Wow! I can’t believe it’s been about 3.5 years since I last wrote a blog article! I’ve written so many in my head over the past years but I guess I never took the time to type it out. Geesh, time flies!
I’m here now to talk about one my favorite services - Sunrise Doula Support! I recently met with a certified health educator and aspiring postpartum doula who’d done her research and poked around my website before we met. She mentioned the Sunrise Support and she loved it, remarking that her mom provided this service for her after the birth of her first child! She definitely validated the need and desire for this offering.
I started this postpartum doula service when we lived in Los Angles and have carried it back to Northern Virginia! I initially offered it as a spin-off for a family to whom I provided overnight postpartum doula support. During the time I worked with the family, we realized that the dad was a night owl and wasn’t heading to bed until 11PM or midnight, but was exhausted in the early morning hours when baby needed tending, usually right as my overnight shift was ending. So, we decided to change my support window from about 3am until 9am. This allowed dad to stay up as he naturally would but allowed me to come in during those early morning hours to care for baby so that the whole family slept!
And it was fabulous! For everyone!
The Army did a great job of conditioning me to become a morning person. Waking up well before the sun is my daily routine, even now. Just something about the quite, the calm, the change in the sky, the coffee, the wonder of the day ahead, I just love it! Oh, and it’s the closest time of day to breakfast - definitely THE BEST meal of the day! The smell of bacon, or buttered, toasted English muffins…yum.
So, when this opportunity came to pair several of my favorite things, I couldn’t resist! And that’s the birth story of my Sunrise Doula Support service!
Now, an example of what Sunrise Doula Support could look like and how to make this dream a reality for your family!
You’ve already called and we’ve already met before the first sunrise visit. I’ve also already visited your home one time so I’m familiar with the layout, where baby sleeps, where parents are located, where other children sleep, etc. Fast forward to my first Sunrise Support visit! You gave me a key or code to enter your home so that I don’t have to wake anyone to enter. You’ve sent me a text with the start time of baby’s last feeding and any diaper changing details. I come in, check any other notes you left for me, and get to work! I likely do some laundry, wash pump parts or bottles, tidy up the kitchen, restock any diaper bags or changing tables, and start to prep breakfast, all while tending to baby’s every move! If you’re a breastfeeding family, I bring baby to you when it’s time to feed, then take baby so you can drift back to sleep. I continue to care for baby while finishing up tasks and moving to breakfast. Possibly another feeding occurs while I am there then in the mid-morning hours, then you’re up for the day between 8am and 10am, with a warm beverage and fresh breakfast waiting for you! I pass on any notes and observations from the morning and then we’re all on our way for the day!
Or, maybe you have a toddler and an elementary aged child, in addition to your newborn, and mornings are your arch nemesis (someone please sympathize with me on lunch making…not the best part of parenting, right?!). I can help in this scenario too, especially with the baby care part and the breakfast part!
There are several reasons and ways that Sunrise Doula Support could work for your family. Booking this service is the same as any other service I offer. Reach out to me in anyway you prefer - contact page on my website or direct email tends to be the most common. We’ll schedule at time to chat - either by phone or in person. Then, later, when baby arrives, we’ll work together to determine the best time(s) for me to support you and your family.
And each visit could be different. Maybe we start with me arriving at 4am but we realize baby seems to start feeding at 3am. We can adjust for the next visit so that I arrive at 3am and ready to take over baby care as soon as the feeding session ends. We’ll figure it out together and live in the moment!
Let’s connect if you have questions or are interested in learning more about Sunrise Postpartum Doula Support!
You got this!
Kari Haravitch, PCD(DONA)
