Hi we hired a night nurse for our Twins. Her name is Lauranda she is great me and my husband got rest at night. She got our Twins on a night schedule. She was with us the day we came home from the hospital. I don't know what we would have done with out her. She comes highly recommend and has great references. Her cell is 540 479 9415 Good luck Samantha Rose.

Doulas are not required to become lactation consultants. If certified they do take some training in lactation, but so does a good newborn care specialist (baby nurse is an outdated term except the rare cases where the person actually is a nurse.)

A newborn care specialist does focus mostly on the babies, though I know I also do what I can to support the whole family. As with hiring someone for any type of job- interview & ask questions.

Thank you all for your responses! I really appreciate it.

Doula all the way! I can highly recommend Nikki Wray from experience, she happens to specialize in twins! www.nikkiwray.com

PP's advice is good - though you might need a doula for a far shorter period of time than it would be helpful to have a baby nurse. Good for you to plan to get some help!

I don't have names for you but I'd suggest that you join MCPOM (Montgomery County Parents of Multiples) and ask this question there. You'll immediately get names, recommendations, tons of other useful connections or advice, etc... It has been incredibly useful to me as a resource and also to meet other parents of multiples.

Congratulations!!!

I would choose a doula because she will cater to your needs. After having the babies you are going to need time to heal, the doula will do things around the house, care for the babies when necessary and offer advice. While a baby nurse is strictly there for the children. Doulas are also required to become lactation consultants when they do their training. Some have medical training and a wide knowledge of not only childcare but maternity care.

I am expecting twins and wanted to see if anyone hired either a post-partum doula or a baby nurse to help out part-time in the first few weeks after birth. If so, which was most helpful, and can you recommend anyone in the Chevy Chase DC area (either a doula or a nurse, or both)?

Thanks!