What Services Can I Add to My Postpartum Doula Business?

The core services of a doula are critically important, whether it is providing support during labor or in the postpartum period. Many doulas offer these core services and find that work fulfilling, lucrative, and choose not to expand their offerings, but it is also common for doulas to package multiple specialized services together. If you’re a postpartum doula who is ready to expand and add to your portfolio, it can be overwhelming to decide where to start. Below are X popular services that you can add to your business, providing easy access to support for your clients and more opportunities for yourself.

Belly Binding

Much of the work of a postpartum doula focuses on caring for mothers as their bodies heal from the process of birth and return to normal after pregnancy. Belly binding is growing in popularity as a way to support this process. It involves using a material, usually a cloth, to tightly wrap the abdomen with the intention of supporting the organs, back, and uterus. Women who use belly binding often say they experience instant relief as well as easier postpartum healing.

Preparing the cloth and bringing it to a standing postpartum visit is usually all that’s needed to provide belly binding. Most doulas will teach the mother or partner to apply the wrap so that they can do it as needed. A range of online courses exist to teach various methods of applying the wrap.

Lactation Consultant

Breastfeeding support is already a huge component of postpartum doula support, but not all doulas are certified as lactation consultants. By certifying with the International Board of Lactation Consultants (IBCLC), these services can be backed by additional training and considered a separate offering in cases where extra support is needed.

Family Photography

As a postpartum doula, clients are already welcoming you into their home and letting you experience intimate moments with you. This connection can be the difference between generic photography and family photos that are personal and cherished. Learning basic photography skills can give you the experience to offer in-home newborn or family photo shoots, and even candid shots of things like nursing, to your clients.

Certified Sleep Consultant

In the early days of postpartum care, you may act as a night nurse of sorts, comforting baby while the parents sleep and teaching them soothing techniques for the nights to come. When the time comes that the parents are ready to explore sleep training and need additional support, not only will they remember the care you provided during this time, but they also will have trust in you and your knowledge of their baby. This is the perfect basis to offer sleep consulting services.

When you become a Certified Sleep Consultant through the Center for Pediatric Sleep Management, you will have all the tools you need to stay connected to your postpartum clients and continue offering services. Many of our doula graduates even include sleep consulting in their initial packages to ensure they will maintain that connection!

To learn more about being a sleep consultant and how it can fit in with your current offerings, visit our Facebook community today!