Support for Perinatal Mood Disorder (PMAD) and Post-Partum Depression (PPD)
Perinatal Mood Disorder (PMAD) and Post Partum Depression (PPD)
Support Services in Fairfield County
The Center for Post Partum Support
Pamela Allon – Psychotherapist
250 Post Road East, Westport CT 06820
203-285-3661 www.centerforpostpartumsupport.com
Pam provides counseling to individuals, couples and groups on subjects pertaining to PPD, motherhood, parenting, mother-infant attachment and adjustment to life after baby.
The Perinatal Wellness Institute
765 Post Road, 2nd Floor, Fairfield CT 06824
(203) 921 6559
www.perinatalwellness.org
Specializing in individual, group and couples therapy for families suffering from infertility, pregnancy loss and perinatal mood disorders.
Postpartum Stress Support
Jackie Small, MA, CLC
49 John Street, Suite 102, Southport, CT 06890
203-677-0891
www.jackiesmallma.com
Jackie has training in working with perinatal mood disorders and is also a certified lactation consultant.
She offers group and individual therapy and support.
Balanced Being Life Coaching
Alisa Fulvio
1330 Post Road, Suite 4, Fairfield CT 06824
203-231-3359
www.abalancedbeing.com
Psychotherapy and life coaching services for women and mothers struggling with mood disorders.
Emily Guttman, LCSW, LLC
360 West Putnam Road, 2nd Floor, Greenwich, CT 06830
203-817-0797
www.emilyguttmanlcsw.com
Linda Antignani
Mother’s Embrace Yoga
www.meyoga.net
(203) 414-2607
194 Leavenworth Road, 2nd Floor, Shelton, CT
Yoga studio with peri and post partum classes, post partum support and breastfeeding support.
Online Support
There are some great perinatal mood disorder websites; here are a few that we have found to be most helpful.
Postpartum.net
www.postpartum.net
YOU ARE NOT ALONE. YOU ARE NOT TO BLAME. WITH HELP, YOU WILL GET BETTER.
Postpartum.net offers essential info about perinatal mood and anxiety disorders, including risk factors, symptoms and treatments. They can help you get connected with other local resources and they provide peer support for families as well, including support for fathers and phone-in groups.
PPMD Support
www.ppdsupportpage.com
The purpose of this website is to offer information, support and assistance to those dealing with postpartum mood disorders, their families and friends.
Facebook Support Groups
These are closed Facebook Groups. You must put in a request in order to join.
Postpartum Support International
Post Partum Depression Awareness
Postpartum Anxiety Mental Illness Support JUDGEMENT FREE ZONE
The Healing Womb Village (“For Mothers of Color”)
Books and Publications
Down Came the Rain by Brooke Shields
A Mood Journal by Derek Wood, RN, BSN
Beyond the Blues: A Guide to Understanding and Treating Prenatal and Postpartum Depression by Autumn Libal
More Than Baby Blues: Unmasking Postpartum Depression by Natasha Mauthner
Out of the Darkness: Postpartum Depression is Not Something We Can Fight Alone by Sheila MacDonald
Sleepless Days: One Woman’s Journey Through Postpartum Depression by Susan Kushner Resnick
Partial and Full Day Programs in New England
There are some local hospitals that have full day or partial day programs for women who are suffering from severe perinatal mood disorders and who need a higher level of support than outpatient therapy can provide.
Women and Infant’s Hospital, Center for Behavioral Health
2 Dudley Street, 1st Fl. Providence, RI 02905
401-453-7955
With a staff that includes board certified psychiatrists, psychologists, social workers and clinical nurse specialists, as well as spanish speaking practitoners, W&I has the expertise needed to diagnose, treat and manage a wide range of psychiatric conditions before, during and after a woman’s pregnancy. In addition, the hospital works in conjunction with a Ronald McDonald house where patients and family members can stay during treatment.
Hartford Hospital, Institute of Living
Peripartum Mood Disorders Day Program
200 Retreat Avenue, Hartford, CT 06106
860-545-7104
The Peripartum Mood Disorders Program is available for mothers, fathers and family members feeling that something is just not right during a pregnancy or after the birth of a baby.
Monmouth Medical Center and The Unterburg Children’s Hospital, Barnabas Health
The Perinatal Mood and Anxiety Disorder Program
300 Second Avenue
Long Branch, NJ 07740
732-923-5573
The Perinatal Mood & Anxiety Disorders Program addresses many different topics and helps women to understand that this is not your fault and you are not alone. We offer free group support as well as evidence-based psychotherapy. Patients are supported by a multidisciplinary team of experts from psychiatry, nursing and social work and all of our clinicians are certified by Postpartum Support International.
NorthShore LIJ, South Oaks Hospital
Full Day Perinatal Services
400 Sunrise Highway, Amityville, NY 11701
631-608-6667
www.South-oaks.com/perinatal
We are pleased to announce a specialized track within our Adult Partial Hospitalization program – specifically focused on helping women who are pregnant or postpartum who have perinatal mood and/or anxiety disorders.
Perinatal Mood Disorder (PMAD) and Post Partum Depression (PPD)
SIGNS AND SYMPTOMS
Many women experience something called Baby Blues, marked by a sense of sadness and exhaustion following the birth of a baby. Post Partum Depression and Anxiety are different.
Symptoms include:
• Feeling sad, empty or worthless
• Experiencing anxiety and intense worry
• Lack of interest in every day activities and lack of pleasure from things that would
otherwise have been enjoyable
• Inability to concentrate
• Trouble sleeping
• A need to be doing something at all times
• Worry, beyond what you might feel is “typical” worry
• Racing and unwanted thoughts
• A fear that you will never be able to manage as a parent
• Significant change in dietary habits – weight loss or gain beyond what would otherwise be expected
These symptoms can begin while pregnant or they can come as late as 12 months after a pregnancy has ended. They can last weeks or months. Untreated, they can cause severe impairment. You might experience just a few of these symptoms from time to time, or you may suffer from all of them and in very significant ways.
Post Partum Depression and Anxiety can be very overwhelming but there is help available.
YOU ARE NOT ALONE.
YOU ARE NOT TO BLAME.
WITH HELP, IT WILL GET BETTER.
