The Difference Between a Postpartum Doula and a Night Nanny

One thing we’ve discovered over the years of running our agency, Doulas of Raleigh, is that new parents love sleep! It’s why our overnight postpartum doula support is one of our most popular services. And hopefully you’ve heard of overnight doulas. But you may have also heard people talk about hiring night nannies or night nurses to get more sleep. So what’s the difference? Take a look at today’s blog to discover what those differences are - they’re actually quite big!

Night Nanny

As the name implies, a nanny is someone who cares for children. So a night nanny is simply doing that work at night. Just like with any other nanny position, experience and background will vary widely. Some night nannies may have years of experience in the field, while others are just getting started. But one thing that is consistent is that there is no required, standardized training that one has to take to work as a night nanny. That’s one major difference when it comes to night nannies versus postpartum doulas.

Further, for many people doing the work of a night nanny, their main responsibility lies in just taking care of the baby. Which is a super important role for sure. But there are plenty of other areas that require attention in the home of newly postpartum parents, such as the birthing person’s physical postpartum recovery, the family’s infant feeding goals, and the emotional well-being of these new parents. Solely focusing on the baby overnight can leave a lot of other important needs neglected.

Night Nurse

Another title you might have heard is night nurse or baby nurse. Sometimes people do use these terms interchangeably with night nanny, but they are not meant to be the same role. Unlike night nannies, night nurses most definitely have training - they are licensed RNs or LPNs (at least in the state of North Carolina where it is against the law to use the title “nurse” in your job title unless you are a licensed nurse). Night nurses often work in the Labor & Delivery or Mother-Baby units at hospitals and then do a little extra work on the side providing care for newborns. While this person definitely has specialized training, again their role is meant to focus entirely on the baby. Their schooling does not specifically prepare them for trouble-shooting early feeding challenges, spotting the signs of postpartum mood and anxiety disorders, or perfecting the art of active listenting - all big differences when compared to the role of a postpartum doula.

Postpartum Doula

So what does make the role of a postpartum doula so different from night nannies or night nurses? The critical factor comes down to the specialized training that postpartum doulas receive to enable them to support whole families during the delicate postpartum period. And while a postpartum doula most definitely is trained to care for newborns, their training encompasses so much more.

A great doula training will enable postpartum doulas to spot the signs and symptoms of perinatal mood and anxiety disorders and will equip the doula on how to respond, including helping families find available resources to seek treatment.

Postpartum doulas also receive in-depth training when it comes to assiting newly postpartum parents with infant feeding. They can help troubleshoot the common, early challenges that many breastfeeding families deal with - engorgement, sore nipples, trouble with positioning and latch - and are also connected to great resources in their community in case a family’s issues require more medical support from an IBCLC. Postpartum doula trainings also educate doulas on ALL feeding modalities, so they can assist families with pumping, bottle-feeding, and formula feeding as well.

The birthing parent’s postpartum physical recovery is a huge concern in the early weeks. Is this new parent getting enough recovery and rest time? Are the things happening to their body normal or should they contact their doctor? These are questions that a trained postpartum doula has the answer to. And having this skilled person in the home, where the new mom can ask questions and have them answered by a trained professional is incredibly important.

And lastly, but certainly not least, the training a postpartum doula receives allows them to show up in client spaces without judgment or bias. There is no agenda or assumptions about the “right” way to do things. Postpartum doulas simply show up and support. We want new parents to find what’s right for them; we would never judge your parenting choices. Postpartum doulas are also adept at active listening - we really want to talk to you and know how you are doing and provide that listening ear that so many new parents need in the early days and weeks. These are skills that doulas bring to the job and that night nannies may or may not even be familiar with.

So when it comes to finding support overnight, a postpartum doula does so much more than just care for the baby. We help you meet your feeding goals. We check on your postpartum physical recovery. We look out for your mental and emotional health. And we support your whole family with compassionate, nonjudgmental care that is not only meant to help you get more sleep but to contribute to the wellness of your overall family. That’s the doula difference!