Resources for Moms
This is our last week discussing maternal mental health, so we thought we would end with a list of supportive resources, services, and classes. This is by no means a comprehensive list, so we would love to hear from YOU about other resources we missed! Add your brilliant knowledge to our comment section below!
Prenatal Supports
Written materials:
Nurture: A Modern Guide to Pregnancy, Birth, Early Motherhood - and Trusting Yourself and Your Body by Erica Chidi Cohen
This author is both a doula and a certified mid-wife. Her supportive book provides non-judgemental knowledge about being pregnant, getting ready for birth, and what to do after the baby arrives. She has interactive scripts and provides exercises in mindfulness to prepare for the act of birth and mothering. Her guide is so informative and invites the reader to be gentle with herself during this new journey.
Ina May’s Guide to Childbirth by Ina May
Ina May is a very experienced midwife and approaches birth with a female-centered Midwifery Model of Care, which is inviting and energizing to the reader. She explains ageless practices and ideas that support a woman’s innate ability to experience unmedicated vaginal childbirth. The book is full of incredible birth stories that cultivates a sense of community in the reader. We love how she talks about the mind-body connection of childbirth and gives a pregnant mother “how to” guidance in subjects ranging from pain management to postpartum depression. I must read for an expectant mother.
HypnoBirthing, Fourth Edition: The natural approach to safer, easier, more comfortable birthing - The Mongan Method by Marie Mongan MEd MHy
This book came highly recommended to us by a friend who is a doula and a friend who just utilized this method in her birth recently. Both parents are offered an empowering method for childbirth that confronts fears, supports natural processes, and encourages present focused and nurturing practices. The book deconstructs the “traumatic” aspects of childbirth and combats the well-rehearsed fear we all have before embarking upon the journey that is giving birth.
Services
Other than the common check-ups we receive as new mothers (by our midwives or doctors), there has been a huge increase in the number of services offered to an expectant mother. These range from acupuncture, birth doula, prenatal massage, chiropractic adjustments, Centering (learn more about that here), and MORE. We’re going to share a few of our favorite practitioners and answer some questions about doula services.
Harmony’s Family Cooperative is a group practice of various acupuncturists, massage therapists, Doctor of Osteopath, pilates instructors, and nutritionists. They offer holistic care to a pre and postnatal mother. Their information can be found here.
Revive BodyWork is an incredible massage therapy practice that offers prenatal massage to expectant mothers. Katie Aller is the owner and massage therapist extraordinaire. Learn more about her style here.
Wellset Denver is also a holistic coop of acupuncturists, chiropractors, massage therapists, and physical therapists. They offer services to both pre and postnatal mothers. They have a great reputation in the community for offering relief and education about your body. Check them out here.
A Fresh Health Perspective also offers perinatal acupuncture to expectant mothers. Acupuncture can help with pain, stiffness, and can even help bring upon labor. Learn more about their practice here.
City Center Chiropractic is a trusted and effective practice that specializes in perinatal adjustments. Learn more about them here.
Doula
Do I need a doula? Well lets talk about what a birth doula can offer to your birth experience. A doula offers guidance and advocacy for an expectant mother. Hospitals have their way of supporting birth and their process may not fully align with a birthing woman’s values, philosophies, hopes, etc. A doula is not there to replace a midwife or a OBGYN, but they can educate a mother about what birth may be like, tools to try to relieve pain, a plan, a back-up plan, and another back-up plan. They get to know the parents and help them identify what they want from their childbirth experience. When things deviate from our birth plan, a doula can help slow down processes, so that the mother and father fully understand their options and make informed choices. Do you need a doula to have a positive birth experience? No. Could they aid in that process? Absolutely. Below are a few places to learn more about doulas and find someone that is a good fit for your journey.
Some hospitals have a doula connection program. Or your provider may have a list of doulas they love and trust.
The Mamahood offers amazing resources, classes, and services to expectant and new mothers. Click here to learn more about their doula services.
House of Doula is another incredible house of resources for everything birth and post-partum. Learn more about them here.
Classes
It can be very helpful to take birthing, early parenting, and breastfeeding classes while you’re still pregnant. This knowledge is helpful for both mom and dad (Daddy Bootcamp can be a nice introduction to fatherhood for expectant dads).
Some hospitals/birth centers offer (or require) unmedicated birthing, hypnobirthing, lactation, and baby safety classes. We took the classes at Rose Hospital and loved the instructors!
The Mamahood also offers wonderful prenatal yoga classes, breastfeeding classes, parenting classes, childbirth classes, and newborn care classes. Check out them out here.
Postpartum Supports
Everyone’s postpartum needs are different. There is so much that happens during birth and right after birth, and a mama needs support. Below are a few of our favorite postpartum resources, practitioners, and support groups
Written materials
There is SO MUCH INFORMATION OUT THERE about raising a healthy child. It can feel REALLY overwhelming. You can find guidance by picking a philosophy you like. You can start following people you resonate with on social media and let their recommendations guide you. You can decide to only listen to friends/family/practitioners you trust and love. We’re not going to offer a list of reading materials because the list would be only helpful to those who have the same philosophy, beliefs, and values as us. Regardless of what information helps you navigate this new chapter of life, be kind to yourself. Perfection is a construct. Being a mom is messy and beautiful.
Services
With relaxin still churning through the body, you are in a prime condition for comprehensive body work. Massage therapists, doctors of osteopath, chiropractors, acupuncturists may all become your best friends as you reacquaint yourself to the body you used to have pre-baby. Your baby could also benefit from these services to help heal a birth trauma, support a good feeding latch, or manage any colic symptoms.
Harmony Collective has a wide-range of supportive practitioners that can help your body heal from birth. Find more about them here.
The Mamahood has incredible support groups for first time moms. They also have lactation groups, one-on-one lactation support, Mommy and Baby yoga classes, sleep consultations, and more. Learn more about what their practice has to offer here.
Talk to your pediatrician about any concerns you may be having regarding the baby’s health. They also should be a resource for finding a lactation coach or consultant near you.
Postpartum Doula
A doula is also an incredible resource for support. Postpartum doulas can help with baby-wearing, food prep, cleaning the house, holding the baby while you shower, asking questions to normalize the postpartum experience, and get referrals for mental health practitioners or lactation consultants. To learn more about postpartum doulas, visit the House of Doula’s website here.
We also love what Bloom is offering our community! May Engelstad bakes for, educates, coaches, and supports new mamas. Learn more about her services here.
The hospital you delivered at may also have supportive resources to new moms: lactation support groups, parenting classes, baby safety, etc. I loved the Breastfeeding Support Group offered at Rose Hospital (and it was FREE).
Mental Health Services
Being a new mom can be taxing and overwhelming. It’s normal to have an adjustment in your mood after birth (as your hormones recalibrate). Feelings of anxiety, restlessness, sadness, irritability, or crying for no apparent reason. These experiences can happen several times throughout the day and last up to two weeks after birth. However, for some women these experiences worsen or don’t fade. If you are needing more support, it’s okay to get help. We are giving you permission. Your baby is giving you permission. Below are a couple of practices we love and specialize in working with postpartum women.
Authentic Mamas Project was created by Patrece Hairston Peetz. A mama herself, she is passionate about offering guidance to women working to find rhythm in their new role as a mother. You can find more about the work she does here.
Luna Counseling Center offers comprehensive reproductive mental wellness support to women. They also offer onsite support groups. Learn more about them here.
As we mentioned before, this is by no means a comprehensive list of people in our community. We’re passionate about offering help to expectant and new moms, so if you know of some good services, please list them below! We’d love to continue to grow our community and help each other in the process.