Mama Doula LLC & Seattle Family Chef, Jessica Tabakin

Even as a trained professional to cook for others, experiencing motherhood showed me there is a season in life when being cared for is necessary. The more help a birth parent has, the faster recovery. In a perfect world, caregivers, Postpartum Doulas, family and friends would surround newborn parents. Having adequate support helps keep life's demands at bay, so parents can bond with their infant(s

), who do not grasp the concept that they are separate from their parents / caregivers. With Postpartum support breast/chest feeding outcomes are greater, and adjustment to life with a newborn happens fluidly. Infant eating, sleeping, and pooping schedules differ from adults. This interruption throws off our homeostasis. It is as though newborn parents were born "yesterday", or re-born as Parents, or Parent of another child. Congratulations, Mazal Tov! The learning curve of parenthood is steep and happens on segmented sleep. Having emotional, physical, practical, and educational support for parents is vital for the experience going well. I work for the day when our health care system acknowledges the importance of this time in life and covers Postpartum Care services. This has begun in small ways. In 2021 Premera Blue Cross Insurance began reimbursing $1000 to its customers for either Postpartum or Birth Doula Services. All parents, especially in a Pandemic need nurturing and support. We are not meant to do this job alone. If not Mama Doula, then another Doula who fits your style and budget. Sliding scale services are available to low income families, public servants, active duty military families. Please inquire.