As a Minnesota family and newborn photographer, I spend a lot of time with moms.
Sometimes the best conversations happen during a newborn session while we’re waiting for baby to settle. Sometimes they happen during a family session while the kids are running wild around us. And sometimes those conversations turn into something deeper. About motherhood, about healing, and about the kind of support we didn’t even know we needed.
Since becoming a mom of three, one thing has become crystal clear to me: we are not meant to do this alone. And yet so many of us come home from the hospital, close the front door, and try to figure it all out by ourselves.
That’s one of the reasons I started my Made for Minnesota Moms YouTube series. I wanted real conversations with Minnesota women who support pregnancy, birth, and postpartum. Women sharing resources you can actually use.
Today I’m excited to introduce you to Joy McAfee, a certified postpartum doula, early childhood educator, and trauma-informed care practitioner. Joy provides comprehensive postpartum support to help parents, infants, and children thrive during the first year after birth.
Our conversation covered everything from what a postpartum doula actually does (spoiler: it’s basically magic) to the emotional side of the fourth trimester, sibling integration, postpartum nutrition, and why this kind of support is not a luxury. It’s something every family deserves.
Meet Joy McAfee, Certified Postpartum Doula
Joy McAfee is a Certified Postpartum Doula (CPD) and the founder of Joy the
Village Doula. She’s also an early childhood educator and trauma-informed care practitioner with a heart the size of Minnesota.
Joy’s brand of postpartum support is rooted in her own lived experience, and her passion for this work is something you can feel the moment she starts talking. When I planned this interview for my Made for Minnesota Moms series, she was someone I knew I had to talk to. Because so many moms don’t even realize that postpartum doula support exists, and once you hear what it looks like, you’ll wonder why we don’t all have one.
What Is a Postpartum Doula?
Before we get into the Q&A from our conversation, let’s start with the basics. Because when I first heard the term “postpartum doula,” I honestly thought I knew what it meant. And then Joy blew my mind.
A postpartum doula is someone who (as Joy beautifully put it) “mothers the mother.” They are trained professionals who come into your home after baby arrives and help you find your footing during one of the most beautiful and overwhelming seasons of life.
Not all postpartum doulas offer the same services, and that’s actually one of the coolest things about this type of support. It can be tailored to exactly what your family needs. Joy gets into the specifics of what she offers during our Q&A below, but the big takeaway is this: instead of trying to cook, clean, heal, feed the baby, manage your emotions, and somehow also be “fine,” you have someone in your corner who simply knows what you need. Sometimes before you even know it yourself.
Why Postpartum Doula Support Matters More Than You Think
Let’s be honest. Our society has a serious problem with the “bounce back” narrative.
You carry and grow a human being for nine months. You go through the physical, emotional, and spiritual experience of birth. And then you’re expected to just… get back to normal?
Joy put it perfectly during our interview: the bounce back isn’t going to happen. We need to let that go.
And I felt that in my bones.
The fourth trimester (that three-month window after baby is born) is often talked about now, and I love that. But Joy also shared something important: research shows it can take up to 18 months for hormonal balance and other physiological changes to reach a new normal after birth. That’s a long time to be “powering through.”
A postpartum doula steps into that space. Not to take over, but to hold space. To remind you that what you’re going through is a season, not a forever. To reflect back to you what you’re already doing well, even when you can’t see it yourself.
For moms recovering from C-sections (hi, that’s me, three times), postpartum doula support can be especially meaningful. Joy talked about how C-section recovery involves muscles and tissues mending, incision care, medication reminders, and the challenge of simply getting up and moving when your body is healing from major surgery. Having someone there who knows the right questions to ask, who puts the socks on your feet and brings the pillow to the couch without you having to ask, takes the mental load off in a way that’s hard to describe until you’ve experienced it.
Watch the Full Interview
Before I break down the Q&A highlights from our conversation, I want to share the full interview.
If you prefer to listen and watch the conversation unfold naturally, press play below and hear everything directly from Joy. Sometimes tone and nuance matter, and hearing her explain things in her own words adds so much warmth and context.
If you’d rather skim the highlights, keep scrolling. I pulled out the questions I asked and the moments that stuck with me the most.
Q&A with Joy McAfee
1. What is a postpartum doula and what does postpartum support look like?
Joy explained that a postpartum doula is someone who is educated in healing after birth, trained in the nuances of family life, and there to help families find their rhythm during the fourth trimester and beyond.
Her particular brand of support includes daytime visits, postpartum meals designed around healing and comfort, light tidying to create a restful space, emotional support, and infant care guidance.
She also emphasized that postpartum doulas are not all the same. Some offer overnight care, some focus solely on infant education, and some (like Joy) are intentional about daytime support so they can show up fully present and rested for the families they serve.
One thing Joy said that really resonated with me: she offers meals not just for nutrition, but because taking that one task off a new mom’s plate can be the difference between rest and running on empty. She creates menus that families can choose from before hiring her, with ingredients focused on anti-inflammatory healing and comfort.
2. How do postpartum doulas support families emotionally during the fourth trimester?
This was one of my favorite parts of our conversation.
Joy shared that emotional support starts with something simple but powerful: asking for the birth story. Not just the birthing person’s experience, but their partner’s too. She takes a holistic approach. She wants to know how everyone in the family experienced that moment.
From there, she supports families through their infant feeding journey (whether breastfeeding or bottle feeding), reminding them of their autonomy and empowering them with evidence-based information.
But what really got me was how she talked about reframing challenges. Joy described it as lovingly reflecting back to a parent what she’s noticed. Their strengths, their growth, what they’ve already overcome. And gently reminding them that what they’re going through is simply a season.
She was also very clear that this is not toxic positivity. It’s not “sunshine, rainbows, and lollipops.” It’s grounded, honest, and rooted in truly seeing the person in front of her.
3. What kind of practical support do new moms need most after birth?
Joy explained that this looks different for every family, which is why her support is always customized.
One example she gave that spoke directly to my soul: if the kitchen is a mess, a new mom is going to want to get up and clean it, even when she should be resting. Our brains just can’t relax in clutter (or maybe that’s just us, but I don’t think so). That’s exactly why light tidying is part of what some postpartum doulas offer. It’s not about being a maid. It’s about creating an environment where rest and healing can actually happen.
Joy also shared a brilliant pro tip: when postpartum hormones cause you to sweat (which is totally normal), keeping that sweaty shirt near baby’s bassinet or car seat can help them feel like you’re close, even if you step away to shower. The scent connection between mom and baby is powerful, and I honestly never would have thought of that.
4. How do families find a postpartum doula and know if it’s the right fit?
Joy shared several ways families can connect with a postpartum doula:
- Websites and apps where doulas post their credentials and services, with filters so you can search by type of support
- The Minnesota State Registry of Doulas, which lists what counties doulas serve, whether they take insurance, and what types of services they offer
- Referrals from other birth and community workers who maintain resource lists connecting families to both independent doulas and agency-based doulas
Once a family contacts Joy through her website, she sets up a meet and greet. One of the first questions she asks is: “Paint me a picture of what your postpartum healing time looks like.”
I love that question. It gives families the chance to vision cast, and it gives Joy the information she needs to customize her support package for each family’s unique needs.
She also shared that many families have been asking about sibling integration, which is about helping older children adjust to their new role as a big brother or sister. Joy’s approach is to teach older siblings how to narrate their experiences, creating a habit of introducing the baby to the world around them. It’s not about making a child into a little helper. It’s about giving them a meaningful, age-appropriate way to be part of the transition.
5. How did you become a postpartum doula?
This is where our conversation got really personal, and I appreciated Joy’s honesty so much.
Joy shared that 16 years ago, after the birth of her first son, she experienced severe postpartum depression. Finding the right support during that time was a real challenge for both her and her husband, who she later learned was also experiencing postpartum depression (because yes, partners can experience it too).
As the oldest daughter of seven, Joy had plenty of real-world experience caring for others. But what she didn’t have was the awareness that previous traumas made her high-risk for postpartum depression, or the right kind of support to navigate it.
Over time, Joy watched her sisters and friends give birth and reach out to her for support. For information, for meals, for encouragement. She saw them thrive in ways she hadn’t been able to after her first birth. And when her daughter was born 10 years later, she experienced postpartum healing in a completely different way because of the knowledge and support practices she had reclaimed, including cultural practices that had been part of her heritage.
Those night-and-day experiences lit a fire in her to extend that support to more families. She trained through CAPPA (Childbirth and Postpartum Professionals Association) and within two weeks of completing her training (during the pandemic no less) she was already supporting families.
6. Tell us about your trauma-informed care certification.
Through the African American Baby Coalition, Joy became a trauma-informed care practitioner. This training gave her a deeper understanding of trauma as it relates to adverse childhood experiences (ACEs), mental health, addiction, and the unique challenges that come with healing from past trauma while simultaneously stepping into parenthood.
What struck me was how Joy described the barrier that trauma can create for accepting help. She shared that even if she had known about postpartum doulas during her own difficult postpartum experience, she might not have felt safe letting someone into her home. The questions would have been overwhelming: Can I trust them with my truth? Will they understand where these tears are coming from? Or will they just put a band-aid on it?
Joy’s trauma-informed approach means she creates space for families to feel their feelings without judgment. She described a moment where she might set a timer and say, “Your tears are more than allowed. We want you to feel those feelings 100%. But in three minutes, you’re going to get in the shower. Not to stop the feelings, but to let them wash over you. And when you’re done, if you want to talk more, I’m here. If not, I’m going to wear your baby and get this laundry done.”
That moment in our conversation honestly gave me chills.
7. How long do you typically work with your families?
Joy’s support can extend up to baby’s first birthday, which surprised me. But she was also very clear that she doesn’t want her support to become a crutch.
She typically starts with a minimum of two to three weeks and a maximum of about five weeks, then reassesses with the family. The goal is always to help families develop their own skills and confidence, not to create dependency.
She described it as a dance. It requires a lot of observation and open communication to know when a family is ready to take the reins and continue finding their rhythm on their own.
I loved how she compared the eventual departure to a Mary Poppins moment, whimsically flying away once the family is finding their groove.
8. Can you share one powerful moment from your work?
When I asked Joy this question, she lit up.
She talked about the honor of being invited into families’ lives and holding space for their vulnerability, their truths, and their treasures. She shared that some of the families she’s supported have invited her to their children’s birthdays throughout the years.
One family’s little ones call her “Auntie.” Another child she supported last year calls her “Yaya.” She said hearing a baby bestow her with a name, after learning “mama” and “dada” first, was one of the most special moments of her career.
But what moved me the most was what she said about legacy. Joy sees her work as creating something bigger than any single family. By giving parents the best possible start, she believes she’s helping shape the future for her own children, for the children she supports, and for the community as a whole.
An Important Note About Accessibility
Before we wrapped up, Joy shared something that I think every expecting parent needs to hear:
Postpartum doula services are not a luxury. In every culture, there is a version of a postpartum helper. Everyone deserves that kind of support.
Joy encouraged families to start a fund or add postpartum doula support to their baby shower registry. Many independent doulas also have access to mutual aid funds, sliding scale options, or programs that make support more affordable.
So if money is looking a little funny (Joy’s words, not mine, and I love her for it), don’t count yourself out. The support is out there.
Where to Find Joy
Joy McAfee is the founder of Joy the Village Doula.
She is currently accepting clients due in May and June.
→ You can learn more or reach out here.
→ You can contact Joy directly here.
→ You can also find her on Instagram.
A Personal Note from Me
One of the reasons I started the Made for Minnesota Moms series is because I believe moms deserve access to real resources and real conversations.
Whether that’s discovering what a postpartum doula can do for your family, learning about support you didn’t even know existed, or simply hearing another mom say, “you’re not meant to do this alone.”
As a Minnesota family photographer, I spend my days documenting the beautiful chaos of family life. But behind every photo is a real mom navigating pregnancy, postpartum, and all the transitions that come with raising kids. Supporting moms goes beyond photos for me. I want you to have resources that actually help.
If you’re in the postpartum season, I created something that might be helpful. You can read my Postpartum Care Kit where I share simple things that can make those early weeks feel a little more supported.
If you’re still pregnant and preparing for baby, you can also grab my free Minneapolis Pregnancy Guide. It’s full of local resources and ideas that can help you feel a little more ready for what’s ahead.
And if you like conversations like this and want more resources for motherhood, pregnancy, and family life, you can join my newsletter. I share helpful tips, local resources, and updates from my Made for Minnesota Moms series.
Because at the end of the day, motherhood isn’t meant to be figured out alone.
And if you’re ever ready to document this season of your family’s story, I’d love to connect with you.
Disclaimer: This blog post is for educational and informational purposes only and does not provide medical advice. It is not a substitute for professional medical care, diagnosis, or treatment. Always seek advice from your physician, midwife, or other qualified healthcare provider with questions about pregnancy, labor, postpartum, or your health.
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