No two weeks are ever quite the same in my world, but there’s a certain rhythm that tends to emerge. As a postnatal doula based in Surrey, my role is to gently support new families in the weeks and months after they welcome a baby. Sometimes that means helping with the first nappy change or making a cup of tea while mum finally gets a shower. Other days it means listening to a birth story or soothing a colicky baby at 2am. This job isn’t clockwork – it’s human work. And it is a privilege every single time.
In this post, I’ll take you through a real week in my life. This is a true reflection of what it means to be a postnatal doula in Surrey. It’s based on my years of experience supporting families both privately and around the NHS, and while client details have been changed for privacy, the stories are very real.
Monday – A Gentle Start
My week starts in Woking. I arrive at 9am to support a lovely couple who welcomed their first baby just over a week ago. Baby Noah is feeding well, but mum is recovering from a tricky birth and feeling anxious about doing everything ‘right’. She hasn’t slept more than two hours in a row and hasn’t left the house in days. We spend our visit tackling small things that make a big difference. I hold baby while mum showers. I make porridge and help her set up a feeding station on the sofa with water, snacks and muslins in reach. We talk about baby sleep cycles and normal newborn fussiness. By the end of my visit, she looks brighter. Dad comes home from a night shift and I catch him up too. I leave them both with a list of gentle wins for the day and reassurance that they’re doing brilliantly.
Tuesday – Twins and a Sleep-Deprived Mum
Over to Epsom. This family have four-week-old twins, and mum is absolutely shattered. Her partner is back at work and grandparents are far away. I arrive just before 10am and find her in tears, still in her dressing gown, with one baby crying in a bouncer and the other feeding on her lap. I start by scooping up the crying twin, giving him a cuddle, and calming the room. Once things are settled, I tidy the kitchen, put a load of baby clothes on, and help mum prepare some snacks for later. She tells me she feels like she’s “failing”. I listen, validate, and remind her that twins are hard work for anyone – especially in the early weeks. By the end of my visit, she’s fed both babies, eaten something herself, and had a chance to talk. We agree I’ll return on Thursday.
Wednesday – A Night Shift in Cobham
Today is a rest day – at least during daylight. I’ll be working overnight with a family in Cobham. Their second baby is six weeks old and mum is struggling with broken sleep. She’s asked for two nights of support so she can catch up and feel more like herself. I arrive at 9pm and take over baby duties for the night. I feed, wind and settle baby between 9pm and 6am. Mum does one feed at 2am (she’s breastfeeding but expressing a bottle to allow longer stretches). In between, she gets five solid hours of sleep – more than she’s had in weeks. I tidy the kitchen before I leave, write a quick overnight log, and head home as the sun rises.
Thursday – Back to the Twins
Back to Epsom. Mum looks better today – still tired, but not overwhelmed. We do the same rhythm: baby cuddles, washing, talking, tidying, snacks. I bring a few resources with me too – a sling I think might help her and some info on a local twin group. We talk about what’s realistic for the weekend and plan a short walk to get some fresh air. She’s starting to see the light at the end of the tunnel.
Friday – Feeding Support in Guildford
Today I’m with a first-time mum in Guildford. Her baby is three days old and breastfeeding is proving difficult. She’s sore, worried, and confused by conflicting advice. I watch a feed, gently correct the latch, and help her try a new position that gives her more control. Within half an hour, baby is feeding more comfortably and mum looks relieved. I explain what’s normal in these early days and how to look out for good feeding signs. We make a plan for the weekend, and I let her know I’ll check in Sunday morning. I also give her the number of a local lactation consultant just in case she needs specialist support. She hugs me at the door.
Saturday – Paperwork and Planning
No visits today. Instead, I catch up on admin, plan next week’s visits, clean my baby kit bag, and check in with a couple of clients by text. I also write up a few visit notes and re-order some supplies. I always try to leave Saturdays free when I can – rest matters for doulas too. I reflect on the week and jot down a few things I want to raise with individual clients. Every family teaches me something, even after all these years.
Sunday – A New Enquiry and a Quiet Walk
I get a message via my website from a couple in Reigate expecting their first baby in six weeks. They’re looking for a postnatal doula in Surrey and want to know if I have availability. I send a warm reply and offer a time for a no-pressure discovery call. Then I take a walk through a local park, no headphones, just a flask of tea and time to recharge. It’s a calm end to a full week.
What You Might Not See Behind the Scenes
Being a postnatal doula in Surrey isn’t all cuddly babies and cups of tea. There’s a lot that goes on behind the scenes. Every visit is different. Families come to me exhausted, emotional, sometimes in pain, sometimes grieving the birth they hoped for. They trust me with their homes, their babies, and their fears. I carry their stories with care.
I use my experience in and around the NHS to bridge gaps and explain things gently. I’ve sat with mums waiting for midwives to arrive, helped decode red book notes, and supported parents through postnatal depression referrals. I’ve also been there when everything clicks into place – when a mum realises she can do it, when a baby finally settles, when a partner says “thank you for helping us feel like ourselves again.”
Common Themes That Show Up in My Week
Every family is unique, but some needs are almost universal in those early weeks:
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Rest and recovery
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Reassurance that they’re doing OK
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Help with feeding (breast, bottle or both)
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Gentle baby care support
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A tidy kitchen and a warm meal
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Space to talk without being judged
The Local Difference in Surrey
Working as a postnatal doula in Surrey means I know the local terrain. I can recommend a breastfeeding group in Guildford, a sling consultant in Walton-on-Thames, or a friendly café with buggy access in Reigate. I know when the health visitor team tends to be overwhelmed and when to suggest private support instead. That local awareness matters. It means families don’t have to start from scratch – they get support that’s not only personal, but practical and rooted in the community.
Being a doula is not just a job – it’s a role that requires deep empathy, patience, and the ability to adapt on the fly. My week might look busy to some, but to me, it’s a steady rhythm of quiet acts of care. I help families breathe a little easier, sleep a little longer, and feel a little stronger. And that’s what it’s all about.