Postpartum Doula Care for Self-Care Awareness Month
How Doula Support Can Help You Reclaim Rest, Recovery, and Quality Sleep
We can’t let September slip away from us without acknowledging Self-Care Awareness Month—a meaningful reminder of the importance of nurturing yourself, especially during the transformative journey of pregnancy and postpartum.
At Sanctuary Doulas + Family Care, we see first-hand how essential restorative sleep is in this equation. And yet, for new and expectant parents, sleep is often the first thing to be sacrificed.
This month, we invite you to see doula care not just as birth or postpartum support—but as self-care in action.
Why Sleep Is Self-Care
Sleep is one of the most basic human needs, and yet it's often overlooked or undervalued—particularly in the postpartum period. Society tells us that being a new parent means powering through exhaustion. But here's the truth:
Sleep is foundational to hormone regulation, emotional stability, immune function, and healing.
Lack of sleep increases risks for postpartum depression, anxiety, and slowed physical recovery.
You deserve rest—not just for your baby’s well-being, but for your own.
Prioritizing sleep isn’t indulgent—it’s essential. And it’s a form of self-respect.
How Doula Care Supports Better Sleep
Whether you're pregnant, newly postpartum, or navigating parenthood, doula support can help you reclaim rest in realistic and meaningful ways:
Postpartum Overnight Care: A postpartum doula can provide care throughout the night—handling diaper changes, soothing your baby, and supporting feeding routines—so you can get restorative sleep.
Sleep Education & Support: Understanding newborn sleep cycles, safe co-sleeping options, and how to establish rhythms can reduce anxiety and help you feel more in control.
Reducing Your Load: Daytime doula care includes light housework, meal prep, and emotional support, freeing up space in your day to nap or simply breathe.
Planning for Sleep in Advance: Birth doulas often help clients create postpartum care plans that prioritize sleep—because it’s not something to “figure out later.” It’s part of your preparation.How Postpartum Doulas Fill the Gap
Reframing Self-Care as Community Care
One of the most transformative things about doula care is that it reminds parents: you don’t have to do it all alone. In many cultures, new parents are surrounded by layers of support during the postpartum period. But in our culture, we often isolate, instead of leaning in.
Hiring a doula is not a sign of weakness. It’s a bold choice to build a support system, protect your rest, and center your well-being.
Your Village of Support
Sanctuary’s signature offering is postpartum doula care—professional, compassionate support to help families rest, heal, and thrive in the early months after childbirth.
Beyond that, our team of over 60 practitioners offers a wide range of specialty services designed to help families prioritize their health and well-being:
Massage Therapy: Prenatal and postnatal massage available in-office or in-home for relaxation and recovery.
Infant Feeding Support: Expert guidance on breastfeeding, supply, latch, and solutions for common challenges like clogged ducts.
Family Chef Support: Healthy, customized meals prepared in your home, with grocery shopping and accommodations for allergies or preferences.
Psychotherapy: Dually trained postpartum doulas and psychotherapists offering coping strategies tailored to this unique season of life.
Bereavement Care: Compassionate support for families navigating loss at any stage of pregnancy or postpartum.
Holistic Care Offerings: Herbalism, flower essences, and ceremonial wellness visits to nurture mind, body, and spirit.
This Month, Let’s Shift the Narrative
Self-care can be as simple as a mindful breath or as restorative as a massage. The goal is to ensure you always have the support you need, because self-care isn’t a luxury—it’s a necessity. During Self-Care Awareness Month, let’s dig into what true, life-giving care really looks like:
Rest that restores
Support that uplifts
Boundaries that protect your energy
Community that shows up
You deserve all of this. Not just as a parent, but as a whole person.
