postpartum family & newborn care

Hello to all postpartum specialists!  

This section is dedicated to shining some light on common questions for our Independent Contractors that pop up when coming on board.  Thank you for demonstrating your strong calling to support postpartum families throughout our community with Lake Country Newborns.

At Lake Country Newborns, we arrive in a clean, tidy and organized fashion.  We are responsible for bringing a sense of peace into the home.  Our attire and personal image present as appropriate and approachable.  Our appearance, personal hygiene and mood keep professionalism in mind.  

Maybe you feel most prepared in scrubs.  Great!  Wear them.  Maybe you feel most comfortable in leggings and a cozy sweater.  Great!  Wear that.  Just keep in mind - babies  might do peeps, poops and/or pukes right on you and parents may have you doing light housekeeping so it might make the most sense to save your power suit for another time.  

We give families our full attention.  When we come into the home during the day and overnight, each shift follows a similar flow.  However, we adapt to each family's style, pace, circumstances and environment to create a personalized care plan.  

We are responsible for leaving the home in better shape than when we arrived.  This means we tidy up after ourselves, restock nursery supplies, wash bottles and look for other simple tasks to accomplish that help lighten the load for the families we serve.  

It can be helpful to have an always-packed designated bag to take along to your family placements.  Here are some things that might come in handy:

• light snacks
• water bottle
• notebook 
• pen/pencil
• phone charger
• hand sanitizer
• mask
• toothbrush and toothpaste (for overnights!)
• hand lotion
• hair tie
• pads/tampons
• lip balm
• favorite newborn resources, guides, or books
• lavender essential oil (also for overnights!)

At Lake Country Newborns, we deliver reliable, compassionate and professional care a cut above the rest, with carefully selected impressive and empowered independent contractors.  Often times, your postpartum doula or newborn care specialist training organizations will offer a list of suggested books.  Please use that as a starting point!  Knowledge is power and every family is different.

You may also find these two resources helpful in your work as a postpartum specialist:

• The Happiest Baby on the Block by Dr. Harvey Karp
• Newborn Sleep Guide by Erin Meinel

The following information is shared with families during Intake.  You will likely find it helpful in clarifying agency expectations and operations.

• It can be helpful to have a notebook on hand for any and all caregivers/parents to leave notes, tips for continuity of care.   

• Remember, we provide scheduled care.  If given enough notice, Lake Country Newborns might be able to fill a missing shift due to illness or unforeseen life circumstances. It can be helpful to have a plan in place for an unexpected change in support.   

• Billing occurs each Friday unless payment in full has been received.  If for some reason payment is not received, care will pause until all accounts are squared away.  

• When connecting with specialists outside of their time spent in your home, please do so with respect for their own personal and family time within reasonable hours and only as needed.  

At Lake Country Newborns, we make life with a newborn easier; we are here and happy to help. 

• Consultation: First, all prospective clients enjoy a complimentary consultation with our Care Coordinator, Maggie, to answer questions and provide insight on how we can help make life with their newborn easier.

• Reserve Care: Once the decision to reserve care has been made, families send Maggie a deposit and signed paperwork.

• Intake: Next, families complete a thorough intake to identify family needs and preferences.

• Placement: Then, Maggie matches families with our best suited available specialist(s).  A Care Calendar is finalized and shared with families and any involved specialists. Specialists also receive a detailed Intake Summary from Maggie and then connect with families via phone call, Zoom chat or text to touch base before commencing care.

• Follow up: One week into care, families and specialists can expect a check in from Maggie, then again halfway through placement and two weeks before care is scheduled to conclude.  Just before placement wraps up, Maggie conducts a brief Exit Questionnaire with each family. 

For a detailed copy of our Service Standards, please connect with Maggie and she will she will send them your way!