Gentle family support after baby arrives
Virtual Support is available NOW. Contact me for further information.
Serving Altadena, Burbank, Echo Park, Eagle Rock, Glendale, La Canada, La Crescenta, Los Feliz, Montrose, Pasadena, San Marino, Silver Lake and South Pasadena, California
What is a Postpartum Doula?
The role of the Postpartum Doula is to assist the family during the transitioning and adjustment period of the newborn coming home. The top priority is caring for the mother by making sure she is getting rest and nutrition, thereby enabling an optimal postpartum recovery. Encouraging bonding between baby and new parents and assisting them with getting to know their new baby. Offering evidence based support on newborn sleep, soothing techniques and every day care. Extensive knowledge is shared about breastfeeding, bottle-feeding, pumping and when further support is needed. The goal is to provide a calm and peaceful environment so parents can recover and bond with their newborn during this precious time. Assistance is given to the family to understand the “new normal”. Offering suport in finding what works best for the parents in their new roles and assistance finding outside resources for specific needs. A Postpartum doula offers the family guidance, support and care for the “fourth trimester”.
What does a shift look like for a Postpartum Doula?
Although every family has a different priority of needs, here are some of the things often covered in a visit.
Answer questions, teach and support new parents in newborn care with evidence based information to help parents feel confident in their choices and abilities
Non-judgemenal emotional support
Feeding (breast/pumping/bottle) help and support
Holding and caring for baby if parents need to rest, shower or have some time for self care
List of referrals to other nearby professionals if needed
Babywearing help
Light housekeeping (vaccum, dishes, baby laundry, keeping house tidy)
Care with pets or siblings
Light meal and snack prep
Run errands
Attend doctor appointments/errands with family and baby as needed. Take test runs out with parent(s) and baby to get family comfortable with first trips out of the home
About
Meet Sharlene ………
After having two amazing children my career path changed. Realizing the complexities many of us face with lack of nearby or available family for support, my goal became to find a way to help new families thrive with the transition of becoming new parents. It is an important and often raw time where having support proves to make a positive impact on the entire family. I honor this journey and enjoy empowering new families with confidence and skills to flourish in first three months of infant life, often called the fourth trimester.
Upon learning what a Postpartum Doula provides, I signed up for training and went throught the process to become a Certified Postpartum Doula with CAPPA (Childbirth and Postpartum Professional Association). Since that time , I have become fully immersed in the birthing community. I continue to learn and expand my knowledge through continuing education as well as community involvement. This way, I am confident and informed which allows me to provide the best care for the families I work with. Along with additional specific Postpartum trainings, I am CPR infant and adult certified.
My specialty is being a Postpartum Doula. It is my calling, it’s all I do and what I do best. When hired by a family, they are my priority. I generally take on one client at a time so 100% attention can be given to their needs.
Package offerings
Custom made packages will be tailored to your specific needs
Kind words from clients
I'm so happy you're considering Sharlene, she is absolutely amazing. She has children of her own and is great with newborns. She has a beautiful servant's heart and is full of compassion. She always shown up right on time, is very flexible with scheduling, and is ready to jump in and help happily with anything we need. I anticipate staying friends with her after our contract is up because in these short weeks, we have really grown close. She also goes above and beyond. She also gave me some baby carriers that have been so key to bonding with my little girl.
As you can see, I can't say enough good about her!! I recommend her very strongly.
-Meredith
Sharlene brought practical support, encouragement and genuine care the first weeks after birth. My experience has shown Sharlene to be reliable, enthusiastic and extremely open to offering empowering confidence by sharing knowledge. She is a collaborative ally in exploring tools, techniques and experience that can empower families to their BEST.
-Janine
Sharlene helped me and my family following the birth of our son and we couldn’t have asked for a better person to support us and guide us into our new role as parents. She was beyond helpful and respectful of my wishes and took excellent care of me and my baby. She fit seamlessly into our lives and we miss her all the time.
- Aliza
