What Does a Postpartum Doula Do? A Day in the Life of a Postpartum Doula—
BY: REBECCA BELENKY OF LOS ANGELES BIRTH
Welcoming a new baby brings joy, exhaustion, and endless change. In this story, postpartum doula Rebecca Kaasa Belenky shares what a typical day supporting new parents really looks like, from babywearing and meal prep to emotional check-ins and essential rest. Discover how professional postpartum care in Los Angeles helps parents not only survive, but thrive in the early weeks after birth. Gain some insight into what to expect and why expert doula support can make a big difference during the postpartum period.
Newborn wake up massage
When I walk into a home, I can usually get a sense of how the last day or two has been for the family. I might find baskets of clean laundry waiting to be folded, bottles lined up by the sink, or a scattering of new pump parts. Sometimes I walk in to find a pile of swaddles tossed across the nursery floor, evidence of bleary-eyed parents trying to figure out which one actually keeps their baby’s arms from Houdini-ing out of the neckline, desperate for more sleep in the middle of the night.
All of these small details are clues to what kind of support the family might need that day, as they are on the steep learning curve of the newborn phase.
Every day as a postpartum doula looks a little different, but my mission remains the same: to help new parents rest, recover, and find their rhythm in the crucial early weeks after birth. As a holistic postpartum doula in Los Angeles, I provide personalized support designed to ease the transition and promote the entire family’s well-being.
Morning: Easing Into the Day
I usually arrive around 10 a.m. for my four-hour shift. I prefer to arrive early in the day, before the household is fully awake, so I can offer my help before things get moving. If the parents are still tired, I’ll take the baby so they can lie down and piece together another hour or two of rest.
I’ll share a recent client experience-what a day together looked like. They lived in Pasadena and had welcomed their son into the world a week earlier. Things were still tender and new, and they were beginning to find their stride. The mother was still healing from birth and moving slowly; they had both been riding high all week on adrenaline, and now were crashing after multiple days of interrupted sleep, and the reality was setting in.
On this day, when I arrived, the baby had just finished nursing in the parents’ bed, so I was hopeful he might sleep for an hour or two before wanting to nurse again. I checked in on what they were hoping for from my visit today, and they both said, “We could really use some more sleep,” so I offered to take the baby and wear him in a wrap while I started the day. I began to move quietly through the house- starting a load of laundry, tidying up the living room, and moving to the kitchen to prep lunch while the mom and dad stayed in bed and slept.
Most mornings when I show up, there are dishes in the sink, a reminder of a long night, or simple household tasks interrupted by the baby’s needs. I load the dishwasher, pour yesterday’s cold, half-drunk coffee down the drain, and start organizing and prepping ingredients for lunch.
Chopping herbs in the kitchen
The Rhythm of the Morning
That day, I made a butternut squash curry with kale, chickpeas, and quinoa. The smell of onions, garlic, and ginger bloomed in the pan while the baby slept soundly against my chest.
When his eyes started to flutter, I swayed gently, stirring the veggies. Thankfully, he snuffled around a bit and drifted back to sleep. I didn’t have to wake his parents. (Success!) With the butternut squash curry simmering, I transferred the laundry to the dryer and started another dish I could leave for the week ahead — lentils and rice with an herby tomato and cucumber salad, topped with toasted cumin and fried onions. It’s a great one for leftovers.
Thankfully, the baby boy stayed asleep in the wrap carrier, and I was able to keep chopping the tomatoes and cucumber, and herbs, while intermittently stirring and tending to the pots on the stove.
Late Morning: Listening and Re-energizing
Around 11:30, the mom wakes and checks in on the baby, smiling as she comments on how delicious everything smells. She heads to the shower while I keep wearing the baby. So far, so good. He is still sleeping soundly.
By noon, he begins rooting, and this time, there is some intent to it. That unmistakable searching of his mouth that says it’s really time to eat, and he means business. I gently lift him out of the wrap and hand him to his mother as she settles in to nurse. As she gets comfortable with her pillows, I refill her water bottle and bring over her vitamins and placenta pills that she seemed to have forgotten to take earlier.
While she feeds her baby, I step out to grab the laundry from the dryer. We sit together in the living room — she nursing, me folding burp cloths, onesies, swaddles, and bassinet sheets — and we talk. It’s so easy in the early days for conversations to orbit entirely around the baby — the feeding, the diapers, the sleep (too much or too little). There’s so much focus on poop and pee! The color, the consistency, too much, not enough. So much interesting diaper talk.
But part of my work is gently pulling the conversation back to THEM- to the parents as people. I know that when partners communicate effectively with each other, asking for what they need and feeling supported, they’re less likely to feel like they’re disappearing behind the constant care of their newborn. The identity shift is hard enough, but when a person transforms and becomes invisible all in one fell swoop, the result is disorienting.
On this day, she was recounting moments from the birth and had some questions about this part of her birth story. I listened and reflected on what I heard in her story, considering what I knew to be true about the challenges of birth journeys.
Newborn nursing with his mom
Afternoon: Nourishment and Normalizing
After we talk on the couch for a bit, the dad reappears from the bathroom — fresh, showered, and ready for more newborn time. We all take a few minutes to discuss nighttime sleep and nursing strategies, and I help normalize what their baby is doing.
For instance, in those early weeks, it’s completely normal for a baby to nurse often—nursing 8-12 times in 24 hours is typical. In addition to frequent feeding, babies also often want almost constant closeness from caregivers. Parents may need reassurance that they aren’t creating bad habits by responding to their baby’s cries for milk or comfort. In fact, responsive parenting in the newborn phase builds trust, which serves as the foundation for healthy emotional development. By understanding these newborn behaviors, parents can feel more confident and less anxious during the postpartum period. (Benefits of a Doula, 2023)
Once they feel reassured, I remember the curry on the stove and head to the kitchen to add the finishing touches to lunch. Soon, I bring two bowls to the table, carefully prepared for these two very special new parents before me.
I take the baby again so they can eat together. I walk him around the house. I observe how he communicates his need for a burp and how his body relaxes after feeding. These small observations help me understand his rhythms and temperament—what he notices, how he settles, and the position in which he feels most at ease.
We continue the conversation as we enjoy lunch together. There is laughter and mutual admiration for their baby's latest skills. I remain attentive, listening and validating their fears and concerns — about sleep, about recovery, about doing everything “right.” Sometimes what new parents need most isn’t advice, but permission to trust themselves and keep going.
The Closing: Reassurance and Keeping Going
After the parents finish eating, I hand the baby back over to his dad. He settles onto the couch with his son for a contact nap, the two of them relaxed in a warm patch of sunlight. The mom puts on some music, and they all sink into a quiet, contented moment together — the snoozy tempo of the newborn in these early days.
I return to the kitchen to tidy up — washing lunch dishes, wiping down counters, and taking out the trash and recycling. Then I put the leftover curry in the fridge and pack the lentils and rice into a container for future meals.
In the last half-hour of my shift, I mix up a batch of energy balls and brew a pot of lemon and fresh ginger tea for this sweet family to sip as the afternoon unfolds. Before I go, I prepare a small fruit plate, set out a bowl of nuts and a couple of prunes, and arrange the tea and energy balls for an afternoon snack.
The house feels calm, warm, and full of the newborn glow. We discussed some nursing strategies they would try that night. Suddenly it’s 2 p.m. I gather my things, slip on my Birkenstocks, and leave them to the rest of their day. I will return in two days. By then, they will have a new set of discoveries to share as they learn about their baby and how to parent together.
I know this couple would have been fine if I hadn’t shown up that day. But my support allowed them to settle into being present with their baby and take care of themselves. They weren’t just surviving the newborn phase—they were thriving and finding their flow amid all the new changes and big shifts in their lives.
I will leave the kitchen cleaner than I found it!
Every Day Looks a Little Different
Not every day as a postpartum doula looks like this one. Some days, I take the dog and the baby for a walk to get some fresh air. Other days, I might change sheets, run the vacuum, and put the house back in order.
There are days spent helping an older child adjust to their new role as a big sibling. Other days, I work closely with a parent on feeding—supporting latching, creating a pumping plan, washing and organizing bottles, or researching formula. Sometimes I’m breaking down boxes of online orders and gifts that have piled up. On other days, I show parents how to babywear, allowing them to move around with their hands free.
Every family’s needs are different, and that’s what I love about this work — it meets people exactly where they are, and no day is the same.
Why This Work Matters
On the surface, it might just look like cooking and folding laundry, but postpartum doula work is about energy. It’s about reading the room, anticipating needs, and helping a household find its rhythm again after the upheaval of birth.
Some days, that means soothing a fussy baby. Other days, it’s listening to a birth story, helping with feeding challenges, or giving someone permission to rest. When I leave, there’s food in the fridge, clean laundry folded, and — more often than not — a renewed energy that wasn’t there when I arrived.
If you’re in Los Angeles and preparing for life after birth, I can help you rest, recover, and feel supported during those critical early weeks. Contact me to schedule a postpartum doula consultation and discover how my services can help you navigate the challenges and joys of new parenthood with confidence.
Are you planning to breastfeed your baby? Read this blog post from Josée Pound about preparing for lactation.
Rebecca Belenky is a Los Angeles–based postpartum doula, childbirth educator, and lactation specialist who has been supporting families since 2014. Through her practice, Los Angeles Birth, she offers compassionate, trauma-informed care that helps parents to feel informed, grounded, and confident throughout pregnancy, birth, and the postpartum journey. Her expertise in postpartum support, newborn care, and lactation education makes her a trusted resource for families in Los Angeles seeking guidance and reassurance.
References
(2023). Benefits of a Doula. DONA International. https://www.dona.org/what-is-a-doula/benefits-of-a-doula/
