Daytime postpartum shifts are typically 4 hours long while overnight shifts are usually 8-10 hours long. Daytime shifts might be 9am-1pm or 1pm-5pm (or whenever you feel works best for your family!). Overnight shifts are most commonly scheduled 10pm-6am.

That being said, every family’s schedule is different and our doulas are always happy to work out times that are most supportive for you.

Typically families we work with will have a rough estimate of how many hours they want (example: 2 4-hour shifts a week for 6 weeks). Once you are home with your baby, then you can coordinate withy our postpartum doula exact dates and times to make sure you are able to work around family visits, appointments, and other things you have going on!

Some insurance plans (such as Tri-care, Mass Health, and a few private insurance providers) offer partial reimbursement for doula support services.

There are also some employers who carry reimbursement benefits such as Carrot Fertility Maven, or Progyny). We encourage everyone to check with their insurance provider and their company as well as their partners to see what they have access to. 

Saltwater Doulas also offers flexible payment plans and sliding scale doula support. We are happy to accept HSA/FSA cards and our gift card link is a great way to get money towards support and classes from your baby registry!

Having family or friends around after birth can be incredibly supportive, and many families choose to pair that help with a professional postpartum doula. While loved ones often assist with meals, errands, and baby snuggles, a postpartum doula offers trained, evidence-based support focused on recovery, newborn care, feeding, and emotional adjustment.

Postpartum doulas provide calm guidance, practical education, and reassurance — without family dynamics or expectations. Many parents find it easier to ask questions, express concerns, and build confidence with a neutral, experienced professional by their side.

For many families, having both allows loved ones to simply be family, while a doula helps ensure parents feel supported, informed, and cared for during the early weeks. There’s no one-size-fits-all answer, and we’re always happy to help you decide what feels right for your family.

Choosing a doula is deeply personal, and one of the biggest benefits of working with Saltwater Doulas is that you’re not just hiring one person — you’re supported by an entire, highly experienced collective.

Nearly all of our doulas are professionally certified and maintain continuing education credits for recertification every three years, ensuring our support is current, evidence-based, and grounded in best practices. Many of our doulas have been supporting families for 5–10 years, and we regularly learn from one another through ongoing team education and collaboration.

Our agency is intentionally diverse in background and expertise, with doulas bringing experience in areas like advanced lactation support, massage therapy, personal training, mental health, nursing, paramedicine, and more. Because of this, when you work with one of us, you truly get the mind of the group. We’re almost always able to connect families with resources, information, or specialized insight — quickly and thoughtfully.

We’re also a close-knit team. Backup doulas are always guaranteed within our own vetted agency (not sourced last-minute from Facebook groups), so you can feel confident knowing your care is consistent and reliable.

Most importantly, families trust us. With over 100 five-star Google reviews, our community consistently shares how supported, informed, and cared for they felt during their birth experience — and that’s something we’re incredibly proud of.

If you’re looking for experienced, collaborative, and deeply supportive care, we’d be honored to walk alongside you!