Lauren Prothero Postpartum Doula in Fayetteville, NC

A postpartum doula supports families during the early weeks and months after birth, offering overnight care, emotional support, newborn expertise, and guidance tailored to your unique needs. My goal is to help you feel rested, confident, and supported.

The early days with a newborn can be beautiful but exhausting. A postpartum doula helps lighten the load by caring for your baby overnight, offering guidance, and helping you rest and heal — so you can show up as the parent you want to be.

Yes — when the baby sleeps, I rest lightly but stay fully attentive and responsive. This allows me to care for your baby throughout the night without disturbing your rest. You’re not paying me to sleep — you’re paying for expert support, safety, and peace of mind.

Yes! I have experience with twins, NICU graduates, and neurodivergent children. I adapt my care to meet your baby’s individual needs with skill, compassion, and patience.

I offer package discounts and, in some cases, flexible payment options. Please feel free to ask if cost is a concern — I’ll always do my best to work with your needs.

I offer in-person overnight support and photography services in and around Fayetteville, NC. Willing to travel farther for a traveling fee. Parent coaching is virtual and available to families anywhere.

Parent coaching is customized, action-focused support to help you navigate challenges like sleep routines, feeding transitions, toddler behavior, emotional dysregulation, or parenting structure. It’s not therapy — it’s practical, real-time guidance with compassion and expertise.

Definitely not — and I don’t expect you to be either. Coaching isn’t about being perfect, it’s about building self-awareness, learning what works for your family, and having someone walk beside you while you figure it out. Sometimes as parents we just need a fresh perspective, new ideas, and validation of our struggles.

I offer a wide variety of natural light portrait photography. I specifically enjoy focusing on maternity, birth, and family sessions though. Sessions are natural, relaxed, and connection-focused; no stiff posing or heavy props, just beautiful storytelling of your real life. https://laurenslensphotogrpahy.pixieset.com/

Yes. Every image you receive is hand-edited. I correct light, color, and distractions while preserving authentic, real-life beauty of the people and moments. My goal is timeless, polished photos — never overdone.

I’m a certified postpartum doula, infant care specialist, parent coach, photographer, and early childhood professional with more than a decade of experience supporting families through the earliest and most tender stages of parenting. My background includes formal education in early childhood development, behavioral psychology, and trauma-informed care. I’ve worked as a teacher, a behavioral support specialist, and I currently run a private in-home childcare program where I provide hands-on developmental care for infants and toddlers. My experience covers newborns through preschoolers, and I am especially passionate about helping families navigate common transitions like sleep changes, feeding, toddler behavior, emotional regulation, and sibling adjustment. As a doula and coach, I support families with far more than just newborn care. I provide individualized guidance for families navigating postpartum mood disorders, neurodivergence including ADHD and autism, emotional overwhelm, and the complex identity shifts that come with becoming a parent. I bring both professional expertise and real-world perspective into my care, offering a space that is knowledgeable, nonjudgmental, and deeply supportive. I’m also a professional photographer specializing in maternity, fresh 48, and family lifestyle sessions. I have been hired by local hospitals as both a newborn and bereavement photographer, a role that has allowed me to witness and preserve some of the most meaningful moments families will ever experience. My photography style is natural and emotive, designed to tell the story of your family as it truly is. At the heart of everything I do is one simple goal. I want to support parents and families so they have the chance to be present in these moments, not just get through them. Whether you are navigating a sleepless night, a toddler meltdown, or a beautiful new beginning, I am here to help you feel held, seen, and capable of finding joy right where you are.

You’ve heard the formal side of what I do, but the work I offer is incredibly intimate. Welcoming someone into your home, especially during the early days of parenting, is deeply personal. You deserve to know more than just my qualifications. You deserve to know the person behind them. I’m Lauren. Before anything else, I’m a mother. My husband and I have a little boy we adore and one baby we never got to meet, but who still holds a place in our hearts. We hope to grow our family in the future, but right now we are soaking up every moment with the blessing we have. During the day, I’m a working stay-at-home mom. I care for my son and a small group of children in my home, run my business during nap time, and spend my evenings supporting families through doula care, parent coaching, or editing photos. I love cooking and take pride in preparing homemade meals for the people I love, although I’ll admit I cannot bake to save my life. I’m a book lover, a paint-splattered hobby artist, a binge-watcher when I need to recharge, and someone who will always stop to watch a sunset. I love the beach, the zoo, new restaurants, and finding any excuse to show my son just how magical the world can be. I grew up as the oldest of three, with a brother diagnosed with autism and ADHD. From an early age, I stepped into the role of caregiver, and I never really left it. That part of me has shaped everything I do. Whether I’m comforting a new parent, supporting a child through a transition, or helping a family capture the beauty of their story, my work always comes back to the same purpose. I want to give others the chance to feel supported enough to truly enjoy the season they are in, not just survive it.

I understand that life is unpredictable. Each session includes one free reschedule if you need to cancel. If additional sessions are canceled or missed without notice, they may be forfeited or subject to a fee, depending on the situation. If I ever need to cancel, I will always do my best to make it right. You will have the option to reschedule for another date, accept a full refund for that session, or, if you are comfortable, I may be able to arrange care with a qualified backup doula. My goal is to provide consistent support, but also to remain flexible and understanding when real life happens on either side.

In addition to postpartum doula care, parent coaching, and lifestyle photography, I may be able to support your family in other ways depending on your needs. Every family is different, and sometimes what you are looking for may not fall into a specific category. If you need support with something unique or outside of what is listed, please reach out and ask. If it is something I am qualified to help with, I will be happy to talk with you about it. If not, I will do my best to connect you with someone who can.

Lauren's Overnight Postpartum Package is $40 USD, per hour. Lauren lists 5 packages in all.