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The CAPPA Postpartum Doula scope of practice: 

 

The CAPPA certified postpartum doula 

CAPPA postpartum doulas fill an important role in providing emotional, physical, and evidenced- based informational support to the new family after the birth of their baby.

 

How CAPPA postpartum doulas work with families

The postpartum doula works with families in the postpartum period; offering support, information, instruction, comfort, and referrals as needed. Postpartum doulas support the mother’s recovery, give instruction on infant care and feeding, and assist with household organization. postpartum doulas can be found working in the community in private practice, in cooperatives, as part of groups or agencies, as well as serving in carious community programs. 

 

How CAPPA postpartum doulas work within the healthcare system

Postpartum doulas are skilled support persons who act as consultants and resources, not clinicians. They therefore work with the healthcare system by encouraging and promoting excellent communication between the new family and the health care team, encouraging informed decision making and self-advocacy, supporting the choices of the new family, providing non-clinical care, and offering appropriate referrals when their observance or counseling uncovers situations that require healthcare attention or support. 

 

Clinical limitations of CAPPA postpartum doulas

CAPPA postpartum doulas are non-clinical professionals. CAPPA postpartum doula courses do not qualify a professional to act as a medial care provider. CAPPA postpartum doulas do not dispense medial advice, diagnose medial conditions, interpret medical diagnoses or clinical results, perform clinical procedures or prescribe/ administer medications or treatments of any kind.

 

CAPPA standars

CAPPA postpartum doulas work within the CAPPAs standards of practice to uphold the following (available to read as individual documents): code of conduct, a grievance policy, mission statement, vision statement, organization philosophy, and social media policy. CAPPA postpartum doulas use current evidence based information in their practice. they maintain their knowledge and skills through continuing education. They work within the legal framework of their individual community and region. 

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CAPPA postpartum doulas:

  • provide non-biased emotional, physical, and informational support during the postpartum period.

  • encourage the family to seek care that reflects their values and needs.

  • model and teach effective communication

  • encourage informed decision making

  • support the physical and emotional healing of the mother.

  • provide information on care options and resources for the mother and newborn

  • support and assist with infant feeding

  • educate the family on newborn care and characteristics 

  • provide support to new mother’s partner and/or family

  • assist with household organization 

  • refer to healthcare professionals when support requires clinical assessment, a need for prescription, or medial diagnosis. 

 

CAPPA postpartum doulas do not:

  • diagnose medial conditions

  • interpret medial diagnoses or clinical results

  • prescribe or administer treatment of medial conditions

  • perform clinical procedures

  • take over complete care of the infant

  • transport any family members

  • stay alone with babies or other children

  • “sleep train” babies

  • act as housekeeper or nanny

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