If you’re reading this while rocking a baby in one arm and scrolling your phone with the other, you’re not alone. At some point – usually around 3am – every new mum finds herself desperately typing into Google: “Why won’t my newborn sleep?”, “Is this rash normal?”, “Am I supposed to feel this overwhelmed?” Sound familiar?
As a doula with years of experience working alongside midwives, health visitors, and families in and around the NHS, I’ve seen first-hand the emotional rollercoaster that unfolds in those early postnatal weeks. It’s a period that’s often painted as magical, but for many mums, it’s also exhausting, confusing, and deeply lonely. The internet becomes a lifeline, but also a rabbit hole of conflicting advice, worst-case scenarios, and sleepless doom-scrolling.
In those quiet, wide-eyed hours of the night, when everyone else is asleep and you’re left wondering whether you’re doing it all wrong, what you really need isn’t another forum post or article. You need real, one-to-one postnatal support. You need someone experienced, calm, and non-judgemental to guide you through the haze – someone who’ll tell you you’re not failing, you’re just in the thick of it. That’s where postnatal help from a doula makes all the difference.
Why Google Isn’t Always Your Friend
Let’s be honest. Googling symptoms at 3am rarely makes you feel better. Instead, it amplifies your worries. You might start with a simple question like, “Is green baby poo normal?” and ten minutes later find yourself reading horror stories that have no relevance to your situation at all.
This information overload can lead to:
- Increased anxiety and self-doubt
- Conflicting advice that adds to decision fatigue
- Unrealistic expectations of what motherhood should look like
- A growing sense that you’re the only one struggling
The truth? Most new parents are in the same boat, but not everyone talks about it. Which is why personalised postpartum support is so valuable – because you’re not getting generic advice, you’re getting reassurance that’s rooted in experience, tailored to you and your baby.
What a Doula Really Does at 3am (and Beyond)
As a professional doula, I’ve supported hundreds of families through the postpartum period – the good, the bad, and the utterly baffling. My role isn’t to judge or dictate. It’s to listen, reassure, guide and gently support you in finding your own rhythm.
That might look like:
- Sitting beside you with a cuppa while you talk through your birth experience
- Helping you understand baby cues, feeding, and settling techniques
- Offering emotional support on days when you feel like crying and you’re not even sure why
- Holding the baby so you can shower, nap or simply breathe
- Assisting with practical tasks like light housework or sibling care
But most of all, it’s about being there. Being that calm voice who says, “Yes, this is normal. No, you’re not going mad. Yes, it will pass.”
And because I work one-to-one, often in your own home, I get to know you – your baby, your preferences, your routines. There’s no one-size-fits-all here. Every family is different, and so is every approach to postnatal care.
The Real Impact of Postnatal Support
The importance of professional postnatal help is backed by research, too. According to a study published by the NCT (National Childbirth Trust), over 50% of mothers experience some degree of low mood, anxiety, or feelings of isolation in the first six weeks after birth. And the Royal College of Midwives has repeatedly highlighted the lack of ongoing postnatal care available through overstretched NHS services.
That’s where private postnatal support steps in. It’s not a luxury – it’s a lifeline.
When you have someone to turn to, someone who knows what to look out for and how to respond sensitively, you’re far more likely to:
- Feel confident in your parenting decisions
- Recover more fully, both emotionally and physically
- Bond with your baby without fear or second-guessing
- Avoid burnout or worsening anxiety
- Know when and how to seek further help if needed
It’s not about replacing your partner, friends or family – it’s about giving you trained, consistent support that’s just for you.
So… Why Are You Still Googling Alone?
If you’ve been powering through the night feeds by yourself, hoping that tomorrow you’ll feel more on top of things, I hear you. Truly. I’ve worked with mums who were utterly drained from trying to do it all, and terrified of asking for help in case it made them look like they couldn’t cope.
But here’s the truth: asking for help is the most proactive and powerful thing you can do.
At Postnatal Helping Hands, I offer warm, non-clinical, expert-led postnatal support that wraps around you like a big comforting blanket. Whether you need emotional reassurance, practical help or just a second pair of hands, I’ll be right beside you.
You don’t have to do this alone. Especially not at 3am.
If you want to explore what that could look like, I offer a range of tailored services including postnatal doula care in Surrey and short-term nanny support to help bridge the gap during those intense early weeks.
How to Know If You Could Benefit from a Doula
Still not sure if it’s for you? Here are some signs that you could benefit from professional postpartum support:
- You’re feeling overwhelmed or teary most days
- You dread the evenings and long nights
- You’re Googling constantly but feeling more confused than reassured
- You feel like you’re failing even though you’re trying your best
- You’re struggling to find time to eat, sleep or shower
- You wish someone could just tell you what’s normal
If you nodded along to any of these, it’s worth reaching out. I’m not here to judge or tell you what to do. I’m here to walk alongside you, with empathy, understanding and years of experience.
Because Motherhood Was Never Meant to Be Done Alone
We often talk about the “village” it takes to raise a child, but modern life has made that village harder to find. Families live further apart. Friends are busy. NHS services are stretched to the limit. And too often, mums are left holding the baby – literally and figuratively – wondering why it all feels so hard.
A doula steps into that gap. Quietly. Gently. Without fuss or pressure. It’s not about fixing you – because you’re not broken. It’s about supporting you so you can find your feet again, in your own time and your own way.
To find out more about how I can support you during this precious and challenging time, visit Postnatal Helping Hands. You’ll find a warm welcome, a listening ear, and real, meaningful help that makes a difference.
And next time you reach for your phone at 3am, ask yourself this: would it feel better to talk to someone who’s been there, done that, and knows exactly how to help?
I think you already know the answer.
