Question 1

What does a Postpartum Caregiver do?

Accepted Answer

Great question! The answer can vary from professional to professional. Some postpartum caregivers provide basic practical daytime care, while others focus on overnight support. I specialize in an a la carte, service-based approach to holistic postpartum caregiving: healing meals, bodywork, bellybinding, and MotherCare. Basically, I "mother the mother" so she can focus on caring for her baby!

Question 2

Does Upon Arrival offer birth, overnight, or weekend care?

Accepted Answer

My working windows are typically non-holiday M-F, 9am-3pm (with some occasional exceptions made). Currently, I personally do not offer birth, overnight, or weekend doula support. However, if you are interested in these services or in adding any of them to your Upon Arrival package, please still inquire - I have arrangements with other wonderful, personally-vetted doulas in the area with whom I work to provide this important support and would be more than happy to connect you!

Question 3

How do Upon Arrival's packages work? Can I design my own?

Accepted Answer

Upon Arrival offers many a la carte services to make your postpartum window as calm and smooth as possible. You can choose just one relaxing service to pamper yourself, or choose several service options to build your ideal custom package. Once you have your quote, simply contact me to set everything up! Please visit the Build a Package page for more information.

Question 4

Does Upon Arrival offer general postpartum support outside of it's specialty services, like laundry, baby care while I nap, errands, etc?

Accepted Answer

While I am in your home performing support services, I am happy to share baby care best-practice information or sleep advice, provide emotional or feeding/lactation support, answer general postpartum questions, and clear your sink of dishes etc. as a courtesy. If the service includes meal prep, I'm happy to wear your baby while I cook and you go take a nap or get some "me-time!" However, once the service(s) I am there for is/are complete, so is the session - at this time I do not typically offer "open hours" outside of my specialty offerings for general support like light housekeeping, child care, errands, laundry, etc. 
However, if this is the sort of care you are looking for, please still inquire, as I do sometimes provide these kinds of services for an hourly fee* upon special request as my schedule allows. I also offer more open-style support through the Plymouth Grant program, as well as through other doula agencies with whom I work - I would be happy to discuss custom options that work best for your vision of your Peaceful Postpartum!

*in addition to the cost of any boutique offerings

Question 5

Does Upon Arrival accept insurance?

Accepted Answer

Yes! Upon Arrival currently accepts MassHealth, Carrot, and Maven insurance. Please inquire for more information.

Question 6

What is Upon Arrival's service area?

Accepted Answer

I will travel within a 40-45min radius from Kingston, MA. Typically this includes Plymouth county, and some neighboring parts of Barnstable, Norfolk, and Bristol county. If you are seeking service in a town outside of my service area, please still inquire - I sometimes make exceptions depending on my schedule and where you are located, and if I cannot travel, I work with many other personally-vetted doulas all over MA and RI with whom I routinely connect clients so everyone can get the care they are seeking with minimal search.

Question 7

What is the No-Cost Plymouth Postpartum Support Grant Program?

Accepted Answer

Families living in Plymouth, MA who have a baby under 1 year old are eligible for up to 3 postpartum support sessions at no cost to them through a grant provided by Plymouth Public Schools and Plymouth Family Network. In-home support through this program includes a set timeframe (up to 3 hours per session), and can include "open time" to help with more generalized practical care such as errands, house care, baby and childcare while the parents rest, and any other helpful tasks to support the household (within reason). Support through this program does not include Upon Arrival's speciality postpartum care services, though these services can be added in for their usual fee if the family is working with me directly as their assigned grant doula*. Please visit https://www.uponarrivaldoula.com/grant for more information.

*Support is typically provided on a first-come, first-serve basis. Several doulas are on the team for this program - therefore, Upon Arrival's currently listed availability does not apply to the scheduling of grant sessions and can be scheduled more freely, unless the family specifically wants to hire me directly as their assigned grant doula. Online/phone support hours are available for those seeking alternatives to in-home care.

Question 8

Can I gift services to a friend or loved one?

Accepted Answer

Yes! Upon Arrival offers gift certificates of any denomination for any service. You may gift anything from a dollar amount, meal prep, or a bodywork session, to a full custom package - certificates are completely flexible and make a great shower gift!

Question 9

Can I add Upon Arrival's services to my baby registry?

Accepted Answer

Yes! Many people think of adding baby things to registries, but tend to forget that services and support are also a great baby gift request to add! Upon Arrival services can be added to traditional registries in the form of gift certificates, cash funds, or by creating a free service-based baby registry here: https://behervillage.com/partners/uponarrival

Question 10

I just found out I'm expecting! How soon should I contact Upon Arrival to arrange care, and what is the "Postpartum Window"?

Accepted Answer

I typically work with families through the first 6-8 weeks postpartum (also known as the "Postpartum Window" or the "4th Trimester"). People usually contact me when they are about halfway through their pregnancy (which I recommend so they can secure care before my availability fills up around their due date window), but I've had clients reach out to set up services anywhere from their trying-to-conceive phase through a few months postpartum! Please inquire anytime - there's no wrong time to arrange care for yourself or a loved one.

Question 11

What is your availability?

Accepted Answer

I update my availability regularly! Please visit https://www.uponarrivaldoula.com/availability for my current openings.

Question 12

I have family staying with me for my immediate postpartum - does Upon Arrival offer delayed-start postpartum care?

Accepted Answer

Yes! I often have clients who like to supplement their family's care with Upon Arrival's - for example, their mother is staying for the first month postpartum but they need someone to step in when she goes home - and others who need someone to come in when their spouse goes back to work. I will do my best to work with you on whatever care schedule you may need to create your own Peaceful Postpartum.

Question 13

I would love to arrange postpartum care for myself, but affordability is an issue. Does Upon Arrival offer support with this?

Accepted Answer

Everyone deserves a peaceful postpartum! Upon Arrival offers several affordability options to help everyone access the care they need:
Payment plans and need-based discount coupons are available - please contact me to arrange affordability or to purchase a coupon to donate to a future family in need.
Upon Arrival's services are currently eligible for MassHealth, Maven, and Carrot insurance coverage.
Plymouth families may be eligible for grant-funded postpartum care at no cost to them - please visit www.uponarrivaldoula.com/grant for more information.
Don't forget that you can add postpartum care to your baby registry (either traditionally, or by registering with BeHerVillage.com).
Gift certificates are available - makes a wonderful unique baby shower gift!

Question 14

I don't have a baby but I could use some meal prep! Do you offer cooking services to the general public?

Accepted Answer

Yes! Personal Chef services can be gifted or arranged for any family, regardless of whether or not they are postpartum. Please inquire for current public meal prep rates or to arrange cooking support - I'd love to come cook for you!

Question 15

I don't see my question here/I want to arrange care! What is the best way to contact you?

Accepted Answer

Visiting the contact section at the bottom of my homepage or emailing me at andrea.uponarrivaldoula@gmail.com are the best ways to reach me. Looking forward to hearing from you!