Postpartum Support: Part 3 - New Parent Support
Created in collaboration with Madeleine Newman, the founder of Poppins Postpartum (@poppinspostpartum).
A new baby can turn even the most organised life upside down. In the last part of this series, we look at the main forms of paid support, from expert assistance with newborn care to an extra pair of hands to help with household chores and take care of your child so you can enjoy a hot cup of tea.
Doulas
Doulas are non-medically trained professionals who provide support to mothers during pregnancy, childbirth and postpartum. Although doulas are a relatively new concept in New Zealand, they are popular in the US and parts of Asia. There are different types of doulas, but the two most well-known are birthing doulas and postpartum doulas, which we cover here.
Birthing doulas
Benefits to you: They provide coaching to reduce stress and anxiety during labour and advocate for you with your medical care team. Birthing doulas are typically engaged by birth parents who wish to lower the chances of medical interventions.
Cost: Around $1,000, which includes meetings during your pregnancy.
Postpartum doulas
Benefits to you: They provide in-home support in the first weeks after birth. You might get one because you don’t have family support or would like help from an external party.
Postpartum doulas can help new parents build confidence, aid their physical recovery and reduce the stress and overwhelm of looking after a newborn by providing:
Education on newborn care, infant feeding, and postpartum recovery
Practical assistance, such as filling in for you so you can take a break, feeding support, and light household chores.
Emotional support by encouraging a mother when she feels overwhelmed. Postpartum doulas may also refer parents to appropriate mental health professionals if additional support is needed.
Services vary from doula to doula, so before hiring a doula, we suggest you discuss their scope of practice as well as fees and availability. The work Madeleine does at Poppins Postpartum is tailored to support each mother when they return home after the birth.
Cost: This ranges significantly depending on where you live and what support you need the most. Doulas can charge around $50-100 per hour, depending on their experience and how many hours you buy in one package. Overnight stays are also an option with some doulas.
Karitane Nurses
Karitane nurses are trained in newborn care and passed the examinations conducted by the Royal New Zealand Plunket Society. Karitane training centres closed operations in 1980, so there are not many Karitane nurses left. You can read more about them here.
Benefits to you: In-home help from a baby expert. Karitane nurses typically assist with sleep routines, feeding, settling and other baby-related activities. They do consultations, extended time in the home (e.g., 8-hour day or night shifts) or a combination of both.
Cost: Upwards of $200 for one-off consultants and $35-40 per hour if you’re looking for extended help in the home. You can find one via the Karitane Nurses and Nannies agency.
Nannies and babysitters
Nannies are experienced childcare professionals, usually with training and qualifications in early childhood education. Furthermore, nannies tend to be engaged on a regular part-time or full-time basis.
Babysitters are as-needed caregivers who may not have formal educational training. In New Zealand, the legal babysitting age is 14 years old.
Benefits to you: nannies and babysitters can take care of your child and give you a well-earned break. Keep in mind that they may not have the specialist knowledge to assist with sleep, feeding etc., and you’ll want to check that the person you’re hiring is familiar with newborn care (e.g., they understand that safe sleep rules mean no blankets or other suffocation hazards in the sleeping area, they know how to reheat breast milk correctly if required etc.). You can also discuss if they can help out with light household duties, such as laundry and meal prep.
Cost: costs will vary depending on the region you live in and the experience of the person you hire. Nannies are approximately $25-35 per hour. Babysitters tend to be a bit cheaper, around $18 per hour.
Night Nannies
Night nannies come in the evenings so the mother can get some much-needed sleep. They typically do 8-12 hour shifts (e.g., 10 pm to 6 am).
Benefits to you: They take over evening duties so you can rest. Some night nannies are also trained to provide knowledge on feeding and settling the baby. A night nanny is also very popular with twins.
Cost: Approximately $250-300 per night
Sleep Consultants
They guide parents on how to settle the baby so they sleep for longer periods of time in a regular routine (the dream!). Baby sleep is a surprisingly controversial area with different schools of thought. For example, many sleep consultants use some variation of letting the baby cry for a period of time, which not every parent is on board with.
Benefits to you: They provide you with support and guidance on what sleep patterns are normal for each age group. Each family will have their own idea of what support they feel they need.
Cost: Between $100 - $600 per consultation, depending on how long you engage a consultant for, whether it's virtual or in-home, and what type of support they provide (e.g., one-off consult or ongoing support via text). Some sleep consultants will offer an overnight package too, where they stay with you for a night and guide you through settling. You may choose to re-engage a sleep consultant as your baby’s sleep patterns change, e.g., as a newborn, at 4 months, and at 9 months.
Lactation Consultants
Breastfeeding can be a lightning rod for debate amongst parents and can, unfortunately, be a big source of guilt for mothers. So, just to be clear, we hold no judgement as to how to feed your baby.
If breastfeeding is something you want to try and it’s not going to plan - which is the case for many women - lactation consultants are trained professionals who specialise in assisting and supporting breastfeeding mothers. They help address issues such as latching problems, low milk supply, and discomfort.
Benefits to you: They support your breastfeeding journey and troubleshoot any challenges you’re experiencing.
Cost: There are publicly funded free services you can access through your midwife, obstetrician or Well Child provider such as Plunket. Alternatively, you can contact a private lactation consultant, with initial consults around $100-$150 and follow-ups around $80-100.
La Leche League provides free mother-to-mother support for breastfeeding in New Zealand.
Final note
There is a narrative that mothers should be able to “do it all”. But, as one friend bluntly put it to me, “There’s no medal for suffering.” Seeking support is a sign of strength and sets you up for a positive and fulfilling experience as a new parent.
Postpartum support is critical for your entire family’s well being - not just your newborn’s health. If you’re having a tough time, know that there are options available to help you find your feet. Even better, if you have time to save, start stashing a little way in case you need extra paid support after birth. Like Steph, in the face of extreme sleep deprivation, you may find yourself desperate for a little (or a lot of) extra assistance!
Postpartum Support Series:
Now for the important legal part: The information we provide is general and not regulated financial advice for the purposes of the Financial Markets Conduct Act 2013. Please seek independent legal, financial, tax or other advice in considering whether the content in this article is appropriate for your goals, situation or needs. The information in this article is current as at 8 June 2023.
Stephanie Pow
Founder & CEO of Crayon
Madeleine Newman
Founder of Poppins Postpartum