Navigating Postpartum Depression – Resources & Support for Moms
I could not have described the effects of postpartum depression until I had it myself. It’s incredibly difficult, but finding help shouldn’t be.
Like many moms, I had a very difficult fourth trimester. After we came home from the hospital and collapsed onto our couch, I remember sobbing uncontrollably. I hid from guests who came to visit the baby. I panicked internally if anyone other than my husband or my mom held our newborn. And I constantly wondered if we’d ruined our lives with this enormous change.
I knew the “baby blues” were a thing, but this felt like more than that. I was miserable.
My husband had to leave for a quick work trip exactly two weeks after my daughter was born. My mom came to stay with me, but I couldn’t stop crying and panicking. She held my hand as I made an appointment with my OB-GYN and drove me to my appointment the following morning. Then she took me to the pharmacy to get my new SSRI prescription.
I was lucky to have a very attentive mom and husband—but there are resources beyond your immediate family for moms who need help, too.
Baby Blues or Postpartum Depression?
The days and weeks after giving birth can bring a huge range of emotions. Your body is recovering, hormones are changing, sleep may come in tiny increments, and suddenly you’re responsible for a brand-new human being.
It’s a lot.
Many women experience what’s commonly called the “baby blues” shortly after giving birth. But postpartum depression, or PPD, can be more persistent and interfere with everyday life.
According to the U.S. Health Resources and Services Administration, symptoms of postpartum depression can include feeling sad or hopeless, losing interest in things you once enjoyed, having difficulty concentrating, struggling with everyday tasks, changes in sleeping or eating, and having difficulty caring for yourself. Postpartum anxiety can include persistent worry, nervousness, irritability, or feeling unable to relax.
You can learn more about maternal mental health through the National Maternal Mental Health Hotline.
Most importantly, postpartum depression and anxiety are treatable. Asking for help is not a sign that you’re failing at motherhood. It’s a way of taking care of yourself and your baby.
You Are Not Alone
I’ve found that the more I talked about postpartum depression with other moms, the more people shared their own stories of postpartum struggles with me.
What surprised me was how differently PPD manifested itself from one mom to another.
I was weepy and almost regretful. Another mom I spoke to considered getting in her car and driving and driving until she was far away from home. One said she finally understood the agreement she’d signed in the hospital about never shaking her baby.
Different women. Different thoughts and emotions. But underneath them was a shared experience: something wasn’t right, and they needed support.
Postpartum depression doesn’t always look like uncontrollable crying. A struggling mom may appear perfectly fine to everyone around her. She may post adorable baby photos, answer “We’re doing great!” when someone asks how things are going and still feel overwhelmed, anxious, angry, numb or frightened when she’s alone.
That’s one reason it’s so important to talk honestly about maternal mental health.
Start by Telling Someone
If you’re struggling, one of the most important first steps is simply telling someone.
That might be your OB-GYN, midwife, primary care provider, pediatrician, spouse, partner, parent or trusted friend.
You don’t need to know whether what you’re experiencing “counts” as postpartum depression before asking for help. You can simply say, “I don’t feel like myself,” or “I’m having a hard time and I think I need some help.”
Your health care provider can talk with you about your symptoms and help determine appropriate next steps. Treatment and support can look different for different women and may include counseling, support groups, medication or a combination of approaches.
And practical help matters, too. Sometimes support means having someone hold the baby while you shower. It might mean a friend bringing dinner, your mom doing a load of laundry or your partner taking an overnight feeding so you can get a few uninterrupted hours of sleep.
You do not have to do everything yourself to be a good mom.
Resources and Support for Moms in Stark County
If you’re a new or expectant mom in Stark County, Ohio, there are local organizations that can help connect you with resources for both you and your family.
Whether you’re looking for housing assistance, breastfeeding support, financial help, food assistance, health services, parenting support or help finding a safe place to stay, these organizations are good places to start:
Stark County Job & Family Services offers information about public assistance, child and family services and other programs for eligible Stark County families.
StarkHelpCentral.com connects Stark County residents with local resources for children, families and adults. You can search for help in areas including mental health, basic needs, parenting, health care, housing and more.
Stark County Family Council works to connect children and families with services and community resources throughout Stark County.
The Stark County Health Department also offers maternal and family health services. Its home-visiting programs can connect eligible pregnant women and families with trained professionals who can provide education, support and connections to community resources.
Learn more through the Stark County Health Department or call 330-493-9904 to ask about current maternal and child health programs and eligibility.
Pregnancy and Parenting Support Close to Home
Sometimes what a new mom needs most is simply a safe place to ask questions and receive practical support without feeling judged.
The Pregnancy & Parenting Center provides free support and resources for pregnant women and parents of young children in Stark County and surrounding communities. Whether you need parenting education, baby supplies or simply someone to talk with, you don’t have to navigate pregnancy and early parenthood alone.
Support during the postpartum period isn’t limited to mental health care. Reducing some of the everyday pressures surrounding a new baby—diapers, clothing, supplies, education and simply knowing there’s somewhere to turn—can make a meaningful difference for families.
If you’re struggling, reach out. There is no prize for making motherhood harder than it has to be.
When You Need Help Right Now
Sometimes postpartum depression or anxiety can become a crisis. If you’re having thoughts of harming yourself or your baby, feel that you or your baby may be in immediate danger, or are experiencing a mental health emergency, please seek help immediately.
The National Maternal Mental Health Hotline is available 24 hours a day, seven days a week for pregnant women and new moms. Call or text 1-833-TLC-MAMA (1-833-852-6262) to connect with trained counselors. The service is free and confidential.
You can also call or text 988 to reach the 988 Suicide & Crisis Lifeline for immediate crisis support.
If there is an immediate danger to you or your baby, call 911 or go to the nearest emergency department.
Give Yourself Grace
Looking back, I’m grateful my mom recognized that I wasn’t myself. I’m grateful she sat beside me while I made that phone call, drove me to the doctor and stayed with me while I took those first steps toward feeling better.
But not every new mom has someone nearby who recognizes what’s happening.
That’s why we need to keep talking about postpartum depression.
If you’re struggling after having a baby, please don’t compare your experience to someone else’s. You don’t need to wait until things become unbearable before asking for help. You don’t need to have every symptom on a checklist. And you certainly don’t need to pretend everything is wonderful simply because you love your baby.
You can adore your baby and still struggle with postpartum depression.
You can be grateful for your new family and still miss your old life.
You can be a wonderful mother and still need help.
Motherhood brings tremendous change, and the fourth trimester can be harder than many of us expect. Give yourself grace, accept help when it’s offered and reach out when you need more support.
You are not alone—and you don’t have to navigate this season alone.