Is DAD the Ideal Postpartum Doula?
by Allie
Chee, with comments from Darren Mattock, Darla Burns, Elly Taylor, and Dr. Ning X. Fu, O.M.D., Ph.D
Postpartum care around the world has well elaborated
traditions that support healing, bonding, and growth for the new family. They
are respected and received by families in all financial strata. These
traditions are considered essential not only to the mother’s immediate
recovery, they’re believed to benefit her subsequent pregnancies, menopause,
and golden years.
The postpartum time for women in the US historically involved at least periods of bed-rest, during which an experienced woman—usually one or several family members—supported the new family.
However, the concept of postpartum care for the family is currently the subject of debate in the United States where