Baby girl with mother

Specialized Support Resources

PSI offers understanding, education, empathy, and resource referrals to parents experiencing a wide range of situations, challenges and roles.

In addition to the helpful resources shared below, we have recruited Specialized Coordinators in response to a growing number of requests from families who are eager to connect with someone who truly understands what they are facing.

Specialized Coordinators

To connect with one of the Specialized Coordinators for help relating to a topic below, you are welcome to complete this form, identifying the area in which you could use support. They will reach out to you within 1-2 US business days.

  • Adoptive Parents
  • Advanced Maternal Age
  • After Abortion
  • Anger/Rage/Irritability
  • Babies w/Special Needs
  • Bed Rest
  • Bipolar Disorder
  • Birth Mothers
  • Birth Trauma
  • Breast-/Body-feeding
  • Christian Parents
  • Colic
  • Dads
  • Deaf & hard of hearing
  • Domestic Violence/IPV
  • East Asian Parents
  • Eating Disorders
  • Ectopic Pregnancy
  • Exclusively Pumping
  • Fertility Challenges
  • Gestational Diabetes
  • Gestational Surrogates & Intended Parents
  • Grandparents
  • Hindu Parents
  • Hyperemesis Gravidarum
  • Indigenous Parents
  • Insomnia
  • Large Families
  • LGBTQIA+ Parents
  • Maternal Near Miss
  • Military Parents (by branch)
  • Motherless Mothers
  • Multiples, Parents of
  • Muslim Parents
  • NICU Parents
  • OCD
  • Orthodox Jewish Parents
  • Perineal Tear
  • Postpartum Psychosis
  • Postpartum Stroke
  • Preeclampsia / HELLP Syndrome
  • Preeclampsia & Long-Term Complications
  • Pregnancy & Infant Loss
  • Pregnancy Term for Medical Reasons
  • PTSD
  • Sexual Assault Survivors
  • Single Parents
  • South Asian Parents
  • Substance Use Disorder
  • Surrogacy & Gestational Carriers
  • Teen/YA Parents
  • Unplanned C-Section
Connect with a Specialized Coordinator

Support Resources

Along with the PSI Specialized Coordinator volunteers above, we’ve put together a list of additional resources outside of PSI that might be helpful for the conditions, roles, or experiences listed below.

Parenting with ADHD is not a small feat! You can find more information and resources here, whether you are considering getting tested for ADHD or are newly diagnosed or have had ADHD. Navigating parenting when you’re the one with ADHD can feel like a long, windy road with no end in sight. Parenting with ADHD is more prevalent than people think and more parents are opening up about their personal journey.

Resources:

  • A Survival Guide for Parents with ADHD: Strategies from Preschool to High School by Anderson. (2022).
  • ADHD 2.0: New Science and Essential Strategies for Thriving with Distraction from Childhood Through Adulthood by Hallowell, Ratey, and Sanders. (2021).
  • Dirty Laundry: Why Adults with ADHD Are So Ashamed and What We Can Do to Help by Pink and Emery. (2023).
  • How to Keep House While Drowning by KC Davis. (2022).
  • Women with ADHD: The Complete Guide to Stay Organized, Overcome Distractions, and Improve Relationships. Manage Your Emotions, Finances, and Succeed in Life by Davis and Hill. (2022).
  • Motherhood in ADHD – Parenting with ADHD, Productivity Tips, Brain based Science, Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder by Patricia Sung (podcast)

PSI Support:

PSI has a free and virtual group for pregnant and postpartum moms and birthing people with Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD)

Mood and Anxiety Disorders during the postpartum period are experienced by more than just birthing parents. Parents who have adopted a baby/child can experience challenges with mood and anxiety as well.

Please visit our Adoptive and Birth Mothers page for more information.

Abortion is a common experience – one in four women will choose to terminate a pregnancy and 60% of those are already parenting. Despite abortion being a common experience, it is also very complex. From the stigma surrounding abortion, to the various reasons that can make an abortion decision difficult, we know that nonjudgmental support after abortion is essential.

Resources:

  • All Options: If you are pregnant and unsure how to feel or what to do next, or you want to talk about a past or current experience with abortion, adoption, parenting, infertility or pregnancy loss, you’ve found the right place. Call our All-Options Talkline at 1-888-493-0092 from anywhere in the United States!*
  • Exhale offers a free, national textline that provides emotional support, resources and information. All texts are completely confidential and counselors offer support and respect without judgment. The Exhale textline is available to individuals who have had abortions, and to their partners, friends, allies, and family members.
  • Connect & Breathe creates a safe space to talk about abortion experiences by offering a talkline staffed by people trained to listen and provide unbiased support and encouragement of self-care. Whether abortion has affected you or a loved one, yesterday or years ago, we are here for you. 1-866-647-1764

PSI Support:

Connect with the PSI After Abortion Specialized Coordinator for nonjudgmental support, as well as assistance in getting you connected to further resources like mental health therapy and peer groups.

PSI has a free and virtual group for After Abortion Support

Feelings of anger, rage and irritability are surprising and common experiences during the postpartum period due to a variety of sources. However, if you are experiencing these emotions frequently, it could be a sign of a Perinatal Mood Disorder. These intense feelings may not have been common pre-baby, and cause additional distress.

Postpartum anger and rage are a newly emerging topic, one that many parents find themselves battling, and can bring about feelings of deep shame and guilt. Don’t let these feelings keep you from reaching out to get the support you need! Here are some resources you might find helpful, but also know that working with a mental health provider can be very helpful in understanding the source of rage and developing strategies to prevent or deal with these feelings.

Resources:

PSI Support:

Led by trained peer facilitators, our Postpartum Rage group is here to support moms and birthing people from 2 weeks-2 years postpartum experiencing episodes of intense anger and agitation. Postpartum Rage can look like a sudden explosion of anger, feeling overwhelmed or drowning, and/or being on edge or irritable to the point that these emotions impact your daily life. Postpartum rage is more common than we think and can produce feelings of isolation, guilt, and shame. We want you to know that you are not alone, and no diagnosis is needed to attend.  Register for our free Postpartum Rage Support for Moms and Birthing People

Some pregnancies present significant challenges, such as bed rest. The experience of bed rest during pregnancy can increase the risk of developing perinatal mood and anxiety disorders, and support is available! 

Resources:

  • Better BedRest – an advocacy, public awareness and volunteer-driven non-profit whose sole purpose is to provide support, resources and information to pregnant women who are prescribed bedrest and/or restrictions by their physicians or midwives.
  • Hand to Hold – great list of helpful tools for self care during bed rest.
  • Sidelines Support – Facebook group providing international support for women and their families experiencing complicated pregnancies and premature births.

PSI Support:

PSI’s Specialized Coordinator for Bed Rest has been there, and understands how challenging this experience can be! Connect with this Specialized Coordinator >

There are two phases of a bipolar mood disorder: the lows and the highs. The low time is clinically called depression, and the high is called mania or hypomania.

Research shows that 50% of women with bipolar disorder are first diagnosed in the postpartum period. This may be a new diagnosis, or one that you may have been managing for years. Perinatal Bipolar Disorder is treatable, and help is available. You do not need a diagnosis to reach out for help.

Resources:

PSI Support:

Register for our free Bipolar Moods Support Group: These groups are led by PSI-trained support group leaders who have lived experience and/or professional experience. They understand the emotional challenges of pregnancy and postpartum as a mom or birthing person living with bipolar disorder.

Connect with the Specialized Coordinator for Bipolar Disorder for nonjudgmental support, as well as assistance in getting you connected to further resources like mental health therapy and peer groups.

PSI has gathered specialized support resources dedicated to birth moms who are having a hard time, either with the birth and relinquishment of their baby or with subsequent pregnancies. Please visit our Adoptive and Birth Mothers page for more information.

PSI has a Specialized Coordinator and free virtual support group for Birth Moms. Learn More

While parents and their medical team can prepare the best they can, sometimes a birth does not go as planned and the experience can be traumatic. Birth trauma refers to “any physical or emotional distress experienced during or after childbirth, potentially leading to post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) or other mental health issues.”

Resources:

PSI Support:

PSI has Specialized Coordinators for PTSD and Birth Trauma just for you; ready to listen and help you through this process by finding resources and providing one-to-one listening support. Connect with this Specialized Coordinator >

PSI also offers two free, online support groups for Birth Trauma:

We often hear that breast- and body-feeding is the most natural thing in the world. But the experience is often anything but easy, and can significantly exacerbate anxiety and depression in new parents. 

Resources:

At the conclusion of the breast- and body-feeding journey some parents experience feelings of loss and grief—either of the journey itself ending or of the hope they had for a different breast- or body-feeding experience.

  • Bottled up: How the Way We Feed Babies Has Come to Define Motherhood and Why It Shouldn’t by Suzanne Barston (book)
  • Why Breastfeeding Grief and Trauma Matter by Amy Brown (book)

See section below for information and resources for parents who are exclusively pumping!

PSI Support:

PSI Support:

Register for our free When Breastfeeding/Bodyfeeding Ends Before You Are Ready Support Group: This free and virtual group is for anyone who stopped breastfeeding or bodyfeeding earlier than intended. It is also for those with severe breastfeeding difficulties that resulted in unmet breastfeeding or bodyfeeding expectations. Participants can be from three weeks postpartum up to one year. 

PSI has a Specialized Coordinator available to offer support and understanding around the mental health challenges of breast- and body-feeding. Connect with this Specialized Coordinator

Postpartum mood disorders, such as depression, anxiety, and psychosis, affect parents across all races, cultures, and religious groups. For Christian parents navigating the challenges of postpartum mental health, connecting with someone who understands the unique intersection of faith, family, and emotional well-being can be deeply comforting.

Resources:

  • Living Beyond Postpartum Depression: Help and Hope for the Hurting Mom and Those Around Her by Jerusha Clark
  • When Postpartum Packs a Punch: Fighting Back and Finding Joy by Kristina Cowan
  • Risen Motherhood Pregnancy & Postpartum Podcast

PSI Support:

Our Christian Faith Specialized Coordinator provides compassionate, faith-centered support tailored to moms and families who wish to incorporate their Christian beliefs into their mental health journey. Connect with this Specialized Coordinator >

The challenges of parenthood are amplified when a birthing individual is living with (postpartum) chronic illness.

Resources:

As many as 1 in 4 newborns experience severe fussiness and are unable to calm themselves or develop age-appropriate sleep patterns. Sleep deprivation is a real concern for parents of newborns, and extended sleep deprivation increases the likelihood of perinatal mood disorders. Some extremely fussy babies might be diagnosed with “colic” by their pediatrician, but regardless of having a formal diagnosis or not, there is support available. 

Resources:

  • Fussy Baby Network is an excellent source of information and support for parents who have a baby with colic.
  • Period of Purple Crying – aims to support parents and caregivers in their understanding of early increased infant crying

PSI Support:

Perinatal Mood and Anxiety Disorders are not only experienced by moms, and PSI has gathered specialized support resources for Dads. The Specialized Coordinator for Dads provides nonclinical support and understanding for fathers who are they themselves struggling. Please visit our Help For Dads page for more information about these helpful resources, as well as:

  • a weekly support group,
  • a closed Facebook page, and
  • monthly informational Chat with an Expert call.

PSI Support:

Register for our free Dads Support Group: Led by trained peer facilitators, our online groups are a space for dads—from pregnancy through the toddler years—to connect and support one another. Whether you’re expecting a new baby, adjusting to life with a newborn, chasing after a toddler, or figuring out how to best support your partner, you are welcome here.

PSI has a Specialized Coordinator available to offer support and understanding around the mental health challenges of Dads and Fathers. Connect with the Specialized Coordinator for Dads

Parents who are Deaf/Hard of Hearing (DHH) often experience challenges with communication and access to adequate resources – including health care and social support. During the perinatal period, people who are DHH are at risk for increased rates of pregnancy complications. As a result, these parents may experience feelings of isolation. PSI is here to provide connection to resources and to others who are experiencing similar challenges.

For support resources and a video in ASL, please visit our Deaf/Hard of Hearing Perinatal Parents page.

PSI has a Specialized Coordinator for parents who are DHH, who understands the unique challenges and needs. She can provide support via text or email, but is not fluent in ASL. Connect with this Specialized Coordinator >

Disabled parents often experience stigma and have unique challenges and concerns. PSI recognizes that disabled parents have different needs and deserve tailored support and community. Perinatal mood disorders can manifest in different ways and have different triggers for disabled parents.

Resources:

Eating disorders are often something that folks don’t talk about or even know they’re struggling with. Body image affects everyone at some point or another but is likely to become even more prevalent in the perinatal time period and beyond. It’s important to help parents who may have a poor relationship with food, struggle with their body, or just genuinely need a little more guidance on what might be going on with their mental health before and after pregnancy. It’s important to feel as though you’re not alone in this journey and to be affirmed that these struggles can and will be helped.

Resources:

  • ANAD – the leading nonprofit in the U.S. that provides free, peer support services to anyone struggling with an eating disorder, regardless of age, race, gender identity, sexual orientation, or background.

Podcasts:

  • Food Psych (Christy Harrison)
  • Maintenance Phase
  • Body Love (Jessi Hagerty)

Books:

  • The body is Not an Apology by Sonja Renee Taylor
  • Embody by Connie Sobcazk
  • The Recovery Mama Guide to Your Eating Disorder Recovery in Pregnancy and Postpartum by Linda Shanti McCabe

PSI Support:

PSI Support:

Register for our free Eating Disorder Support Group: This virtual peer-led support group is designed for moms and birthing people in the perinatal period (from pregnancy up to 4 years after birth) who are currently experiencing or have experienced eating disorders. No formal diagnosis is required to join.

PSI’s Specialized Coordinator for Eating Disorders and understands the challenges of disordered eating during and after pregnancy, and how body image can be impacted by pregnancy and postpartum. Connect with this Specialized Coordinator >

When a parent decides to feed their baby breastmilk through exclusive pumping, it can be a rewarding experience. It also presents challenges that may impact one’s mental health. Isolation, frustration, exhaustion and even feeling trapped are just a few commonly experienced feelings by parents that exclusively pump milk. Pumping requires significant effort and dedication. Here are some resources that may be helpful through this journey.

Resources:

  • Exclusively Pumping – content provided by a Certified Lactation Counselor and a former exclusive pumper with a goal to help you breastfeed your baby via a breast pump when nursing isn’t possible or desired, and to provide a judgement-free, positive space. This resource has a helpful video here.
  • La Leche League International – LLL’s page on Pumping milk, includes links to laws in the US and the UK regarding federal protections to pump.
  • Save the Milk – provides guidance on starting the process of exclusively pumping, as well as a Facebook Group link to connect with others on a similar journey.
  • Exclusive Pumping 101 Everything You Need To Know About Exclusive Pumping (EP) – An extensive article about Exclusively pumping.

PSI Support:

PSI has a Specialized Coordinator available to offer support and understanding around the mental health challenges of exclusively pumping. Connect with this Specialized Coordinator >

A diagnosis of infertility is often considered a medical and emotional crisis and is often coupled with the experience of grief and/ or loss. As a result, individuals navigating infertility are at an increased risk of experiencing a perinatal mood or anxiety disorder. These symptoms can also accompany a pregnancy or even the care of a newborn after infertility has been resolved. Having support to navigate this unique period can be extremely helpful.  

Resources:

PSI Support:

No two journeys to parenthood are the same and for this reason, PSI has Specialized Coordinators who have personal knowledge and understanding of these circumstances.

Connect with this Specialized Coordinator

PSI has a free and virtual group that helps women and birthing people (gestational carriers) find support as they navigate the pain of fertility challenges:

Learn about the PSI Fertility Challenges Support Group

Pregnancy and childbirth are often expected to be exciting and hopeful times. However, when a baby is diagnosed with a congenital condition before birth, it can bring about feelings of fear and uncertainty about what lies ahead. To support parents through this journey, it’s helpful to understand what a fetal diagnosis means for your family and to find compassionate care that truly understands and supports your unique needs.

Resources:

PSI Support:

PSI has a free virtual group that helps women and birthing people (gestational carriers) find support as they navigate the pain of receiving a fetal diagnosis during pregnancy:

Perinatal Mood and Anxiety Disorders are experienced by more than just biological birthing parents. Intended Parents (IPs) and gestational surrogates can also experience challenges with mood and anxiety. Often, the experience of surrogacy is accompanied by infertility, grief, and/or loss.

Resources:

For The Intended Parent

For The Gestational Carrier (not biologically related to baby)

For The Traditional Surrogate (biologically related to baby)

For Young Children

PSI Support:

Connect with PSI’s Specialized Coordinator for Surrogacy, who provides understanding and support for both IPs, as well as, traditional and gestational surrogates.

Some grandparents will experience a recurrence of a Perinatal Mood and Anxiety Disorder after the birth of her or his grandchild.

Resources:

More Than Grand – full of honest advice and valuable ideas for strengthening the bonds with your grandchildren—and with their parents.

PSI Support:

Connect with PSI’s Specialized Coordinator for Grandparents for understanding and support for grandparents who find themselves struggling.

Postpartum mood disorders are experienced across all races, cultures and religious groups. Hindu Parents who are coping with a postpartum mood disorder (such as depression, anxiety, psychosis, etc.) and would like to connect with someone with knowledge and personal experience can feel free to connect with our Specialized Coordinator for Hindu Parents.

Pregnancy can come with rather unpleasant symptoms. Hyperemesis Gravidarum (HG) is a pregnancy complication that is characterized by severe nausea, vomiting, weight loss, and possibly dehydration. This is not simply “bad morning sickness”, but it is all too often minimized or left undiagnosed. Because this is not a common symptom, it can feel isolating and frightening.

Resources:

  • The HER Foundation – provides information and support to minimize suffering, long-term health complications, and pregnancy loss.
  • Pregnancy Sickness Support – based in the UK, this organization is dedicated to offering support and evidence-based information to those affected by pregnancy sickness and hyperemesis gravidarum (HG).
  • Hyperemesis Gravidarum (HG) FB group – a support group for Hyperemesis Gravidarum, open for members who are male or female, victim, survivor, sufferer, veteran, friend, or caregiver.

PSI Support:

Talking to someone who has been been there can be very helpful, and our Specialized Coordinators are here for that exact purpose. Connect with our HG Specialized Coordinators.

Postpartum mood disorders are experienced across all races, cultures and religious groups.

Resources:

  • Center for Native Child and Family Resilience – innovative cultural- and practice-based prevention and intervention efforts that are improving the lives of Tribal families and children within Indian Country.
  • Strong Hearts Native Helpline – confidential and anonymous domestic and sexual violence helpline for Native Americans and Alaska Natives, offering culturally-appropriate support and advocacy.

PSI Support:

Indigenous Parents who are coping with a postpartum mood disorder (such as depression, anxiety, psychosis, etc.) and would like to connect with someone with knowledge and personal experience can reach out to our Specialized Coordinator for Indigenous Parents.

Perinatal mood disorders affect people of all ethnicities, cultures, and religions. PSI has cultivated resources rooted in Jewish values and traditions to support Jewish families’ physical, emotional, and spiritual well-being. We have gathered resources tailored to every major movement within Judaism, from Reform to Orthodox.

The term “parents” means so much more than a mom and a dad pair. Just as the LGBTQIA+ acronym suggests, there is a wide range of sexual orientations and gender identities that comprise parents who may be struggling with mental health during pregnancy and postpartum. Queer families are at higher risk for perinatal mood struggles for a variety of reasons including: discrimination, stigma, possible issues with their family of origin, conception or adoption complications, denial of parental rights and more.

Please visit our Support for Queer Parents page for more information, support groups and other resources.

A maternal near miss is an event where a woman nearly dies due to pregnancy or childbirth related complications. The events are often unexpected and may leave the survivor feeling isolated and alone.

Resources:

PSI Support:

PSI has two volunteer Specialized Coordinators for Maternal Near Miss Survivors and we invite you to reach out for the understanding and support they can offer. Connect with a Maternal Near Miss Survivors Coordinator.

PSI has Support Coordinators to support military families of most branches and a specialized online support group for Military Moms. Please visit our Support Military Families page for more information.

Navigating motherhood without the support of your own mother can be uniquely challenging. Whether you’ve lost your mother or are estranged, you may feel isolated as you face this life-changing journey. You’re not alone—compassionate, community-driven support is available to guide you through this time.

Resources:

  • Motherless Daughters by Hope Edelman
  • Motherless Mothers by Hope Edelman.
  • Mothering From Your Center by Tami Lynn Kent
  • Ina May’s Guide to Childbirth
  • Birthing from Within: An Extraordinary Guide to Childbirth Preparation by Pam England and Rob Horowitz
  • The Fourth Trimester by Kimberly Ann Johnson
  • The Birth Hour Podcast is a great resource to hear firsthand birth stories when we can’t call our mother to ask questions

PSI Support:

Our specialized coordinators offer understanding, connection, and tools to help you find strength and healing while building your own support network. Connect with our Motherless Mothers Specialized Coordinator

Postpartum mood disorders are experienced across all races, cultures and religious groups. Muslim Parents who are coping with a postpartum mood disorder and would like to connect with someone with knowledge and understanding of their background can feel free to connect with this Specialized Coordinator.

The experience of having a baby in the NICU can be frightening, isolating and overwhelming. Here are a few resources that parents with a baby in the NICU, or who have already returned home, may find helpful.

Resources:

  • Graham’s Foundation – National parent support organization for parents of micro-preemies.
  • Hand to Hold – has some really great podcasts and support group offerings for NICU.
  • NICU Helping Hands – Support, peer mentors, and information.
  • NICU Parent Network – National organization of NICU peer support organizations.
  • the NICU Dad – support specifically for dads who have a baby in the NICU.
  • Peek a Boo ICU – Empowerment and education for families, celebration of the baby, their growth and development, and parenting in the neonatal intensive care.

PSI Support:

Led by trained PSI facilitators, our online NICU group is intended for parents of babies who are currently or formerly in the NICU. Connecting with others who have experienced the uniquely stressful environment of a NICU will provide parents with understanding, as well as helpful tools and resources. Whether your baby is currently in the NICU or you have finally returned home, our NICU parents support group is here for you. Register for our free NICU Parents Support Group

Parents who have a baby in the NICU or are now home after a NICU stay are invited to reach out to our Specialized Coordinator for NICU parents.

Neurodivergent parents often experience stigma and have unique challenges and concerns. PSI recognizes that neurodivergent parents have different needs and deserve tailored support and community. Perinatal mood disorders can manifest in different ways and have different triggers for neurodivergent parents.

Resources:

PSI Support:

PSI is committed to promoting social justice for neurodivergent families.

PSI has a free online support group: ADHD Support for Pregnant and Postpartum Moms and Birthing People.

Obsessive Compulsive Disorder (OCD) is a challenging and creative disorder. Symptoms such as intrusive thoughts, contamination, checking, and record keeping can occur during perinatal OCD. It is said that about 8-13% of birthing people may have perinatal OCD & we’d like to give you tips & tricks to help cope with your perinatal OCD.

Resources:

PSI Support:

Connect with a Specialized Coordinator who understands, is ready to listen and help you through this process by finding resources and providing knowing support.

PSI has a free and virtual Perinatal (pregnant and postpartum) OCD Support Groups:

From the moment you find out you’re expecting multiples to the day you are juggling newborns in your hands, being a parent of multiples is a unique and overwhelming experience. Stress, worries, and guilt can be amplified when you’re caring for more than one baby, which may increase the risk of a Perinatal Mood and Anxiety Disorder.

Resources:

  • Multiples of America – dedicated to supporting families of multiple birth children through support, education, and research.
  • Raising Multiples – the leading national nonprofit provider of support, education and research on higher-order multiple births. Seeks to advocate for quality prenatal care, promote healthy deliveries, and supply information to all multiple birth families in order to support successful parenting through every phase of their children’s development.

PSI Support:

Connect with PSI’s Specialized Coordinators for Parents of Multiples, who understand the challenges faced by parents with multiples and offer knowing support and understanding.

PSI has a free and virtual support group for Pregnant and Postpartum Parents of Multiples.

The physical recovery from childbirth can be much more difficult than we expected. Birth injuries such as 3rd or 4th degree tears can increase the risk of Perinatal Mood and Anxiety Disorders, and are often suffered in silence due to the embarrassing complications such as fecal incontinence and fistulas. You aren’t alone!

Resources:

PSI Support:

PSI’s Specialized Coordinator for Perineal Tears has been there, and understands how difficult this experience and the healing process can be! Connect with the Perineal Tears Specialized Coordinator

PSI has Specialized Coordinators to provide support and assistance to women and families of women who are experiencing Postpartum Psychosis but who do not need emergency support. PSI also offers two support groups related to Perinatal/Postpartum Psychosis: Pregnancy and Postpartum Psychosis Support for Survivors (Moms and Birthing People) and Support for Families Touched by Perinatal Psychosis.

For more information on Perinatal/Postpartum Psychosis, connecting to a Specialized Coordinator for Postpartum Psychosis and the two free virtual support groups, please visit our Postpartum Psychosis Help page.

Postpartum strokes place new mothers and their families in a uniquely challenging situation. Often, moms suddenly shift from the role of caregiver to that of care recipient—an unexpected and often disorienting transition that can be further complicated by changes in physical and cognitive abilities. While traditional rehabilitation plans may focus on physical recovery, it is equally important to address the emotional impact of this experience.

Resources:

Post Stroke YouTube channel provides helpful information about general stroke recovery.

h

Pregnancy/Postpartum & DVT/PE/Stroke Facebook Group, which is independently created and managed, provides opportunity to connect with women who have faced similar circumstances. 

PSI Support:

PSI has Specialized Coordinators for Postpartum Stroke just for you; ready to listen and provide one-to-one listening support.

Connect with this Specialized Coordinator

Occurring in both pregnant and postpartum women, preeclampsia is a complication of pregnancy that is characterized by high blood pressure. There are also other maternal health complications of pregnancy and delivery that can be more long-term and leave parents with unresolved feelings of anxiety or sadness.

Resources:

Helpful Medical Information:

Emotional Support:

PSI Support:

Connect with the PSI Preeclampsia Specialized Coordinator for nonjudgmental support, as well as assistance in getting you connected to further resources like mental health therapy and peer groups.

PSI has a team of compassionate Specialized Coordinators for Pregnancy and Infant Loss who have offered to provide support for individuals and families who lost a pregnancy or baby.

PSI has several free, online support group for Loss and Grief:
Pregnancy and Infant Loss Resources (Early Loss for parents)
Pregnancy and Infant Loss Resources (For Moms)
Pregnancy and Infant Loss Resources (For Parents)
Pregnancy and Infant Loss Resources (For Black Moms)
Pregnancy and Infant Loss Resources (Pregnancy After Loss)
Pregnancy and Infant Loss Resources (Parenting After Loss)

Learn more about connecting with one of our Specialized Coordinators for Pregnancy and Infant Loss, and how to register for one of our free virtual support groups on our Loss & Grief in Pregnancy and Postpartum Page

Many parents face the difficult choice to end a pregnancy due a devastating maternal and fetal diagnosis.

Resources:

  • Exhale offers a free, national textline that provides emotional support, resources and information. All texts are completely confidential and counselors offer support and respect without judgment. The Exhale textline is available to individuals who have had abortions, and to their partners, friends, allies, and family members.
  • Ending a Wanted Pregnancy provides abortion grief support after pregnancy termination for medical reasons, whether your decision was based on a poor prenatal diagnosis or maternal health problems.

PSI Support:

PSI has a Specialized Coordinator for TFMR who provides non-judgmental support to parents and families who experienced termination for medical reasons. Connect with our TFMR Specialized Coordinator

PSI has a free, online support group that helps bereaved mothers find support as well as provides useful information and resources to help them navigate the pain of their loss. Learn about the PSI TFMR Support Group

PSI has a group that provides non-judgmental support to parents who experienced termination for medical reasons and are now trying to conceive, pregnant again, or parent living children after a TFMR. Learn about the PSI Pregnancy, Parenting & Trying to Conceive After TFMR Support Group

History of trauma or a traumatic childbirth can result in or contribute to Perinatal Post Traumatic Stress Disorder (P-PTSD). Parents may have feelings of fear, detachment, panic, anxiety and experience nightmares, poor sleep, and flashbacks.

Resources:

PSI Support:

Connect with a PSI Specialized Coordinator for PTSD and Birth Trauma, ready to listen and help you through this process by finding resources and providing one-to-one listening support.

PSI also offers two free, online support groups for PTSD and Birth Trauma:

Pregnancy and the postpartum period can bring about challenges to relationships in unexpected ways. For some couples, roles and chores are renegotiated and expectations of each other adjusted. But the shift required can also lead to more serious conflict and require more urgent intervention.

Resources:

  • Domestic violence (also referred to as intimate partner violence (IPV), dating abuse, or relationship abuse) is a pattern of behaviors used by one partner to maintain power and control over another partner in an intimate relationship. If you feel unsafe in your relationship, please call visit the National Domestic Violence Hotline website, call them at 800.799.SAFE (72 33) or text “START” to 88788.

A few resources that might be helpful to couples who are experiencing conflict in their relationship:

Suggested books related to the struggle some relationships experience during pregnancy and postpartum:

Motherhood can bring up complex emotions and memories for survivors of sexual assault. You may face unique challenges as you navigate pregnancy, childbirth, and parenting. We will work to help you find a safe space to process your experiences, connect with others who understand, and access trauma-informed support. You deserve empathetic care as you process, heal and transform in your journey as a mother.

Resources:

  • Meditation Audio: Jon Hopkins with Ram Dass, East Forest – “Sit Around The Fire”
  • A skilled therapist can be instrumental in your healing journey and we encourage you to consider a provider who is an expert in trauma and particularly sexual assault. They will be familiar with a range of evidence-based approaches that can be useful such as trauma-focused cognitive behavioral therapy (TF-CBT) or EMDR.
  • Yoga can be an excellent avenue to release the stress that comes from trauma and gently heal your body and mind. Yin Yoga, where you hold poses for longer periods of time, could be a great place to start.
  • No Bad Parts: Healing Trauma and Restoring Wholeness with the Internal Family Systems Model by Richard Schwartz
  • The Gifts of Imperfection by Brené Brown
  • Complex PTSD: From Surviving to Thriving
  • When Survivors Give Birth: Understanding and Healing the Effects of Early Sexual Abuse on Childbearing Women by Penny Simkin and Phyllis Klaus.
  • Cactus in Bloom – works to shape a culture that has the tools to actively disrupt the intergenerational cycle of childhood sexual abuse AND fills the gap in care for survivors of childhood sexual abuse and sexual violence who are family planning, perinatal, and parenting.

PSI Support:

Connect with our Specialized Coordinator

A single parent by choice is an individual who makes the conscious decision to become a parent independently, without a partner. This decision typically involves engagement with reproductive medicine and can add to the typical stressors involved in conception and parenting. Some who choose to pursue parenthood on their own may face stigma and unexpected pressure from those around them.

Resources:

  • www.singlemothersbychoice.org provides a space to share experiences, wisdom, and resources about single motherhood by choice, including Forum topics like Thinking, Planning and Preparing to Become an SMC, Donor Insemination, Dating, Parenting (from infants to kids in college, and beyond!).

Many individuals are parenting solo by choice or circumstance. In addition, some parents choose to start this journey later in life with or without support from family/friends. Regardless, it can make navigating mental health challenges during pregnancy and the postpartum period feel especially isolating.

PSI Support:

Our Specialized Coordinator for Single Parents identifies with and recognizes the various challenges represented in this journey. She is available to listen, educate and identify local resources that help other single parents create stronger support systems during their healing. Every journey is different; you are not alone. Connect with our Specialized Coordinator for Single Parents

PSI’s Free Single Parents Support Group is here for Single parents, recognizing that this role is challenging, especially during pregnancy and postpartum (perinatal period). Led by trained peer facilitators, this group is for perinatal single parents who are widowed, divorced, or never married or partnered with their co-parent, but they are caring for a baby (up to two years old) without a partner in their home. We know that single parents face unique challenges and obstacles that put them at a higher risk for experiencing depression, anxiety, and feelings of overwhelm during pregnancy and postpartum, so this group is a space dedicated to discussing those specific challenges and finding support from those in similar situations. Having feelings of chronic low energy, anxiety, or sadness as a single parent may feel like the norm, but there are options for support. You are not alone, and we are here to help.

Our Specialized Coordinator for Single Parents identifies with and recognizes the various challenges represented in this journey. She is available to listen, educate and identify local resources that help other single parents create stronger support systems during their healing. Every journey is different; you are not alone. Connect with our Specialized Coordinator for Single Parents

Postpartum mood disorders are experienced across all races, cultures and religious groups.

PSI Support:

PSI offers a free support group for anyone pregnant or postpartum (up to two years) and identifies as Asian, South Asian, Pacific Islander, or Asian American. There is no definition or level of being “Asian enough.” Pregnant and postpartum moms with a biological connection to East Asia, South Asia, Southeast Asia, or the Pacific Islands are welcome. This is a space for Asian and Pacific Islander mothers to connect, discuss their experiences, and learn helpful tools and resources. Whether you are going through stress, adjustment to parenting, baby blues, pregnancy, or postpartum depression/anxiety, our groups are here for you. This group is facilitated in English. You are not alone, and we are here to help. We do not allow group observation by students or professionals. Register for our free Asian, Pacific Islander and Desi Moms Support Group.

South Asian Parents who are coping with a postpartum mood disorder (such as depression, anxiety, psychosis, etc.) and would like to connect with someone with knowledge and personal experience can feel free to connect with our Specialized Coordinator for South Asian Parents.

Parenting is challenging and many folks use alcohol or other drugs to help them cope with those challenges. We provide non-judgmental support and resources for all parents looking to make changes to their relationship with alcohol or drugs. Whether you are still actively using or are many years into recovery, we can help.

Resources:

Are you and your family wanting more general information about SUD during the perinatal period?

Are you searching for other support or treatment?

Are you looking for educational resources for pregnancy?

PSI Support:

Connect with a PSI Specialized Coordinator who understands, is ready to listen and help you through this process by finding resources and providing knowing support.

Join PSI-trained peer facilitators for a recovery-focused virtual gathering. This peer support group is for those from pregnancy to two years. Learn more and register for Substance Use Recovery Support Group.

Having a baby as a teenager or younger adult can be stressful, lonely and overwhelming.

“There are a lot of negative messages out there about teen parents, undermining their ability to parent effectively and pursue their academic and career goals. When young people receive and internalize these messages, they may become discouraged from seeking their dreams and opportunities.” –the MOASH Expecting and Parenting Youth Inclusivity Toolkit

Resources:

PSI Support:

Connect with our Teen Parent Specialized Coordinators who work with teen moms and can provide understanding and support, as well as helpful resources.

Many parents have clear expectations for how their birth will happen, but the experience does not always go as planned. Did you (or your partner) have an unplanned Caesarean Section? This type of birth, in particular, can cause a wide range of complex emotions—before, during and after, and even if everyone is safe. Many parents have shared feeling like their body “failed”, and that after the birth they were left feeling powerless, afraid, guilty and disappointed in both the healthcare system and their body. Some report experiencing symptoms such as: depression, anxiety, nightmares, difficulty going to or staying asleep, social isolation or withdrawing from pleasurable activities, and intrusive thoughts of the event.

It is important to know that you are not alone in these feelings, and there is help!

Resources:

PSI Support:

Connect with a PSI Specialized Coordinator who understands, is ready to listen and help you through this process by finding resources and providing knowing support.

Have a link you think should be included above, or interested in joining the team of Specialized Coordinator Volunteers? 

We welcome you to email Melissa Bentley or to complete this application if you are interested in offering your specialized knowledge and expertise as a PSI volunteer. 

Postpartum Support International
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