I’m an International Postpartum Doula!

I’m still processing and in awe from the amazing experience I had supporting my sister & nephew in their initial postpartum period for 3 months in South Korea. 

Yes, I’m now an international postpartum doula! 

Overall, it was as exciting, exhausting, awesome, and fulfilling as you would expect.  I arrived almost 2 weeks before the baby did which was great timing since I needed to complete mandatory quarantine in a government-run hotel near the Seoul airport.  I had a really good experience – nice room, reliable WiFi, 3 meals a day of tasty/interesting Korean food, and I could set my schedule to continue working my full-time project management job on East Coast time. 

Then it was time to get Audene’s space ready for her new life – making sure feeding & changing stations and diaper bag were appropriately stocked, deciding what meals to make and freeze, what foods to buy fresh for that first week home, and what schedule would probably work best for us, etc. 

Audene and Owen, before they meet

Audene delivered Owen at the UNBELIEVABLE Houm Birthing Center.  They have wonderful midwives, obstetricians, and lactation specialists.  There’s an operating room so no hospital transfer, in case that’s needed.  They also have birth doulas on staff who meet with patients during their pregnancy.  Houm’s birth plan survey – yes they ask birthing parents what their wishes are and explain associated pros & cons, was thorough and thoughtful.  The nursing staff are all well-versed in early lactation challenges and latching experts.  The lactation specialists offered frequent (multiple times a day) visits that included instruction, breast massage, and weighted feeds, if indicated.  They were so supportive of breastfeeding and never offered formula. Other available services like daily postpartum massages, sitz baths with infrared heat lamps, Korean postpartum menu including snacks and plenty of liquids (like seaweed and pumpkin soups) all reinforced the nurturing for the dyad during the week we were there.  We were there a week, y’all!  There were no birth or immediate postpartum complications.  There is simply no rush to leave.  In fact, South Korea has separate postpartum facilities where new parents are pampered before they return home called joriwons.  Houm combined those perks while offering rooming-in for exclusively breastfeeding parents.

Amazing lactation specialist (we nicknamed her The Magician)

Once we got home, the reality of postpartum healing and newborn life made little shifts to our plans – more cushions to elevate seating and different supplies for some stations.  Generally, I got off work at 6:30 a.m., took Owen unless he was eating, changed his diaper, and had him in a baby carrier while I made breakfast and possibly lunch, refill feeding & diaper stations from the day/night before and get ready for my “bedtime” around 1 p.m.  Up at 9 p.m. helping them get ready for bed and getting prepped to start my workday, while checking in for nursing help, diaper changes, etc. in between work meetings overnight. 

We had some mini adventures, driving or taking the train to doctor’s appointments.  Oh, how the South Korean culture loves pregnant people & babies with special reserved seating on the trains and many curious strangers wanting to see the baby. 

Owen napping with Imo (Aunt in Korean)

Overall, I am deeply appreciative of the privilege of having a fully remote full-time role so that this trip was even an option.  I am also extremely grateful – realizing that I was able to support both of my sisters with their early postpartum phases – over 20 years apart!!  I definitely have more skills now (formal postpartum doula training, Certified Lactation Counselor certification, training and experience in infant carriers, plus a network of experienced birth professionals) and even with those, I still learned a lot about the resiliency of single parents, the demands placed on a sole support person, the extreme focus on nurturing new families that South Korea has (and by contrast how much is lacking in our own culture).  I’m motivated to continue serving in this role and feeding my passion for a nurtured postpartum for all of my clients.