Meet Laura Wanamaker- Postpartum Doula and Newborn Care Specialist

I am a Certified Postpartum Doula and Newborn care specialist.

I come to this profession by way of deep heartfelt caring and understanding.  As a mother of three college age children, I think back to my quick succession of pregnancies.  With each baby my confidence grew, but so did my exhaustion. The first baby garnishes incredible  attention, visitors and much appreciated meals. By the third baby less and less help was offered and the “you got this now” could not be more true. Not with a preschooler, toddler and fussy newborn.

I think back of the value of a doula. For my first baby, I wish I had  a postpartum doula to come to my home and teach me, validate me and just help to get some well needed sleep.  I know also this would have played a role in more successful nursing.  I understand what it is have  a job waiting for you and 12 weeks goes by incredibly blurry and too brief.

I used a labor doula with my last two deliveries because I really needed hands on experienced assistance.  I was way ahead of the curve being that was twenty years ago.  My own obstetrician ignorantly asked me “what is a doula?” and this was his career field. Since that time I have always been intrigued on being a doula myself. After corporate downsizing, sort of forced early retirement, I became a nanny.  I have worked long term for two incredible families. I will always say I have seven children to this day. With the right timing in my life and a twenty year desire for this career, I made it happen.

I think about all the money that was spent frivolously when I could have set aside that money for help those first few weeks. I thought what a fabulous idea this would be for a shower gift or even better a gift for a subsequent birth when everything needed for a newborn is already at home.

What I bring to you is a philosophy of “What does the mother want?”  Every mother and family can require different needs. It is completely irrelative to me how you choose to feed your baby. I have been on both sides of that issue. I will provide a mother with all the information needed if she really wants to try successful nursing, but its a personal decision. Even if you know you don’t feel nursing is for you or try it and realize you prefer formula and bottles, then do it. I am not hard core. I value how you want to care for your baby in any capacity. Doulas never diagnose as we are not medical professionals and should never represent that we are. As an example, recognizing the difference between a clogged milk duct as opposed to potential mastitis is imperative. That’s where a doula can really help.  Helping with techniques to alleviate that problem and getting the baby back to the breast is what is really needed.