People ask me all the time what an overnight postpartum doula actually does all night. Do I just sit there and watch the baby sleep? Ha! Let me walk you through a typical shift.
7:00 pm: Getting myself ready
My “day” starts when my own family is winding down. I head out for a quick gym trip and a shower, then make the hour-ish drive to work.
10:00 pm: Settling in for the night
Once I arrive, the first thing I do is check the baby log for the last feedings and any medications. Then I check in with the parents. How was their day? How would they like the night to go? Are we nursing, pumping, bottle feeding, or some mix of all three?
Next, I set up my space. Curtains drawn, lights off, sound machine on. I move the baby (or babies) to my area, gather up the day’s dirty bottles and pump parts, and make sure I have everything I need for the night: diapers, wipes, milk, and so on.
Then if there are any bottles and pump parts from the day, I wash everything (and sanitize if needed). If mom is pumping, then I’ll set up mom’s next pump session and leave it outside her door so it’s ready when she wakes up.
Through the night: Feeds, diapers, and a lot of washing
If it’s been a while since the baby (or babies) last ate, I’ll usually feed them right away. This helps them sleep longer and keeps us on track so they’re fed and happy when I hand them back in the morning.
From there, I cover the baby care so the parents can actually rest. I log everything in an app or the Notes app (whatever the parents prefer), so they can check in anytime without getting up to ask. If they prefer a paper chart, I update throughout the night and hand over in the morning.
I either wake mom to pump or nurse and keep her company, or she sets an alarm to wake up and pump. If she pumps, I collect the milk and take it from there. Then it’s the same rhythm for another one or two feeds: feed, change, wash, set up the next pump session, prep the next bottles.
In between all of that, I keep busy with laundry (washing, folding, and putting it away) and any dishes left from the day.
Morning: Handing everything back
Before I leave, I move everything back to the parents’ room: the baby (or babies), washing-station supplies, bottles, and pump parts. My goal is to leave the babies fed, sleeping, and settled before I sneak out of the house ninja style.
And then...
I drive about an hour home, sneak into bed for a good 3 to 5-hour nap, and then it’s right back to mom duty for the day!
Whew! So when someone asks what I do as an overnight doula, I usually say, “What don’t I do?!” 😂
Wondering if overnight support is right for your family?
Every family’s nights look different, and overnight support can be shaped around what you need, whether that’s feeding support, protecting mom’s sleep, or having someone else handle the bottles for the night. If you’re curious, I’d love to chat.
Warmly,
Doula Deb
