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Shannon Collier CPD-DONA Cell: 202-573-1495 info@holistichelpinghand.com www.holistichelpinghand.com Serving the Washington, DC-Metro Area |
| MIND |
| BODY |
| SPIRIT |
| I am happy to work with you to establish a schedule that best fits your family's needs. The example schedules below may assist you in your considerations. I recommend scheduling no less than three hours per visit. Schedules are flexible as needed and may be altered during the course of a contract as availability allows. Please do not hesitate to call me with questions about possible scheduling options. |
| Common Schedules for Postpartum Support |
HHH General Availability: I presently offer postpartum support Mondays through Thursdays. Please
note, I do not offer postpartum support on Fridays, Saturdays, Sundays or Federal Holidays.
Mid-Morning: Starting at 10:00 AM for three hours. Since adequate rest is important, prolong your
time in bed in the morning. I can assist by attending to household organization needs that might
otherwise beckon you out of bed, and nurture you with a healthy breakfast and cup of tea as you lay-in
with your newborn. This schedule may be especially helpful if your partner must return to work shortly
after the birth.
Afternoon: Starting between 12:00 PM and 2:00 PM for three to four hours. This is a natural time of
low-energy for adults and a perfect time for a nap for exhausted parents. An afternoon session allows
parents to rest, practice getting outside with their newborn, or run through age-appropriate infant
development activities, or potentially all three. Assistance with household chores is also valued at this
time.
Evening/Dinner: From 3:00 PM onward for three to four hours. This is a time of transition as parents
and older siblings return home from school or work and dinner is around the corner. Additionally,
many newborns often experience an "expressive" or "fussy" period in the late afternoon that can be
difficult to manage. An extra set of hands to prepare dinner or help you attend to your expressive infant
may be a welcome break at this time.
Overnight: Only offered on an occasional or emergency basis. Call for more information.
Decrease in Length or Frequency Over Time: As you recover from birth, or an adoption transition,
your need for support will lessen. Therefore, I suggest reducing support hours proportionally over
time.
Peak Fussy Time: When infants hit three to four weeks post-gestational age, they begin the fussiness
climb to "peak fussiness" around weeks six and seven. They then slowly settle back down into a
calmer self around weeks eight/nine/ten. This "fussy" stretch of time is often trying for new parents and
is a great time to enlist some extra help.
note, I do not offer postpartum support on Fridays, Saturdays, Sundays or Federal Holidays.
Mid-Morning: Starting at 10:00 AM for three hours. Since adequate rest is important, prolong your
time in bed in the morning. I can assist by attending to household organization needs that might
otherwise beckon you out of bed, and nurture you with a healthy breakfast and cup of tea as you lay-in
with your newborn. This schedule may be especially helpful if your partner must return to work shortly
after the birth.
Afternoon: Starting between 12:00 PM and 2:00 PM for three to four hours. This is a natural time of
low-energy for adults and a perfect time for a nap for exhausted parents. An afternoon session allows
parents to rest, practice getting outside with their newborn, or run through age-appropriate infant
development activities, or potentially all three. Assistance with household chores is also valued at this
time.
Evening/Dinner: From 3:00 PM onward for three to four hours. This is a time of transition as parents
and older siblings return home from school or work and dinner is around the corner. Additionally,
many newborns often experience an "expressive" or "fussy" period in the late afternoon that can be
difficult to manage. An extra set of hands to prepare dinner or help you attend to your expressive infant
may be a welcome break at this time.
Overnight: Only offered on an occasional or emergency basis. Call for more information.
Decrease in Length or Frequency Over Time: As you recover from birth, or an adoption transition,
your need for support will lessen. Therefore, I suggest reducing support hours proportionally over
time.
Peak Fussy Time: When infants hit three to four weeks post-gestational age, they begin the fussiness
climb to "peak fussiness" around weeks six and seven. They then slowly settle back down into a
calmer self around weeks eight/nine/ten. This "fussy" stretch of time is often trying for new parents and
is a great time to enlist some extra help.