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TWO LOCATIONS
10 Commerce St., Lower Level
Glastonbury, CT 06033
4 Huntley Road,
Old Lyme, CT 06371
Oh, Baby!
Doula Collaborative
About Us
"We're here to bridge a gap in the world of perinatal & postpartum support."
Lori Atkins, Oh, Baby! Founder
Lactation Consultant, IBCLC
At Oh, Baby! Lactation Care Doula Collaborative, we're changing the way families receive postpartum and lactation support. Founded by Lori Atkins, an experienced IBCLC (International Board Certified Lactation Consultant), our collaborative brings together skilled postpartum doulas and breastfeeding expertise to create a seamless support system for new parents.
For Parents & Caregivers
When you choose a doula from our collaborative, you're not just getting one caregiver—you're gaining access to an entire network of experienced professionals. Our doulas receive specialized lactation training, allowing them to provide immediate, informed support during those critical early days at home. Should more complex breastfeeding challenges arise, your doula has direct access to Lori's expertise through real-time consultation, ensuring you receive prompt, professional care exactly when you need it.
With Oh, Baby!, your postpartum and lactation support work in harmony, eliminating the frustration of conflicting advice and creating a cohesive care plan that respects your feeding goals. Our evidence-based approach combines traditional wisdom with the latest research, giving you confidence during your breastfeeding journey.
Our Mission
We believe every family deserves knowledgeable, consistent support during the postpartum period. By creating a collaborative network of skilled doulas with enhanced lactation knowledge, we're transforming the postpartum experience—one family at a time.
Committed to Better Care.
Meet Our Doula's!
Frequently Asked Questions
What is a postpartum doula? Don’t doulas just help at birth?
There are both pregnancy/labor doulas, and postpartum, or after baby, doula professionals. Some people offer both services! A doula is a trained professional who provides continuous emotional, physical, and informational support to pregnant people, birthing people, and their families before, during, and after childbirth. Doulas do not replace medical providers like doctors, nurses, or midwives, but they can offer support that a medical provider cannot. Doulas can help with breastfeeding, newborn care, and emotional support in the early weeks after birth. They can even help overnight, with feeding, baby care and settling, to focus on parent sleep.
Why is Oh, Baby! Working with doulas?
As a long time mother, baby RN, in many roles at the bedside, in Labor and Delivery and more, I saw first hand the support and effect the care of labor doulas had on new families. Now as an IBCLC in the community, I see the impactful care postpartum doulas offer families, and how profound it can be. In healthcare, a team approach works beautifully to round out communication with the patient in the middle. Working with a doula in your home, and having lactation expertise to support you both and focused on your baby’s feeding plan, just makes brilliant sense! It really is about time.
Do the doulas work for Oh, Baby?
No. Our doulas have their own businesses, their own contracts, values and expertise. We are a collaborative, referring and sharing and supporting, back and forth, if needed. You will pay your doula directly per her policies. Oh, Baby! Will be there to guide, offer tips, real-time feeding support and education, for the doula and the families she cares for. If you require more in-depth lactation assessment, your doula can contact us directly for timely care, via a virtual visit, or in person.
How does working with an Oh, Baby! Doula… work?
Simply reach out via our webpage, and our Doula Coordinator will get right back to you, and work to match you with the right professional, based on your needs and situation.You plan and contract with your doula, and gather Oh, Baby! Lactation In as needed for feeding support. Building that postpartum support team just got way easier!
Why should we choose a doula this way?
For a few reasons!
Working together allows both the doula, and the IBCLC to share insights (with your consent) , ensuring consistent advice, and avoiding mixed messages, which can lead to confusion and poor care.
Your doula has had education on the latest evidenced based breastfeeding, pumping and bottle feeding support information, taught by Oh, Baby! She can reach out in real time for more support as needed.
Your doula is with you for longer chunks of time, She can spot early signs of breast/bottle feeding issues, and communicate promptly for support.
Together, we provide holistic, wrap-around, innovative care. You just won’t find this anywhere else!
I want to combo feed breastmilk and formula and plan to use bottles. Can an Oh, Baby! Doula help?
Absolutely. We hold fast to the idea that YOU and your mental health come first, in any feeding plan. You feed your baby YOUR way. All our doulas subscribe to a flexible feeding plan, led by your goals. No shame in our feeding game here! You can make a plan via a prenatal visit with Oh, Baby! Lactation (strongly suggested, super helpful!) and even invite your doula to attend if you’d like. Your feeding plan might change with circumstances, and we will walk you through it all, right by your side.
Can the doulas help with breastmilk pumping?
She sure can! All Doula education includes flange fit experience, basic pumping and milk storing, and extensive discussion of safe formula preparation, and bottle choices. If more detailed knowledge is needed, you can hop on a HIPAA protected video chat with an IBCLC for more, again, with your doula if you desire.
Does this education make the doula an IBCLC?
No. The IBCLC is available for clinical assessment and feeding planning with the family if needed. Our doula training does not confer any other credential to our Doulas. The education does offer the most up to date, evidenced-based info to educate and support families in their feeding/ pumping plan!
Join the Collaborative!
Be sure to sign up with a good email address so that we can send you the right information as soon as possible!