Rikki Paulsen, Postpartum Doula

12/20/2024

Merry Christmas from ours to yours 💚❤️
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Scroll for the last three years of (no tears) Santa pics 🥰

12/02/2023

In case you needed to hear this today.
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You're doing a great job.
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Just a friendly reminder from your local postpartum doula.
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11/30/2023

Having an experienced, non-judgmental postpartum doula in your home is WAY BETTER than going down a rabbit hole on Google when you're a new mother.
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There's so many questions that can come up as the day goes along, and your postpartum doula can calmly give you evidence-based answers as you go throughout your day with your newborn.
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This can save you a ton of time and energy and worry!
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Postpartum doulas are not medical experts, but we are very knowledgeable about "what's typical and what's not" when it comes to newborn care, feeding and your own physical recovery.
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Did you Google a lot of things and find scary answers when you were pregnant or home with a newborn?
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11/23/2023

BIRTH STORIES: How was your first birth? Long? Short? Let me know in the comments using only emojis! This should be fun!
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One of my favorite parts of my job as a postpartum doula is listening to birth stories. I LOVE hearing ALL about your birth.✨
It's so important for people to have a chance to share their birth stories WITHOUT any judgement, interruption or comments.
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Often in our culture, sharing our birth stories ends up in a competition of who's birth was longer/better/faster/more natural/more horrifying/etc. People tend to talk over each other to share their personal experience.
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As your postpartum doula, I give you the chance to truly talk through your experience without any interruption or judgment.
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11/22/2023

Postpartum doula work still looks a little different these days.
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We're wearing masks. We're not hugging moms. We're limiting the number of families we support at one time.
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But we're still showing up.
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We're still listening. We're still supporting. We're still refilling your water bottle. We're still answering all your questions about newborn care and feeding. We're still offering reassurance and telling you that you're doing a great job.
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DM me to chat! I have an opening for one family next month.
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11/09/2023

"Be very kind to the mother.” -Dr. Marshall Klaus, one of the founders of DONA International.
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The first time I heard this quote, it made me want to fight for a societal change in how we care for new moms & birthing parents. It touched me deeply and at the end of the day, this is my main job as a postpartum doula. I show kindness to new moms at a time when so many others are focused on the baby.
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Why does it seem so revolutionary for a doctor to say these words?
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Birthing and newly postpartum people often say they feel invisible, unheard and ignored by the medical community and their own communities.
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Doulas work everyday to create a different experience for mothers. It starts with being kind 🫶🏻
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11/07/2023

JOY.
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At the end of the day, that's my whole goal as your postpartum doula.
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Each day, I show up and ask you what you NEED so that you can most enJOY your baby.
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The first days and weeks with a newborn are so intense and emotional and draining. And they should be highlighted with moments of pure JOY. Your baby is here. You are a parent.
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Sometimes we get so caught up in the healing and the feeding and the laundry and the questions that we forget to focus on the miracle.
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As your postpartum doula, I hold baby so you can sleep or shower. I ease your fears, I answer your questions. I make you a snack and refill your water bottle.
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I empty the dishwasher and tackle the laundry so that you can snuggle up and stare into your new baby's eyes.
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11/04/2023

L I S T E N I N G and validating and reassuring new parents is a big part of what I do as a postpartum doula.
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There's so much to process and talk through after having a baby, but in our society we rarely get a chance to do that.
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Postpartum doulas listen without judgement.
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My most rewarding experiences as a postpartum doula have been sitting next to a brand new birthing parent on the couch with a cup of tea & a reassuring hug or talking with them in the middle of the night while they nurse.
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Did you feel heard in the first days after your baby was born?
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DM me (or link in bio) to learn about what postpartum doula support looks like these days.
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05/02/2022

Yess. So important for Mamas to feel seen & supported 💛

https://www.mother.ly/health-wellness/mental-health/newborns-need-care-so-do-new-mamas/

After I gave birth to my third child, the so many people wanted to meet our newborn. But I felt forgotten while people were visiting the newborn.

02/25/2022

Henley Kai.
2/19/2022.
7lbs 7oz, 20in.
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Welcomed into the world with the amazing support of his proud dad , his amazing auntie & the incredible nurses & OBs @ EvergreenHealth. So forever blessed, exhausted and full of love. Everyone is healthy and we are extremely thankful 💛

01/18/2022

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Loving this pregnant body for a little while longer. Remembering this time.
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09/05/2021

Big news: little bro due February 24, 2022 💙 So grateful and so excited!