What is a Doula?

What is the difference between a Postpartum & Infant Care Doula vs. a Baby Nurse?

A Doula usually goes through a training and receives certification from that training as well as having hands on experience. There are many different organizations for a doula to become certified through, so it's just a matter of which ones align with the Doula's wants and goals.

A Baby Nurse is not an RN or an LPN. Baby Nurses have experience with infants and advertise themselves as baby nurses. This was common practice in other countries and then brought to the U.S.

A Postpartum & Infant Care Doula can help parents develop healthy habits with the baby based on which parenting philosophy (doula educates on different philosophies) aligns most with that family. Postpartum and Infant Care Doula's are holistic to the whole family- daily chores, family laundry, organizing baby stations, dishwasher/dishes, meal prep/snacks, sibling care, errands, etc.

A Baby Nurse is exclusive to the baby (diapers, swaddling, feeding, baby laundry, bathing). Sometimes Baby Nurses are educated in breastfeeding and can help assist.

The Postpartum & Infant Care Doula is trained and in tune with the recovery period of a new mothers physical, emotional and mental health in order to assess all situations and make recommendations based on such.

A Baby Nurse has experience with the postpartum recovery time period, but not actual training where they should give advice