Postpartum Support Terminology

The terminology describing postpartum support can be confusing. When a person uses any of the terms below to describe herself, she may need to clarify what she means by the term.

Doula – A Greek word meaning "woman’s servant". While the same doula may provide both birth care and postpartum care, it is necessary to differentiate between the two types of doulas:

Postpartum Doula – A supportive advisor and helper, professionally trained to provide postpartum support to the mother and her family.

Birth Doula – A person professionally trained to provide support to the woman and partner during labor and childbirth.

Baby Nurse – A professionally trained or lay person who comes into the home and cares for a newborn baby. Some "baby nurses" are licensed nurses who provide care for infants with medical needs. Others are lay people who specialize in the care of babies. Baby nurses are different from doulas in that their role is specifically geared toward infant care. Doulas provide excellent infant care, but their primary focus is educating and supporting parents and providing breastfeeding support, emotional support, resources and any necessary referral information.

Mother’s Helper – A lay person, either adult or adolescent, who comes into the home to assist parents with childcare and household tasks. A "mother’s helper" is not trained in breastfeeding education, integrating the baby into the home or the many other aspects of postpartum doula support.