Frequently Asked Questions
What is a postpartum doula?
A postpartum doula is a trained professional who provides physical, emotional, and educational support to new parents during the postpartum period. Occasionally we are called night nanny.
How is a postpartum doula different from a baby nurse?
Unlike a baby nurse, who primarily provides medical infant care for medically needy babies, a postpartum doula supports the entire family by assisting with newborn care, feeding guidance, emotional support, and household tasks. If you have a baby who is discharged with medical needs, you should opt for a nurse and your medical insurance may cover those costs. We work specifically with healthy infants.
What services do you offer?
We provide daytime and overnight postpartum support, lactation assistance, newborn care education, meal preparation, sibling care, emotional support, sleep consulting and more.
When should I book a postpartum doula?
It’s best to book your postpartum doula during pregnancy to ensure availability, but we also accommodate last-minute requests when possible. We tend to book about 6 months in advance.
How long do families typically use a postpartum doula?
The length of support varies by family. Some families need help for a few weeks, while others choose ongoing support for several months. Our postpartum doulas can work with families until baby's first birthday. Our sleep consultant can work with children up to age 5.
Scheduling & Pricing
What are your service hours?
We offer both daytime and overnight care. Our specific hours vary depending on availability and client needs. Postpartum support starts at $40/hr.
How much do your services cost?
Our rates depend on the type of care and duration of support. Please contact us for detailed pricing and package options.
Do you offer payment plans or accept HSA/FSA?
Yes! We accept HSA/FSA payments and offer flexible payment plans. We suggest you check with your HSA/FSA provider to ensure they will cover the cost of services. Some health insurance companies will reimburse for sleep consulting services. We also accept Carrot Fertility benefits on a limited basis.
What happens if I need to reschedule or cancel?
We understand that plans change. Please review our cancellation and rescheduling policy, which varies based on the type of service booked. We are very, very flexible!
Newborn & Parent Support
Can a postpartum doula help with breastfeeding?
Yes! We offer lactation support and can help with proper latch techniques, positioning, and troubleshooting common breastfeeding challenges. All of our doulas have breastfeeding for doulas training. We also refer to wonderful IBCLCs when the issues are out of a doula's scope.
Do you help with formula feeding or bottle feeding?
Absolutely! We support all feeding choices and can assist with formula preparation, introducing a bottle, bottle-feeding techniques, and paced bottle feeding.
Will a doula help with my baby’s sleep schedule?
Definitely! We provide guidance on newborn sleep habits and gentle techniques to help establish healthy sleep patterns. All of our doulas are under the supervision of a certified pediatric sleep consultant and all clients have access to the sleep consultant for 5 years.
Can you help with postpartum recovery and emotional support?
Yes! That's our specialty. We assist with postpartum healing, emotional well-being, and recognizing signs of postpartum depression or anxiety.
Do you provide sibling care?
Yes! We can help older siblings adjust to their new role while also giving parents time to focus on their newborn.
Other Common Questions
Do you provide services for parents of multiples?
Yes! We have experience supporting families with multiples and children extremely close in age. About 1/3 of our clients are parents of multiples.
Are your doulas certified and trained?
Our doulas are professionally trained in infant and family care, postpartum care, maternal mental health, infant sleep, and breastfeeding for doulas. All doulas are CPR and Infant CPR certified by reputable organizations and are fully insured. They have experience in infant and postpartum care and in many cases are mothers themselves. All of Ohio Baby Co. team members have successfully passed 3 background checks as well.
Can I gift postpartum doula services to someone?
Yes! We offer gift certificates, which make a perfect baby shower or new-parent gift. Email ohiobabyco@gmail.com to send a gift.
What areas do you serve?
We primarily serve families in the greater Columbus, Ohio area, but please contact us to see if we can accommodate your location. Sleep Consulting provided nationally, additional fee may apply.
How do I get started?
Simply contact us through our website to schedule a consultation and discuss your family’s needs.