Postpartum Doula

Personalized Wellness & Care
At Home With Ally

Vernon, BC

Your First 40 Days

In-home support during the most essential time of bonding and revitalization for mom, baby & the whole family

You emerge from The Cave of Birth as a new woman. The initiation of birth has closed. You begin to leave the darkness of The Cave behind and feel the pull of light from the outside world once again.

So much work is behind you, and so much is yet to come.

Your baby is in your arms – it is now the postpartum time – the time for the work that comes after the arrival of your precious little one. As a new mom, whether it is your first or you’re experienced with many, the postpartum (4^th trimester) is for healing. Although it is the time for the work that comes after birth, fear not – for you have a sturdy friend in me.

When I met my husband, he shared a special quote with me from the back of a neighborhood bench he frequented as a kid:

“A faithful friend is a sturdy shelter, he who
has found one has found a treasure.”

So the postpartum time is a mysterious time filled with so much joy and excitement over the presence of a new baby (of course!) but what about mom? The idea of “The First 40 Days” is a traditional approach to a mother’s recovery, where she is kept at home to rest, nourish herself, and pay close attention to the initiation of the postpartum time.

The best gift you can give to yourself as a new mom, is the gift of routine help from another woman who ‘gets you’. Your home will be cared for, the laundry freshly sorted and folded, a hot herbal bath will be drawn, and your nourished path to recovery will be a sacred time you will remember forever. A sturdy friend is one you can rely on, who is always there for you when you call, and who makes it feel like time stands still for your needs and heart’s truest expression.

Every new mom deserves a sturdy friend; sadly, we have collectively lost the critical importance of the care a new mother needs to receive after pregnancy and giving birth. May my offering of personalized in-home care be the support you can lean on as you move through this special time with more presence, grace, and vital health.

| Your Welcome Home Package |

– 9 visits during the first 5 weeks.
Each visit is 4 hours, a total of 36 hours of in-home care

– On-call via Signal messenger for text support / chatting and urgent visit requests (Full 5 weeks)

– Holistic clinical herbalism evaluation to develop a custom postpartum wellness plan

– Herbs and specific remedies unique to your current needs

Please review the section below to read about what you will receive each week! I also offer customized bundles based on your individual needs & desires.

About Your Visits

Week 1

The first two visits we will focus on your immediate needs following birth. This critical time is all about intimate care for both mom and the baby. This can include but is not limited to:

Baby:

Checking on the proper healing of umbilicus
Looking over the skin
Feeding progress; Latching & breastfeeding tendencies; discussing & implementing alternative feeding methods if necessary
Going over diapering, swaddling, comfort measures for baby’s best sleep

Mama:

Checking in on your emotional state, sleep quality, hormonal shifts
Being with the baby for you to have self care time such as bathing, sleeping, eating or time with other children etc.
Discussing holistic methods for caring for your perinea and preventative care for breast discomfort
Ensuring bed rest setup is comfortable, easy, and efficient or making required adjustments
Checking in on breastfeeding progress, challenges, successes, or uncertainties.
Observing multiple feeds
Discussing supplementary feeding options, routines, pumping or alternative feeding methods if applicable
Light housekeeping such as laundry, cleaning your bathroom, dishes, getting lunch together for the other kids etc.
Considerations of nourishment, food, nutrition and what you may be missing
Assessment and preparation of herbal remedies to assist quality of sleep, relaxation, blood building, wound healing, herbal bath and any other wellness needs

The goal of these first two visits is for you to feel extremely nourished, looked after, and confident in your one on one time with your newborn. I will be with you in whatever fashion you would like during these two visits; these above points are simple guides for what may show up during the first week but there is room for all other possibilities to be cared for or addressed.

If I am unable to immediately resolve your needs during the first week, I will help supply you with local resources or coordinate the right care / solution for your situation as you see fit.

Recommended items: Rice pouches/heating pads, lanolin / olive oil (nipple care), sitz bath, eye masks and nursing pillow setup. Manual breast pump (let’s chat about options)

Week 2

Our visits during the second week will have a different feeling to them. This time we spend together will be to begin discussing more advanced care for your newborn, such as bathing, assessing responsiveness, sleep patterns and rhythms since birth. Any concerns that have developed since birth can be discussed and looked after.

These second week visits will continue to focus on intimate care for you. We will prepare a lovely herbal bath customized for your needs, constitution, and healing goals. I will check in on how you are feeling; what has unfolded emotionally, spiritually, or anything you may want to share about your postpartum time so far. I will support you during this transitional week when hormonal shifts become more evident and your needs for deeper rest, reassurance, and general support may be stronger. Light housekeeping as usual and we will continue to discuss your nutrition, daily nourishment needs, sleep quality, and more. I will supply you with the proper remedies for this week based on what is most needed at the time.

At the end of the second week, we are striving for you to feel confident with your feeding rhythms and seeing more of a sleep schedule form between you, your baby, and your partner. Any challenges in regards to feeding or sleep will be addressed. Full time bed rest will conclude at the end of the 2^nd week.

Recommended items: Swaddling blankets / proper clothing for the season

Week 3

During our visits in week three we will begin to discuss schedule management with your partner and ideas around the best possible routine development for your family. We will discuss any challenges you are witnessing in the process so far and I will give feedback or insights in to what could help make your life with the newborn be smooth and efficient. We can discuss your personal health, nourishment, and care of each other especially in regards to your sleep needs. If you would like, we can make special time for sleep where I will care for the baby to ensure yourselves some deep rest.

This week is about addressing the process of nurturing yourselves as partners and parents simultaneously. I will continue to check in on your emotional state, spiritual revelations and the continuing process of postpartum initiation. This applies to both mom and dad during the third week.

As usual, I will help with light housekeeping and ensure you have some time for self care such as bathing, eating, quiet alone time, or anything else you may be desiring. The third week is when mom will venture out into the rest of the home & develop more nesting places to begin the process of integrating with the home once again. Deep rest is still critical throughout the days with some gentle movement at home.

Week 4

The 4^th week is our final week of double visits! I will begin to work with you and your partner on how to wear your baby so you can start to live life hands free! Prior to week 4, we will discuss your preference for baby-wearing and I will gladly share with you my favorite recommendations. Maybe there will be two styles of carrier that you will be interested in, I say try them both. The dad may want a different carrier style than you. If this is not your first baby, we can continue to address what is most prevalent for you and customize week 4 to perfectly fit your needs. More housekeeping, meal prep, or other tasks can be included during this week!

According to progress, on the 1^st visit of the 4^th week, we will take you and the baby outside the house perhaps in your yard or on the porch, to introduce them to nature & refresh yourself by reconnecting with the outside world. On the 2^nd visit of the 4^th week, I will help you to prepare for taking the baby into your neighborhood on a walk either carried or in a stroller. We can go through the process of packing your diaper bag, feeding in public, and ensuring the car seat is well-set in your vehicle, too.

As usual, I will check in on your emotional state, hormonal fluctuations and physical needs. I will also make time for light housekeeping and address any immediate needs you are having. If you would like, you can take a quality nap, a long bath, or have a proper meal while I take care of the baby.

Week 5

Week 5 is our closing session together! We will discuss your journey of postpartum so far and care for any lingering or unresolved challenges from the past month. This visit is all about you and your entire 13 month process of conceiving, sustaining, and nurturing your most precious creation. The 5^th week leading up to the 40^th day is about ceremony and initiation, a sense of closure even though the postpartum will continue on for an amount of time that only you can determine. We will take time to honor your entire cycle of motherhood, and look towards your future as a new woman and a new mom.

At the ‘end’ of all our visits together, it is my sincere hope and prayer that you feel empowered to own your season of motherhood having gained a stronger sense of self, your capacity, and begin to feel inspired by your role as a new mother. May your postpartum time be revelatory, nourishing, and revitalizing as you lay the foundation of your vital health once again.

Travel & Long Distance Clients

I would love to be with you in your home for the full 5-weeks of postpartum if you are seeking more intimate care & a deeper level of assistance maintaining your home/family during this important time. My services will match your needs during these 5 weeks and you will have my full availability. Please contact me if you are interested in this type of postpartum wellness & care.

| Pricing |

– $2222 all inclusive
$1000 deposit required prior to first visit.
For remainder due, I will happily arrange a payment schedule.

– Additional visits outside of the welcome home package: $120 (2 hour visit)

| Meal Prep |

– Meal prep sessions can be added during any week – I will prep elements for meals to be used throughout the week and shop for you. We will tailor these meals to your nutritional needs and precise preferences.

– $150 per session.