Having a new baby is fun and exciting, but it can also be stressful!. If you are a first-time parent, you may have lots of questions, or feel nervous when it comes to bringing your baby home.

Setting up support for when you arrive home from the hospital can be a huge help! Postpartum care providers play different roles, and should always be chosen with that in mind. Some of these terms get used interchangeably, however, each skilled provider has a distinct role when it comes to supporting families.

• Postpartum Doula: Their primary role is to take care of the mother. They are hired to“ mother the mother”. Their focus is making sure mom has the smoothest recovery possible. This may involve preparing healthy and nutritious meals for her (and possibly other family members), doing laundry, helping with breastfeeding, and any other aspect that involves helping mom recover.

• Night Nanny (aka Night Nurse): Despite their title, night nannies are far from a traditional nanny. Although many of them have either postpartum doula or newborn care specialist training, their primary role is to take care of the baby overnight so parents can catch up on sleep. They do not babysitt other siblings or undertake housekeeping. Their job scope is only involves baby related care.

• Lactation Consultant: A lactation consultant can be a huge help if you find that you are experiencing complications, or you simply want that extra support as you figure things out.

• Babysitter: It may sound strange to mention a babysitter in the list of postpartum care workers. However, if you have multiple older children at home and don't have a full or part-time nanny, you are probably going to need an extra set of hands! Children need to be fed, bathed, taken to sports events etc. Hiring a babysitter to come in a few hours as needed, can provide the perfect balance to focus on your baby.

Each family's needs are unique and there is not a one size fits all. The perfect support will be one that fits your family’s needs. Bringing someone into your home is very intimate, and you need to feel comfortable with the person you hire.