Ask the Advisory Board
Q & A With Tonja D. Carpenter,
IBCLC, RLC, PCD(DONA), CIMI
How can doulas support new parents dealing with postpartum depression or anxiety?
Postpartum doulas can provide support to new parents dealing with any postpartum mood disorder by first making sure that the client is under the care of medical professionals and a therapist. Secondly, the doula can ask to see the care plan developed by the therapist and medical provider to help implement the prescribed plan. Thirdly, the postpartum doula can encourage her clients to open the shades or blinds in the house to let the sunshine in, take a walk in the sunshine and breathe in some fresh air, provide time and space for the clients to have some “me time or couple time,” and the doula can help the clients see how much of a great job they are doing as new parents. Sunshine has “magical powers” when it comes to the postpartum period.
Tonja Carpenter is an International Board-Certified Lactation Consultant, Registered Lactation Consultant, Postpartum Certified Doula with DONA International, and a Certified Infant Massage Instructor. She has completed the Master IBCLC Class, has completed training in Orofacial Myofunctional Therapy with a focus on breastfeeding infants, and has completed a course in infant massage with a focus on basic myofascial release. Tonja is trained to assess oral lingual function in the breastfeeding infant using the Hazelbaker and Martinelli assessments, the Tethered Oral Tissues Screening assessment, and the Murphy Sweep. She has been serving families and making moms happy in Waco, Texas as a postpartum doula since 2015 and in lactation care since 2017. Tonja owns Postpartum Doula and Lactation Services of Waco which partners with the Waco Birth Center to provide skilled lactation care and support for patients using Superior Medicaid as well as several other major health insurance companies, Blue Cross Blue Shield of Texas, United Health Care, Tricare, and Cigna to name a few. Lactation Services of Waco is in-network with Aetna insurance separately from the birth center. Tonja has a team of doulas who work with her through the non-profit organization she founded, Community Doulas of Waco, and has Laura Jouret, IBCLC on her team at Lactation Services of Waco. She is a Baylor University graduate and has been married for over 28 years to Vincent Carpenter, Sr. who has been serving in pastoral ministry for over 30 years. Tonja’s passion is supporting the whole family, surrounding them with care, and making moms happy!
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