Meema S.
Mask frame style 3 Meema Spadola
VISIBLE

Meema Spadola

In Person
Brooklyn
Postpartum Doula Newborn/Parenting Educator Lactation Counselor (CLC)
Verified
expert
VISIBLE
About me

I am a DONA (Doulas of North America) trained and certified postpartum doula (since 2006) and a Certified Lactation Counselor (since 2010). I came to this work as a second career after seeing a dear friend go through a severe postpartum depression following the birth of her first child. Quite simply, her experience convinced me that more support is essential for all parents of newborns. As a postpartum doula and Certified Lactation Counselor, I love helping parents grow into their new roles and build their confidence by providing them with practical and emotional support. In a recent article, The New York Times described me as “a modern Mary Poppins: a combination friend, teacher and spirit guide…” I teach a prenatal Breastfeeding & Newborn Care Class and I enjoy working with nursing parents; demonstrating infant massage and “baby wearing;” and supporting parents who are struggling with postpartum mood disorders, including postpartum depression and anxiety. I am also certified in infant and child CPR. I regularly pursue continuing education opportunities and am always deepening my knowledge about newborn care, lactation support and postpartum parents. I've been lucky to work with a diverse range of families, including single, adoptive, and LGBTQ+ parents. I'm a former documentary maker and my films about body image and family issues have been broadcast on PBS, HBO and beyond; my short radio pieces can be heard on This American Life; and an autobiographical essay of mine was included in the anthology Out of the Ordinary: Growing Up with Gay, Lesbian and Transgender Parents. I am the proud mother of a son born in July 2007 and I live with my family in Kensington/Windsor Terrace, Brooklyn. (In my profile pic, you'll see me wearing my son. The picture is 10+ years old, but I love it! And I bring that same black stretchy wrap to my postpartum doula visits, so you might get to see me wearing YOUR baby in it some day!)

How I work with parents

My role as a postpartum doula is to help parents through their postpartum period and to nurture the family as a whole. There is no one right way to structure my visits, and I am flexible in scheduling my support. There are days when parents have a set “to do list” and other days when I arrive and need to figure out how best to serve the family. As a postpartum doula and Certified Lactation Counselor, I provide non-medical physical and emotional support; evidence-based information about postpartum recovery and newborn care and feeding and; and practical household assistance after the birth of your baby or babies. What this means practically is that I help with: self-care recovery measures for the birth parent; infant feeding (nursing and/or bottle) and pumping; baby care and soothing; and meal prep and household assistance, including grocery shopping and light household chores. In a world filled with endless numbers of books and websites about babies (and newborn feeding and sleep!), I help cut through the noise and focus on your baby and help you understand what he or she is telling you. By building your confidence and giving you practical tools, I aim to help you meet your goals and work myself out of a job.

My training & experience

I am a trained and certified Postpartum Doula through DONA (Doulas of North America) (since 2006) and a Certified Breastfeeding Counselor through Healthy Children (since 2010). I have recertified with both of these organizations over the past years and attend regular continuing education classes and workshops, deepening my knowledge of breastfeeding, bottlefeeding and pumping; newborn behavior, sleep, feeding; postpartum recovery; postpartum mood disorders; babywearing; etc. I have worked with (and learned from!) over 160 parents and their babies over the past twelve years, not including the hundreds of students in my breastfeeding and newborn care classes.

Lactation Counseling Session
Description:
A Lactation Counseling Session will provide you with assistance with common nursing difficulties.
List Of Services:
  • This in-home counseling session will last between 90 minutes to 2.5 hours and will include:
  • An observation of a nursing session;
  • Demonstration of techniques for making breastfeeding more comfortable and efficient;
  • Assistance and education around use of breastfeeding equipment, including a breast pump, if applicable;
  • Recommendations and a written treatment plan to resolve breastfeeding issues.
Price:
$200 for 1 session
16-hour Postpartum Care Package
Description:
This package of four 4-hour visits will provide you with support and education around infant feeding, care, soothing and sleep; as well as practical care for postpartum parents.
List Of Services:
  • As a postpartum doula, I will: help you with self-care recovery measures; offer support and information about infant feeding (nursing and/or bottle) and pumping; give information and support on baby care; prepare meals and offer household assistance, including grocery shopping and light household chores. Each session will be tailored to your family's needs. Services include:
  • Education & support about: baby care – feeding, diapering, bathing, soothing techniques; newborn sleep; and baby gear - recommendations, assembly and instruction;
  • Support for Parents;
  • Feeding Support: nursing, bottle or combination, as well as help with pumping and storing milk;
  • Sibling Support - assistance with sibling adjustment, playing with and caring for older siblings so you can care for and bond with your baby, care for infant so you have undivided time with siblings, care for infant and siblings so you can have time to yourself;
  • Nutritious meals - food preparation in your home and assistance with food shopping;
  • Organization - nursery organization, including laundering clothes and setting up diaper changing stations, feeding supplies or nursing area;
  • Referrals - I can provide referrals to professionals such as lactation consultants, new parents groups, postpartum mood disorder therapists, pediatricians, classes, etc.
Price:
$1,000 for 4 sessions
Back to Work Pumping Consult
Description:
This Back to Work consult will help you come up with a pumping, storage and bottle feeding plan when you are returning to work.
List Of Services:
  • Review of current breastfeeding and pumping routine, including checking to make sure you're using the pump effectively
  • Tips for increasing the amount of milk you express and maintaining your supply
  • Planning for building a stash before returning to work
  • Information about bottle feeding that supports continued breastfeeding
  • Information about effective pumping and safe milk storage and preparation strategies
  • Information about how much expressed milk your baby needs and how to assess whether baby is getting enough milk
  • Personalized written plan including information about how often and when to pump, a suggested schedule, safe breastmilk storage and handling, handouts for caregivers, etc.
Price:
$200 for 1 session
Newborn 101
Description:
Newborn 101 provides targeted support and education around infant feeding, care, soothing and sleep; as well as practical care for postpartum parents. Suggested within first 8 weeks postpartum.
List Of Services:
  • Parents can choose from a range of services for this 3-hour in home visit, depending on their needs. Services include:
  • Feeding Support: nursing, bottle or combination, as well as help with pumping and storing milk
  • Education & guidance on infant development; baby care (diapering, bathing, soothing); and newborn sleep
  • Nursery organization, including laundering baby's clothes and setting up diaper changing stations, feeding supplies or nursing area.
  • Education & assistance with "baby wearing": I can assist you with learning to safely and comfortably use your own baby carriers, and can also bring a few of my own to let you try before you buy.
  • Practical support for parent(s)-- whether you've given birth or not! I can make a meal, do the laundry, or load the dishwasher.
Price:
$250 for 1 session