Mental and Emotional Support
Breastfeeding Resources
Mental and Emotional Support
It is normal to feel excited, joyful, anxious, or overwhelmed as you adjust to a new baby. You may even feel all of these emotions in a short period of time. Hormonal changes, lack of sleep, and new responsibilities can make you feel like you’re on an emotional roller coaster.
If you are ever concerned about how you’re feeling, talk with someone now.
Signs and Take Action!
- Feel hopeless and total despair
- Feel out of touch with reality (you may see or hear things other people don’t)
- Feel that you may hurt yourself or your baby
- Have feelings of intense anxiety that hit with no warning
- Have little interest in things you used to enjoy
- Feel very anxious around the baby and your other children
Get help now!
- Get help. Contact your health care provider or visit a clinic.
- Call 9-1-1 for immediate help.
- Call Postpartum Support International at 1-800-944-4PPD (4773) to speak to a volunteer who can provide support and resources in your area.
- Contact the National Suicide Prevention Lifeline at 1-800-273-TALK (8255) for free and confidential emotional support—they talk about more than just suicide.
- Call Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration Treatment Locator at 1-800-662-HELP (4357) to find a health care provider in your area.
Resources For WIC Families
If you are here following a miscarriage, stillbirth, or infant death, please accept our deepest condolences. We understand this is an incredibly difficult time, and many free resources are available to support you. Besides grieving and honoring your baby’s memory, be aware of potential emotional challenges like “baby blues,” postpartum depression, or D-MER (Dysphoric Milk Ejection Reflex). Seek professional help if you experience persistent sadness or anxiety. WIC can provide you with support groups and counseling services during this profound loss.
Baby Blues
Baby blues typically resolve on their own within a week or two after giving birth and generally don’t require medical treatment. However, they are different from postpartum depression, which is more severe, lasts longer, and may require professional intervention.
Visit March of Dimes Blues After Pregnancy for more information.
Postpartum Depression
Postpartum depression (PPD) is a serious mental health condition that affects some people after childbirth or pregnancy loss. Unlike the “baby blues,” which are temporary and mild, PPD involves intense feelings of sadness, anxiety, and hopelessness that can interfere with daily life and bonding with your baby. Remember, you don’t have to face it alone.
Visit the following resources for more information:
- Postpartum Education for Parents
A 24-hour support line is available for one-to-one support, from basic infant care to the baby blues, and other perinatal topics. Phone: English line: 805-564-3888, Spanish line; 805-852-1595 - Postpartum Support International
An online postpartum depression support group. Warmline; weekdays only at 1-800-944-4773. - Postpartum Support Group
An online support group.
Dysphoric Milk Ejection Reflex (D-Mer)
D-MER is a condition affecting lactating women that is characterized by an abrupt dysphoria, or negative emotions, that occur just before milk release and continuing not more than a few minutes.
Dysphoria is defined as an unpleasant or uncomfortable mood, such as sadness, depressed mood, anxiety, irritability, or restlessness. Etymologically, it is the opposite of euphoria.
Visit Sadness When Breastfeeding-D-MER for more information.
Miscarriage
A miscarriage is the spontaneous loss of a pregnancy before the 20th week. It typically occurs due to chromosomal abnormalities or other factors that prevent the fetus from developing properly. Symptoms may include vaginal bleeding, cramping, and the passing of tissue. Miscarriage is common and can be emotionally challenging, but support and medical guidance are available to help manage the experience.
Visit March of Dimes-Miscarriage, Loss and Grief and March of Dimes-Dealing with Grief for more information.
Sudden Infant Death Syndrome (SIDS)
SIDS, also known as crib death, is the sudden and unexplained death of an otherwise healthy infant, typically occurring during sleep. The cause of SIDS is not well understood, but it is often associated with factors such as sleep position, sleep environment, and genetic vulnerabilities. SIDS is a tragic event that usually happens in infants under one year old, and it remains a leading cause of infant mortality.
Visit Safe To Sleep for more information
Grief and Loss
Grief is the emotional response to loss, including feelings like sadness and anger. Loss refers to the experience of having something valuable taken away, such as the death of a loved one or the end of a relationship. Together, grief and loss involve coping with these profound changes and their impact on life.
Visit Good Grief, Lactation After Loss, and Hope Mommies for more information.
Mental Health
Mental health refers to a person’s emotional, psychological, and social well-being. It affects how individuals think, feel, and handle stress, relationships, and decision-making. Good mental health.
Take a Mental Health Test.
Visit Mom’s Mental Health for more information.
