Nurturing the Family: A Doula's Guide to Supporting New Parents

by Jacqueline Kelleher

A new edition for the changing landscape of new parenting.
As society changes, so do the ways in which we define family. As fewer and fewer families live communally and traditional means of support become less viable, many parents are left feeling isolated and unsupported. As families evolve, their needs and the responsibilities of those who support them have to be reimagined.
Jacqueline Kelleher’s second edition of Nurturing the Family is designed to identify the needs of growing families and provide tangible solutions and strategies for the people who serve them. The needs of families and the profession of doula support have evolved in the years since the first edition. This book reflects those changes and is for doulas, supporting professionals, and everyone else committed to supporting a diversity of families with sensitivity and compassion.

233 pages, Paperback

Published December 3, 2019

Reviews

[Kelly Kolb · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book tackles a huge variety of things a doula will encounter when working with families in the postpartum period. Supportive, insightful, and super current, this is an excellent book that would be especially helpful for people just considering or beginning doing postpartum support. Includes pieces by both the author and a variety of other voices with different perspectives.

[Bill Marshall · Rating 5 out of 5]

I don't need a post-birth doula, but if I did I'd want him or her to have read this book. Jacqueline Kelleher's years of experience in the field have led to her having an impressive degree of awareness on the issues facing those in the profession and ample advice on how to deal with those issues and find resources when needed. I wouldn't be surprised if Kelleher herself re-read a page or two in the future to refresh her memory.
An added bonus some won't find important but I do is that Nurturing the Family: A Doula's Guide to Supporting New Parents is exceptionally well written. Often, books intended for niche audiences get a pass on basic writing fundamentals, which often reach a point that makes you question how competent the writer is in her field. Happily, that's not the case here.

[Jenny · Rating 5 out of 5]

I particularly enjoyed the section explaining the Spanish word “educado”, meaning treating other with respect and cordiality. It is not about our values or parenting style as birth workers, but the new mother/father/parent. One of my favorite quotes from chapter 11 is “The gift that the doula offers is being the person who encourages them [the parents] to find the strength to make these choices.” Through the lens of the family’s unique ritual and culture, the doula should present science-based evidence then allow them the freedom to choose how to integrate it without judgment.

[Karisa Totah · Rating 5 out of 5]

I feel better equipped as a postpartum doula and even as a future parent myself after having read this book. It's a great overview of the many areas of postpartum life. Birth has its unique challenges, but "postpartum" covers an even wider array of possible challenges new parents face. So having a tool book like this is incredibly helpful. Regardless of whether you're a doula or a family member or friend supporting the postpartum period or even if you want to skim it as you prepare for your own postpartum, I'd recommend this book for sure.

[Molly · Rating 4 out of 5]

A good introduction to the profession, with lots of helpful lists. Perhaps slightly outdated, since it was written nearly 20 years ago, but still provides a good foundation for someone interested in getting into the field.