Many moms have learned the benefits of postpartum doulas. But oftentimes, parents don’t know that postpartum doulas help Dads! We often hear that partners are not encouraging or supportive of getting a postpartum doula….and we know why. We will guide you through 5 ways a Postpartum Doula helps both mom and dad in their transition into parenting.
But first…here is what a VERY common conversation with a pregnant couple looks like.
Mom: “So… I’ve been thinking. I really want to hire a postpartum doula after the baby comes.”
Dad: [raises an eyebrow] “A what now? Postpartum… doula? Isn’t that just a babysitter?”
Mom: “No, it’s completely different. They help with way more than just the baby. They support us—both of us—through everything: recovery, meals, baby care… even sleep.”
Dad: “I don’t know. It kind of sounds like an unnecessary expense. We can figure it out ourselves, right? People do this all the time.”
Mom: “I get that. But have you thought about what it’s actually going to be like? I’m going to be healing, exhausted, trying to figure out breastfeeding. You’re going back to work soon after, and the nights will be brutal. What happens if we’re both running on fumes?”
Dad: [pauses] “I mean, we’ll get through it. Won’t we?”
Mom: [sighs] “We could… but it doesn’t have to be that hard. A doula would take so much off our plates. She could help me recover, let us sleep, and show us how to do things with the baby. I really think it would make a huge difference—for me, especially.”
Dad: “So she’s like… a baby coach or something?”
Mom: “Kind of! Like someone who knows exactly what we need, even when we don’t. And she’s there for you too. Imagine getting to actually sleep or have a minute to yourself without worrying about me or the baby.”
Dad: [hesitates] “Okay… I guess that does sound helpful. Is it something we can afford?”
Mom: “Yah. This is an investment into our parenting so we can give <enter baby name> the best start. It’s worth it for us to stay sane and actually enjoy this time. Don’t you think?”
Dad: [nods] “Alright, let’s check it out!”
[Schedule a FREE Postpartum Doula Consult HERE] Local services for Portland, Or & Vancouver, WA
Many times parents underestimate what life will be like when bringing a baby home and the challenges of sleep deprivation. A babysitter is great, but their focus is solely child-based care. They aren’t birth and postpartum professionals trained to guide and nurture the parents, along with the baby.
That is where a doula comes in. Postpartum can be a roller coaster ride for the whole family. When you invite a doula to help with post-birth healing, you receive holistic in-home family support. Here are five ways that a postpartum doula helps dads!
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Dads earn major brownie points by hiring a Doula. You’re welcome!
We’re serious about the brownie points! Some moms tell us they really wanted to hire a doula, but didn’t because they felt their partner wouldn’t support their decision. One of the SEXIEST things a man can do is to support their partner in their wishes for postpartum care.
Dads who acknowledge the magnitude of the experience of pregnancy, birth, and postpartum make a huge difference in mom’s recovery. Postpartum takes a village. It is a time for healing, nesting, and resting. For Dads who can recognize that the more support the mom has the better, that is the goal!
When you hire a postpartum doula, you’re bringing in an expert and a doula can really help dads here too. They help with easing parent anxieties, emotional support, and infant educational support (not to mention will make you breakfast and take out the garbage!)
Parents want to do the best job for their new baby! Just knowing you have your postpartum doula to text with baby poop questions or look at your breastfeeding latch, you can both breathe easier. Voila – you become a hero for bringing in the professional postpartum support that is so needed for every mom!
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You get to sleep!
That’s right — sleep! Many times Dads are even more tired than the moms, due to the lack of adrenalin and birthing hormones that the mom has in her body. Sleep is crucial to mental health and feeling capable of meeting the needs of a newborn.
Doulas can provide Dads with naps in the day while we take over the care with mom and baby. Postpartum doulas can even take the baby overnight so you both get a full night of cuddles together.
When Dads need to go back to work, sleep can be critical. Babies don’t care that you need to be up at 6am and ready to work! Postpartum doulas can help dads get solid sleep so they can be fresh at work and ensure that their partner and baby are well cared for all night and not feeling ignored.
Dads deserve to thrive too and this is a very big way that doulas help dads!
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Postpartum doulas are there to help dads too.
Yes, it’s true that the mom is the one breastfeeding and healing from the days of labor and birth. However, you both need coffee in the morning (or let’s be honest at 5pm). You both need to keep nourished with wholesome snacks and meals. Both parents need to shower.
The couple feels better when the counters are wiped and the garbage bag full of diapers is taken out. The mom and dad can enjoy sitting on the couch while the doula washes all the bottles and pump parts so you can snuggle and be together.
We’ve also met so many Dads who are worried and want to know they are doing the “right” thing for their baby. We are there to answer all the Dad questions too! It’s a myth that Postpartum Doulas are only helpful to moms, doulas are right there to help Dads transition to parenting too.
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You can go back to work without worry.
Going back to work after having a baby can be challenging for everyone. Over and over, dads express their concern and guilt for leaving mom alone with baby. Doulas help dads in this way so they know their family is well-supported and not isolated. With a doula comes built-in support and care, which allows dads to feel much more relaxed and confident while they’re at work.
Hiring a postpartum doula also helps dads, in that feeling of equity in the relationship. Moms feel cared for and respected when their partners think of ways to lessen the impact when they go back to work. Having that postpartum doula on the team, can be a beautiful act of team-work in the relationship and mitigate future tensions and stresses.
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You get to go to the gym or out for a beer. (Yup, dads need self-care, too.)
Okay Dad, here is the thing. You need to do things for yourself after the baby is born. A postpartum doula helps dads make sure they are feeling mentally healthy and stable too. Dads can feel guilty sharing their own needs and struggles following the baby’s birth.
Getting back to your daily runs or just getting out of the house for a beer with a friend can help but might be impossible if you don’t have the help. Prioritizing time to address your needs will make you a better dad and partner.
However, moms need to feel supported before they are ready to let you go to the gym. This is where a postpartum doula helps dads. We care for mom and dads during postpartum. We’ll start the coffee, heat up the bottle, tell you where to order you the best Nipple Cream, and cook your cheesy eggs with bacon…all while your baby is being taken care of!
You might even have time to get fresh air and take the dog on a walk before work. For the times when you need to do the small stuff, we’ve got your back. While you’re maintaining your own sanity and self-care, us doulas are totally up for changing dirty diapers and helping mom get some sleep.
A Postpartum doula helps dads by supporting the entire household.
Postpartum doulas don’t take over. The role of the father is sacred and ever so important. As postpartum doulas, we are there to help Dads find their way into being confident and calm. We help foster a smooth transition into the ride that is parenthood, whether it’s your first baby or you already have 3.
[Schedule a FREE Doula Consult HERE]We believe in mother AND father-centered care — it allows you to rise powerfully as a family. Don’t take our word for it though, just ask another dad who’s experienced all the ways a postpartum doula helps dads.
Real-life Testimonial from a Vancouver, Wa Dad
“We’ve been working with the Baby Nest Doula team for the past 5 months with overnights and daytime support. We had our first kid, and let me tell you, nothing can prepare you for having a baby. No amount of reading, podcasts, youtube videos can fully prepare you for all the situations you are going to face.
I don’t know how many times we were able to count on the Baby Nest team for guidance during the hardest of nights and the most confusing of days. There are just so many things you don’t know how to navigate, and having knowledgeable, experienced guides who don’t just handle it for you, but can TEACH you, is invaluable.

The overnight support was SO important for our family. Getting some sleep during the hardest early parts of parenthood kept us sane and helped me stay connected to my wife and our child. Raising a kid is a tremendous amount of work, and to do that sleep-deprived is so tough.
The overnight support helped me have the energy and awareness to fully enjoy my time with my family without feeling zonked.
As a first-time dad, I was blown away with how much work it is to be a mom. Not only are you recovering from a major medical event, but you are permanently attached to the child when you are breastfeeding.
There’s a limit to how much support I can give – I don’t have the experience to know how to help a baby latch better, or to know ways to navigate the hormonal swings, or to find home remedies to heal faster from birth. That’s where the postpartum doulas were invaluable!
Hiring doula services is an investment, but I can’t think of many other investments that have been worth more than the wellbeing of our family that the Baby Nest team has provided.” – Jeff O.
Schedule a FREE Doula Consult
If you are from the Vancouver, WA or Portland, OR areas and are interested in having postpartum doula services, we offer FREE Doula Consults. It’s a time to ask questions, learn about your needs and for you to find the right fit doula for your postpartum team.