Postpartum Doula Portland
Night Doula & Newborn Care
We’re 4th trimester specialists and we’re here to help.
“I highly recommend Wildwood. We used their postpartum doula services and it may be the best money we’ve ever spent. It is definitely the best baby-related money we’ve spent.”
Overnight support, newborn care, and postpartum doula in Portland, Oregon
Wildwood Birth is here to support your transition as soon as your baby arrives home and throughout the fourth trimester as your postpartum doula in Portland, Oregon.
From day one, we are normalizing the experience of the fourth trimester. Our postpartum doulas are newborn care specialists who will build your confidence so you can thrive as parents as you welcome your new family member.
Our goal is to work our way out of a job — to ensure that you become the best parents you can be, as quickly as possible, and enjoy the journey!
Portland Postpartum Doula Support
As your Portland postpartum doula…
We support you both physically and emotionally.
We support you by providing information and resources to educate you on the latest research-based postpartum care methods.
We support you with feeding knowledge, newborn care skills, birth recovery, and creating space to focus on your mental health.
We would love to help support you and your family as your postpartum doula in Portland, Oregon.
“ Lauren is incredibly kind, thoughtful, punctual, supportive...We are so grateful to have had her guidance during our experience and would absolutely love to see her again for any future pregnancies/deliveries! ”
What does a postpartum doula do?
Babies go through 4 major developmental leaps in the first 6 weeks of life, so they are actually changing overnight! All of those changes packed into such a brief period of time can be frustrating or overwhelming as a new parent because as soon as you figure something out, your baby changes!
To keep up with all those changes, what a postpartum doula does often changes from day to day. In the early weeks, your postpartum doula will:
Hold and comfort the baby so you can shower, eat, and sleep, or spend quality time with an older sibling.
Help you with your physical recovery from birth, whether vaginal or cesarean.
Help you navigate the intense hormonal changes you will go through by offering informational and emotional support while screening for signs of postpartum mood disorders and providing professional resources.
Assist in breastfeeding by helping to determine when baby has a good latch, suggesting position changes, advising on safe milk handling guidelines, and providing professional lactation consultant resources.
As the weeks go on and you become more confident in your new role, we will continue to support your emotional and mental wellbeing while shifting our focus to logistical support. During these weeks your postpartum doula will:
Work with your baby’s sleep cycles to maximize rest for everyone.
Perform light housework duties such as washing dishes and folding laundry. There's nothing like a fresh set of sheets to help have a great rest!
Streamline household systems to work well with a new baby and support your new relationship dynamics as a triad (or more!).
Prepare nutritious meals full of protein, good fats, micronutrients, and galactagogues (foods which promote lactating) while following your unique diet requirements and the guidelines presented in “The First Forty Days”.
“A big thank you to Harmony, Lauren and the Wildwood team for all the support during the ‘fourth trimester’ - I really appreciated all the advice I got on how to handle all things newborn (feeding, gassy baby tricks, play time ideas), as well as the chance to have some ‘me time’. I would definitely use the team again!”
How much does a postpartum doula cost?
How much your postpartum doula will cost is dependent on the time of day of their visit (see below). We also offer package discounts based on the number of hours you book. Discounts are combinable.
Other fees
We require a minimum of 12 hours to book postpartum support services.
When supporting multiples, families in the NICU or medically fragile babies, our rates increase by $5 per hour.
Please note that there is an additional travel fee each time we visit locations more than 10 miles from downtown Portland.
Daytime postpartum doula visits
Our daytime postpartum doula rate is $50 per hour.
Our standard 4 hour postpartum doula visit is $200.
Daytime sessions can rage in length between 3-8 hours, depending on your needs.
Night doula visits
Our overnight postpartum doula rate is $55 per hour.
Our standard 9 hour* night doula visit is $495.
Overnight sessions can range in length between 8-12 hours, depending on your needs.
*We recommend at least 9 hour visits to ensure you have the opportunity to get a full 8+ hours of sleep.
“After a few weeks with Zoë coming...we went from scared new parents to feeling like pros.”
Postpartum Doula Packages
Wildwood Birth offers customization of postpartum doula packages that you can purchase prior to the arrival of your baby, or as soon as you decide that you need more support.
All of the visits in these packages can be scheduled to fit your needs and desires for support. For example, they can be bunched together in the first week or two after your baby arrives or spread out over the course of the entire three months of your fourth trimester.
Customized Postpartum Doula Packages
We are happy to offer customized postpartum doula packages to fit your specific needs.
Our standard rate for postpartum support is $50/hr for daytime support (minimum of 3 hours between 8am-8pm) and $55/hr for overnight support (minimum of 8 hours between 8pm-8am).
Your custom package can include any number of hours and combination of day and/or night doula visits
We also offer 10% off of creative services like newborn photography when you bundle them with any postpartum care package. We are happy to offer payment plans upon request.
Postpartum In-Home Meal Preparation
Are you primarily interested in having help to ensure you’re being fed delicious, nutrient-dense food in the fourth trimester? Our postpartum doula and Nutritionist Kelsey will come to your home once or twice a week to make several meals tailored to your family and nutritional needs for the fourth trimester. We can even source the ingredients for you so you don’t have to leave the house! Meal prep sessions begin at $200. Please contact us to learn more.
Perinatal yoga + movement sessions
Our doula Jen Reed (co-owner of Moda Yoga Portland) offers offer private movement sessions that are based on a personal body analysis to identify areas that could use strengthening, lengthening and awareness in preparation for your labor. Three in-home sessions with Jen can be added onto your doula package for $250.
Why hire a postpartum doula?
The overwhelm of chaos, joy, and huge hormonal fluctuations can put new parents in a place of sheer survival. But successful newborn care starts with successful self care. So beyond caring for your new baby, your postpartum doula will help you get back to the basics: sleep, eat, and drink water. Taking a mental health break, a nap, or getting a full night of rest can change your entire experience. Scheduling postpartum doula visits provides new parents with the physical, emotional, and informational support they need in the first few months after childbirth.
What is a postpartum doula?
A postpartum doula is a trained newborn care specialist who provides informational, physical, and emotional support to new parents in the first three months following childbirth. The nurturing, non-judgmental support provided by an experienced postpartum doula eases a family’s transition into parenthood. A postpartum doula is also a teacher who uses their specialized, evidence-based education to empower new parents to identify a baby’s cues and needs, make informed decisions and become the kind of parents they want to be.
Define Post-Partum doula
The term postpartum comes from the Latin phrase “post partum” which means “after childbirth”. The “partum” half of that phrase derives from the Latin word parere which means “to give birth to, to bring into being”. So the work done by a post-partum doula is the work done after the birth of a new being.
“Lauren made our transition home from the hospital feel stress free and supportive! Having her kind and caring energy around was a must for being brand new parents. Lauren always supported our choices and offered gentle advice when we asked for it. She is also extremely organized which helped with all of the things we needed to get done before the baby came and when he was here. She is very laid back and non judgmental and always made us feel like we were doing a good job!”
Frequently Asked Questions about Postpartum Doula Support in Portland, Oregon
1. What is a postpartum doula, and how can they support my family after birth?
A postpartum doula is a trained professional who provides physical, emotional, and informational support to families as they adjust to life with a newborn. They are knowledgeable in infant care, lactation and feeding support, sleep routines, and offer guidance on emotional wellbeing for new parents. Your postpartum doula in Portland is here to ease the transition, helping you feel supported and confident in the days and weeks following birth. Unlike a medical provider, a postpartum doula offers practical and nurturing support to strengthen your family’s overall well-being. Postpartum doulas offer daytime and/or overnight therapeutic sleep support. See below for information about night doula cost.
2. What types of services do Portland postpartum doulas typically offer?
Most postpartum doulas in Portland provide customized support based on each family’s unique needs. This may include:
Newborn care specialist guidance, including soothing techniques, feeding support, bathing, dressing and diapering
Emotional support for both parents, through the challenge of hormonal changes paired with sleep deprivation, helping you process your birth experience and adjust to life with a newborn
Light household assistance, such as meal prep, laundry, and newborn “stuff” organization, to create a supportive environment for healing
Lactation support, helping establish breastfeeding and troubleshoot any challenges
Support with bottle feeding for parents who feed their baby with expressed breastmilk and/or formula
Referrals to complementary care providers in Portland for additional resources, such as lactation consultants, sleep coaches, and mental health counselors.
3. How do postpartum doulas differ from birth doulas?
While both birth and postpartum doulas provide non-medical, compassionate support, a birth doula’s focus is on preparing you throughout pregnancy and support during labor and delivery. A postpartum doula, on the other hand, assists after the baby is born, helping your family settle into a comfortable rhythm at home and supporting both parents’ adjustment to new roles. Families often find value in working with both types of doulas for continuous support from pregnancy through the postpartum period.
4. How long do postpartum doulas typically provide support?
The duration of postpartum doula support is highly customizable. Some families work with a Portland postpartum doula for just a few visits in the early weeks, while others continue for up to six months as they settle into their new routines. Some factors to consider ahead of time is how much time you and your partner have off work, whether you will have family support, how well you do with sleep deprivation, and your budget. In many cases, families find the support so helpful that they choose to extend care beyond their original schedule.
5. What are average postpartum doula rates in Portland?
Postpartum doula rates in Portland vary depending on factors such as experience, certifications, and the scope of support offered. Generally, rates for postpartum doula services in Portland range from $35 to $65 per hour. Some doulas offer package rates or sliding scale fees (including Wildwood), so it’s always helpful to ask during the consultation. Investing in this support can make a meaningful difference in your postpartum experience, providing both practical help and emotional relief. Many parents consider it the best baby-related money they spent.
6. What is a night doula cost in Portland?
Overnight postpartum doula support is becoming increasingly popular as parents who’ve been through it talk about how being well-rested during the postpartum period significantly aids in their recovery from birth and transition to parenthood. Typically overnight support is a little more expensive than daytime support, ranging from $45-$65 per hour. An 8 to 10 hour overnight shift is typical.
7. Are postpartum doulas covered by insurance?
While some insurance plans may cover postpartum doula services, coverage can vary widely. Many Portland families find it worthwhile to check with their insurance providers and ask their doula about submitting receipts or “superbills” for possible reimbursement. Additionally, some families choose to use funds from flexible spending accounts (FSAs) and health savings accounts (HSAs) or set up doula services as part of a gift registry.
8. How do I find the right postpartum doula in Portland?
Choosing a postpartum doula is a personal decision based on your family’s values and needs. Consider starting with a consultation to ask questions, discuss your expectations, and get a feel for their approach. Most postpartum doulas in Portland are happy to meet for a no-obligation interview, allowing you to find someone whose expertise, personality, and philosophy are a good match for your family.
8. What should I expect during a postpartum doula visit?
During a visit, your Portland postpartum doula will offer hands-on support with your newborn, provide a listening ear for any questions or challenges, and assist with household needs to create a restful, balanced home environment. Each session is tailored to address your needs in the moment, whether you need infant care tips, emotional support, or just some extra sleep while your doula cares for your baby.
Navigating the early days of parenting is a unique and beautiful journey, and having a professional, objective postpartum doula on your team can bring the reassurance and relief you need to embrace this time fully. Reach out to learn more about the personalized care available to Portland families through Wildwood Birth Collective, and discover how this nurturing support can make a positive difference in your postpartum experience.
How to become a postpartum doula
Wildwood Birth’s team of postpartum doulas is growing! If you are interested in learning how to become a postpartum doula, we’d love to talk to you and let you know all that it entails.
You might find that you’re more drawn to becoming a lactation specialist or offering comprehensive sleep care for newborns once you know the full extent of the postpartum range of services. You might even find yourself teaching newborn care classes someday soon! We love what we do and we love helping guide new postpartum doulas into the profession regardless of which corner of the postpartum doula world they choose as a specialty.
We can point you towards the best postpartum doula training option in Portland, Oregon or make recommendations for online postpartum doula training. We can also help you understand a typical postpartum doula contract and answer any questions you might have like “What does a doula get paid?”, “Is a postnatal doula the same as a postpartum doula?”, and “How much are doulas making at different experience levels?”. You might find yourself providing doula care as a Portland postpartum doula and making newborn home visits sooner than you think. Please reach out and start the conversation!
“Vera was a dream come true in a time in my life when I had a lot of fear and anxiety. I’m a “single mom by choice” and I was nervous about giving birth during a pandemic because I didn’t have the support of my community the way I’d always envisioned. Vera brought a calm and loving energy, giving me great peace of mind while I settled in as a new mama. I felt supported, encouraged and loved in a very vulnerable time. She supported me during nights in the early weeks and gave me the gift of good sleep! Thanks to Vera, I felt rested and able to enjoy the days with my daughter. I’m so grateful and will always cherish the time she spent with us.”
“This was our first child, and I had always heard that pregnancy, birth, and postpartum could be tough, but was often surprised by the level of difficultly throughout this adventure. Neither of us had much experience with any of it. Heidi really helped - and continues to help us - prepare to meet the trials with her extensive knowledge, practice, and skills. I can’t imagine how we could have done it without her!”
““Before Jennifer came I was really overwhelmed. She made me feel special and worthwhile and like what I was doing was working even if I didn’t feel that way. She actually listened and encouraged me as she respect my decisions. Thanks to Jennifer, I am proud of who I have become as a mother.”
“My partner and I talked a lot about the difference between a regular day and a Zoë day while she was helping our family. Zoë days meant not just a calmer home, but a calmer mind. Her reassurance sustained us, her advice helped us, and just knowing she would be coming in the morning made a sleepless night feel like no big deal... She helped us learn how to wear our baby, soothed my breastfeeding fears, gave us the skills and confidence to use cloth diapers and wrap up our baby in a swaddle, and just in general kept us feeling sane and supported. ”
