Preparing for an Overnight Shift: A Postpartum Doula’s Day

This is part two of my “day in the life” series. If you’d like to see what a typical overnight postpartum doula shift looks like, you can read Part One here.

When people think about the role of a postpartum doula or night nanny, they often imagine the quiet hours I spend rocking a baby, feeding in the dark, or folding tiny laundry while parents sleep upstairs. But what most don’t see is the rhythm of my day before I arrive at a client’s door. How I take care of myself is just as important as how I take care of the families I serve, because in order to bring calm, steady energy into someone’s home, I first need to feel grounded and resourced myself.

After a shift ends, I slip quietly out of the house as the sky begins to lighten. The world is waking up, but for me it’s time to wind down. By the time I walk into my own home, I’m ready to let go of the night and prepare my body for rest. I take a melatonin, pull the blackout curtains tight, and slip into bed with an eye mask and earplugs. My husband and our dog are usually still asleep, and I tuck myself in beside them, letting my body sink into the stillness of the morning. Depending on how busy the night was — how many feeds, how much the baby needed me, and how much time I had to rest — I usually wake up somewhere between noon and three in the afternoon.

When I wake, the first thing I do is brew a hot cup of Earl Grey tea and carry it outside. I put my bare feet in the grass and turn my face toward the sun. It’s my way of telling my body: this is morning, even if the clock disagrees. That sunlight signals my internal rhythm, setting in motion the chain reaction that will help me feel sleepy again when I need to. It’s a ritual that feels both simple and sacred, and it’s one of the ways I care for my nervous system so I can hold space for families night after night.

After tea, I eat a nourishing breakfast and move my body. Some days that looks like rolling out my yoga mat, other days it’s going for a run, swimming, lifting weights, or walking through the forest. Movement resets my energy and clears away the heaviness of night work. It helps me show up strong and steady later when I’m holding a baby for hours or rocking them back to sleep.

The hardest part of my day is the mid-afternoon stretch. There’s always a wave of drowsiness that comes, and instead of fighting it, I make it into a rhythm. I brew a cup of coffee, settle at my desk, and focus on admin tasks: emails, scheduling, connecting with clients and other birth workers. It’s not glamorous, but it keeps the heartbeat of my work steady.

As evening approaches, I start to prepare again — not just for myself, but for the family I’ll soon support. I shower using unscented products, making sure I’m fresh and ready for a sensitive newborn to be snuggled against me all night. I choose soft, breathable cotton clothes, often organic, knowing a baby’s cheek will rest against them for hours. I pack my bag with everything I’ll need: my phone and AirPods fully charged, an extra charger tucked in just in case, healthy snacks like fruit, nuts, and granola bars, a protein powder packet for late-night hunger, and a few tea bags for comfort. Preparing in this way is a ritual of care — a way of saying to myself, “You will be held, too.”

On the drive to my client’s home, I think about the night before. Were there small shifts in the baby’s sleep patterns? Is there something new I can try to ease feeding or help the parents feel more supported? This gentle reflection allows me to walk in the door not just ready, but intentional.

Families invite me into their homes during one of the most tender, transformative seasons of their lives. The steadiness I bring doesn’t happen by accident — it comes from the way I care for my own body and spirit during the day. By tending to myself, I am able to tend to them: present, calm, and resourced. That is the quiet preparation behind every overnight shift.

If you’re a parent considering overnight support, you can learn more about Sasha & Co. and how we serve families here.

And if you’re a doula or nanny reading this and thinking, this sounds like my dream job—we’d love to connect with you. Reach out to learn more about joining the Sasha & Co. team and being part of this gentle, nourishing work.