Newborn Care Specialist Vs. Postpartum Doula
We’re partnering with our friend, Joy, of Joy of Newborn Care for a series of posts to talk about the difference between Newborn Care Specialists and Postpartum Doulas. This kicks off a brief overview of the difference between the two. We’ll dive deeper into it in the next post!
What’s the Difference Between a Newborn Care Specialist and
a Postpartum Doula?
You’ve just had a baby, and you’re running on about 3 hours of sleep, 2 cold cups of coffee, and a lot of questions. Everyone is telling you to “get help,” but what kind? You’ve heard of newborn care specialists and postpartum doulas, but what’s the actual difference, and which one do you need?
Here’s a simple breakdown:
What a Newborn Care Specialist Does
A newborn care specialist (NCS) is like your personal baby expert for the first few weeks or months. They:
Focus specifically on the baby: feeding, diapering, swaddling, soothing, and helping your baby get on a schedule.
Often work overnights, allowing you to rest while they handle night feeds, burping, and diaper changes.
Provide guidance on sleep conditioning and troubleshooting baby issues like reflux, colic, and gassiness.
Help parents learn baby care but often take a more hands-on role with the baby so you can rest and recover.
Think of them as your night nanny with advanced newborn expertise—especially valuable if you need someone to manage the baby while you sleep.
What a Postpartum Doula Does
A postpartum doula is like having a best friend who knows everything about postpartum recovery and baby care, and doesn’t judge your messy bun and tears at 3 a.m. They:
Focus on the family unit, not just the baby, helping the entire household adjust.
Support breastfeeding/chestfeeding, recovery from birth, and emotional transitions.
May prepare simple meals, help with light household tasks, and care for older siblings.
Offer emotional support, encouragement, and help you build confidence as a parent.
A postpartum doula helps you heal, adjust, and build confidence while caring for your baby alongside you, not just for you.
So, Which One Do You Need?
If you want overnight sleep help and someone to primarily care for your baby so you can rest, a newborn care specialist may be your best fit.
If you want daytime support, help with feeding, recovery, household flow, and emotional support, a postpartum doula may be the perfect match.
Many families choose both, using a postpartum doula during the day and a newborn care specialist overnight for full-circle care during those first intense weeks.
At the end of the day, both roles have the same goal: supporting your family so you can thrive, rest, and recover in the early newborn stage.
If you’re unsure which is right for your family, reach out and let’s chat about your goals for postpartum and newborn care. You deserve support in this season—and finding the right type of help can make all the difference.
