Postpartum Contact?

[raspberrymoondoula]

question for everyone, post partum how long do you keep in touch with the mother? so far one client was a friend so we keep in touch, one was a back up i did for another doula so i only saw her at the birth, and the last one i've seen a few times as shes had some breastfeeding issues but we're dwindling off. i keep alist of birthdates nd email addresses so i can send a virtual card on baby's first birthday, but after that?

[Tiffany]

My first batch of clients I came the day after they got home from the hospital and then one more time one week later.

I don't visit clients in the hospital here, because in April 2003 there was a SARS outbreak and they locked all the hospitals down to either no visitors or 2 visitors PER DAY. I've been away from this for a year now, but I have "heard" not much has changed. I like to keep visitor spots open for mom & baby's family.

With my next client, I'm going to start something a little different. I'll see her 3 days, 5 days and 10 days postpartum. Ten days being the final visit unless I assess any other reason I should see her again.

Most of my births in the first batch were quick volunteer births, some adoptions, and while I wouldn't mind a pic of the baby on his/her birthday, it didn't feel appropriate. However, I hope the client I have due in September will send pics on the baby's birthdays!

[raspberrymoondoula]

let us know how your new system works! i worry i wont catch PPD with only one PP appointment but i dont feel like i charge enough for more, especially when i get moms with really long labors, i'm just wiped. i get $300 for 3 prenatals, labor and delivery, immediate post partum breastfeeding support (i generally stay around till baby is nursing well at least once) and 1 post partum visit with a meal and onesie. i generally try to send an email a few days after my visit to see if theres any other questions and thats usually it. my last mom had some breastfeeding issues as i said so i've seen her a couple exttra times but thats it. i have a client right now that said she preferred to have one prenatal and 3 post partums and i said thats fine as long as she feels like shes prepared enough for the birth from the one prenatal and that she's willing to do some extra legwork. her husband will be out to sea post aprtum so she feels like she needs the extra support then.

[tlcdoula]

For me it really depends on whether the client is a private client or a hospital based client (remmeber I work in a hospital doula program). My private clients get one visit in the hospital the day after they have had their baby, a phone call the day after they come home from the hospital, and one visit in their home with unlimited phone consultations. If I feel there is something going on then yes I will return again or stay in contact via the phone.

The hospital based clients get a phone call the day after they come home from the hospital, unlimited phone support, and then one visit in their home during the postpartum period.