A Gentle Blend of Nursing Knowledge and Postpartum Care
Upstate NY Doula is based in Utica and proudly provides in-person services throughout Oneida County, along with virtual support for families worldwide.
What is a Doula? A postpartum doula is a support person who assists the mother and her family in transitioning to life after bringing home a baby. This support focuses on the fourth trimester, a time of major physical, emotional, and lifestyle adjustment, and is centered around helping the family feel more confident, supported, and cared for as they settle into their new routine.
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Support that includes active listening so you feel safe expressing your fears, questions, frustrations, and wins.
This is to ensure your feelings are validated and your needs are truly met.
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Encourages rest and protects recovery time
Assists with newborn care so mom can heal
Promotes hydration and nourishment
Flags concerns and recommends medical follow-up
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Feeding support (breast, bottle, pumping)
Diapering and soothing
Sleep support and settling
Bathing and basic hygiene
Monitoring cues and routines
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Wash and sanitize bottles and pump parts
Prep and restock feeding stations
Laundry (baby clothes, burp cloths, swaddles)
Change crib sheets and tidy sleep space
Organize diapering areas and restock supplies
Track feedings/diapers if desired
Light tidying of nursery/common areas
Take out diaper trash and manage pail
Grocery pickup for baby essentials
Prep simple snacks/meals for mom while baby rests
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Provides guidance you can trust
Helps you understand newborn cues and needs
Teaches practical feeding, soothing, and sleep strategies
Offers reassurance so you feel confident in your choices
Breaks down what’s normal in postpartum recovery
Works with you AND your partner/support system to be fully informed
You will receive a Community Resource List and a Postpartum Depression and Anxiety Guide for an extra layer of support
Services Designed Around Your Postpartum Experience
Every mama, every baby, & every postpartum experience is unique and should be cared for as such!
That’s why I make personalized postpartum plans to meet where your needs are. On your schedule & how you want it. Some families need occasional reassurance and ask for education, while others are looking for ongoing hands-on support during the transition into parenthood. Some need a mix of both!
My support is flexible and tailored to your needs, routines, feeding goals, recovery, and family dynamics.
The Postpartum Roadmap
Prepare for life after birth with a personalized postpartum plan.
Think of your Postpartum Roadmap like planning a road trip.
Before you leave, you choose your destination. You map out the route, identify rest stops, and make a plan for getting there. But if you've ever taken a road trip, you know that sometimes construction, traffic, or unexpected detours pop up along the way.
Postpartum is similar.
You may plan to exclusively breastfeed and find that pumping, formula feeding, or combo feeding becomes part of your journey. You may expect visitors every weekend and realize you need more quiet time to recover. Your partner's schedule, your baby's temperament, or your own recovery may look different than you imagined.
A postpartum plan isn't about predicting every turn. It's about knowing where you're headed and having options when the unexpected happens.
Together, we'll create a personalized roadmap that helps you identify your goals, build a support system, and prepare for the most common challenges families face after birth. And if your original route changes, you'll already have alternative paths and resources to help you continue moving toward the postpartum experience you want.
Because while the journey may include a few detours, you don't have to navigate them alone.
Every family is different, but we may include:
Feeding Support
Breastfeeding, pumping, formula feeding, or combination feeding goals
Strategies/backup plans if feeding doesn't go as expected
Local feeding resources and support options
Recovery & Self-Care
Physical recovery expectations
Practical ways to prioritize rest and healing
Identifying when additional support may be helpful
Visitors & Boundaries
Creating a visitor plan
Communicating expectations with family and friends
Protecting your recovery and bonding time
Sleep & Newborn Expectations
Normal newborn behavior
Realistic sleep expectations
Strategies for sharing responsibilities and protecting rest
Partner & Family Support
Division of household responsibilities
Partner involvement and communication
Preparing older siblings for the transition
Return to Work Planning
Building Your Village
Identifying support people before baby arrives
Local resources in Central New York
Creating a plan for when additional help is needed
Postpartum Planning Session
What does a postpartum planning session look like: We jump on a 60-minute Zoom call and talk about your vision, concerns, and goals to help prepare for baby.
What’s included in this package:
60-minute Zoom session
Personalized postpartum plan PDF (attached to a follow-up email)
Resource List
Nesting Checklist (full of items & a to-do list to prepare your home)
Investment: $99
“Wow Emma the postpartum plan you did is amazing!!! Thank you!!”
Premium Planning Session
What does a premium planning session look like: We’ll hop on a 60-minute Zoom call and discuss all the details you need to prepare for life after the baby arrives. Then, I will be available to help you implement your plan during your postpartum.
What’s included in this package:
60-minute Zoom session
Personalized postpartum plan PDF (attached to a follow-up email)
1 week of text + scheduled check-in support after baby arrives (a week of your choosing)
Resource List
Nesting Checklist (full of items & a to-do list to prepare your home)
Investment: $199
Virtual Postpartum Support
Virtual postpartum support gives you access to an RN postpartum doula during the moments when questions, emotions, or uncertainty come up in real time, without needing an in-home visit.
Text + phone support
Scheduled virtual check-ins
Pick the topics we focus on during the session:
Feeding support (breast, bottle, pumping, combo feeding)
Newborn sleep & soothing strategies
Safe sleep practices
Postpartum recovery education (physical & emotional)
Newborn care basics (diapering, bathing, cord care)
Understanding baby cues & behavior
Creating flexible routines for your family
Transitioning home from the hospital
Returning to work planning
Emotional support & postpartum adjustment
Partner involvement & household support strategies
Personalized Q&A and guidance based on your needs
Support as you build confidence in your baby and yourself
Perfect for:
Parents wanting RN doula expertise “in their back pocket”
No commitment to in-home care
Families outside of the Utica / Central New York area
Those navigating anxiety or confidence struggles postpartum
Cost-effective option compared to in-home support
This style of support is completely virtual, flexible, and designed to fit naturally into your daily life as questions and challenges arise.
In-Home Postpartum Support
Hands-on support with guidance between visits. This is completely centered around what your family needs most that day. Some days may focus on newborn care and feeding support, while other visits may focus on your recovery, emotional wellbeing, rest, or simply helping, just being another set of hands for household tasks. All to support you physically and emotionally to ease the transition of bringing your baby home.
Services may include, but are not limited to:
In-home postpartum care between 0-12 months old
Virtual support between visits (text + scheduled check-ins) for ongoing reassurance
Any topics discussed in the virtual package and listed under the doula description
Guidance as you recover and adjust postpartum
Help build routines that work for your family
Emotional support and reassurance during overwhelming moments
Light household help (errands, bottle/pump cleaning, laundry) so you can rest and focus on bonding
Perfect for:
Parents needing physical help, while receiving emotional support
First-time parent guidance
Support balancing newborn care with older siblings
Families that want personalized guidance within their own home environment
Long-term options
My Step-by-Step Process for a Confident 4th Trimester
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This is where I learn about you: your birth, your concerns, your goals, and what kind of support you’re really looking for
And you get to know me: my approach, my style of support, and what it would actually feel like to have me apart of your support system
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Once you're booked, I will create a plan tailored to your needs, which outlines:
Physical & Emotional Recovery
Evidence-Based Education
Incorporating Your Partner/Loved Ones
What I can do to meet your clear, realistic goals
The completed plan will be emailed to you before our first session!
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This is where the beautiful moments happen....
You get nap trapped, while I clean up your kitchen
I explain to your partner the newborn cues baby is showing
You and your partner take a nap while I swaddle & soothe baby
I listen to your worries, fears, wins, and moments of growth
and so much more....
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This is a big one. It’s often after I leave that you remember your questions, or at 10 pm when baby won’t fall asleep and you need some reassurance that you're doing everything right.
I know these moments can be very isolating. That’s why I want to be available to you, just a text away.
Not google, but a registered nurse, doula, and a mother who has been there before.
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The goal is simple:
for you to feel more confident, supported, and grounded as a new mom during this transition.
Investment & Availability
Investing in postpartum care is an investment in your recovery, your confidence, your mental well-being, and the foundation of your growing family.
Because every family’s needs, schedules, and goals are different, support is customized after a free consultation call.
Every mother deserves postpartum care. Period.
Payment Policy
To secure your booking, a 50% non-refundable deposit is due at the time of signing the contract. The remaining 50% balance is due at the time of your first scheduled session.
Flexible payment plans are available upon request. Payment plans are designed to make ongoing support more accessible and will be discussed and agreed upon prior to contract signing.
If you have any questions about payment options or need a customized arrangement, please reach out before booking so we can find a structure that works for your family.
FAQs
What does virtual support actually include?
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During our initial visit, we will discuss your goals during your transition home with baby. This package is for the mom who needs reassurance and has someone in their corner when questions come up. This package focuses on evidence-based education to build confidence in your decision-making and learn to trust your instincts as you adjust to your new role as a parent(s). This means 24/7 text support for the duration of the package, so you’re never left second-guessing.
What happens during an in-home visit?
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Each visit is tailored to what you need that day. That can look like helping with baby (feeding, soothing, routines), answering questions, or being an extra set of hands so you can rest, shower, or just have a moment to breathe. I can also help with small things around the house like bottles, laundry, or a trip to the grocery store, so you can focus on recovery and bonding.
Can one visit be used for prenatal prep?
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Absolutely! If anything, I encourage it! If you’d like, we can use one of your visits before baby arrives to talk through what to expect, feeding plans, postpartum recovery, and how to feel more prepared going into those early days.
What if I’m not sure how much support I’ll need yet?
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That’s completely normal. Most moms don’t know exactly what they’ll need until they’re in it. We can start with a level of support that feels comfortable, and if you end up needing more, we can always adjust so you feel fully supported. All packages can be adjusted to fit exactly what you need.
Do you offer overnight postpartum services?
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No. At this time, I am only offering daytime and evening slots. If you’re interested, I can refer you to a doula who does.