Postpartum Hermana Services
​​​What is a Postpartum Hermana?
A skilled perinatal peer support person who provides prompt and accessible guidance to women and families during an extended postpartum period (up to 2 years after your birth). A Postpartum Hermana provides fast and direct emotional support, information, and guidance to women through low-pressure, convenient virtual or phone sessions, complementing the doula's role by filling in any gaps with support.
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Pricing:
Initial phone consultation up to 30 minutes = Free
50 minute session = $50
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When do I seek out Postpartum Hermana support?
After returning home from your birth (or following homebirth), after your last appointment with your midwife/OB or doula, or ANYTIME within the first two years after giving birth. You may choose to have just one or several sessions throughout the first two years of your baby's life.
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Women need support at different times throughout their little one's babyhood and into early toddlerhood. There are many changes happening in your life and your body in these first two years.
You may be adjusting to:
Healing from childbirth
Not being pregnant anymore
Bonding with your baby
Your birth story
C-section recovery and feelings
Becoming a mother
Becoming a mother of 2, 3, or more
Your other children's responses to the baby
Emotional changes
Hormonal shifts
Physical changes
Social changes
Single parenthood
Relationships shifting
Intimacy changes
Pelvic floor issues
Nursing
Not nursing
Bottle-feeding
Different sleep patterns
Sleep training
Feeding baby solid foods
Going back to work
Not going back to work
Your baby growing and changing
Toddlerhood
Maybe even a new pregnancy
and much more
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There are many reasons to seek out Postpartum Hermana support:
*To talk through or understand something that happened in your birth story
*If you are having difficulty adjusting to the new normal
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*Maybe you are a black or brown mother who experienced racism or disrespect in your birth place
​*You gave birth but don't identify as a woman or mother and want support through the nuances of your birth and parenting experience
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(Prefer a black or queer Postpartum Hermana? I can refer you!)
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*For guidance or tips on certain postpartum or baby topics and questions
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*To gain information and referrals to resources in your area
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*And there are many more reasons!
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Postpartum Hermanas Do:
Provide Emotional Support
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Story-processing
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Journey through your birth story, birth experience
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Be a listening ear that has background, skill, and knowledge in support for pregnancy, birth, and postpartum period
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Peer support through baby blues, stress, postpartum depression, bonding issues
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Normalize the wide scope of normal emotion during the postpartum period
Provide Informational Support
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Answer non-medical basic questions about newborn and baby care
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Help you formulate and articulate questions for your midwife, doctor, pediatrician, etc
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Find, research, and refer you to other resources and services in your area
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Peer coaching for baby sleep issues
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Parenting peer support
Discuss Wellness Support
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Discuss sleep, food, exercise, stress relief
Help with Visioning
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Help you articulate and visualize your needs, wants, dreams as a mother and as a person
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Create a plan together so the transition from pregnancy to motherhood with this new baby is gentler and sweeter
Offer Lactation Support and Info
Postpartum Hermanas Do Not:
Give medical advice or diagnose mother or infant/child
Provide mental health therapy or counseling
Replace medical advice or mental health therapy
Diagnose or treat postpartum depression or other related psychological issues
Give official advice on carseat safety or safe sleep practices
