartum doulas don’t provide medical care, diagnoses, or treatment. Feeding problems like severe nipple pain, signs of mastitis, or a difficult latch are referred to an IBCLC or your pediatrician.

Urgent postpartum warning signs

Call 911 or go to the ER right away if you have:

• Blood pressure of 160/110 or higher. This can be a sign of severe postpartum preeclampsia.
• A severe headache that won’t go away, or vision changes like blurriness, spots, or light sensitivity
• Trouble breathing, or chest pain
• Heavy vaginal bleeding: soaking through a pad in an hour, or passing clots the size of an egg or bigger
• Severe pain in your belly or pelvis
• Redness, warmth, swelling, or pain in one leg
• Signs of infection around a cesarean incision or a tear
• Thoughts of harming yourself or your baby

Call your OB or midwife right away, the same day, if you have:

• Blood pressure of 140/90 or higher
• A fever of 100.4°F (38°C) or higher

At the ER, say this first: “I’m postpartum. I had my baby [X days or weeks ago], on [date].”

Free mental health support, 24/7

• National Maternal Mental Health Hotline: call or text 1-833-TLC-MAMA (1-833-852-6262).
• Suicide and Crisis Lifeline: call or text 988.