Resources
“The greatest mercy I have offered my own heart is to reach out and let another soul hold me. In that surrender, I discover the quiet doorway where the loneliness turns into the light.”
I have included some great resources below. I have found some of these after my first year postpartum and wish I had been aware of them before and after my child’s birth. I encourage you to use them if they seem like they might be helpful for you or someone you know who might be struggling! Mental health in the postpartum period is so important. Also included are loss resources that may be helpful to get through the journey of a loss. Message me separately if you have suggestions or additional info as I would like to keep “growing my list”. (coachingsupport@mommaslikeus.com).
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Description texGood Moms Have Scary Thoughts — Karen Kleiman
Illustrated, validating mental health reflections that normalize intrusive thoughts and anxiety.
This isn’t What I Expected: Overcoming Postpartum Depression – Karen Kleiman
A comprehensive guide for women with postpartum depression, offering expert strategies to identify symptoms, manage daily challenges and recover through self help techniques or professional support.
Ain’t That a Mother: Postpartum Palsy and Everything In Between— Adiba Nelson
A raw, funny, triumphant memoir about postpartum transition, disability, race, identity, and the messy truth of motherhood.
Black Maternal Health: Birthing at the Intersection — Edited by Dr. Kimani Paul Emile
Explores systemic inequities, lived experience, trauma, and resilience in Black motherhood.
Mom, Unfiltered — Leah Kim with adjunct: Mom: tell me your UNFILTERED life story: a Funny and Honest Guided Journal for Mom
A mental health centered book with inclusive perspectives for diverse maternal identities.
The First Forty Days — Heng Ou
A Chinese influenced postpartum healing model rooted in nourishment, ritual, rest, and community support.
Confinement: A Black Mother’s Healing Guide
Blends traditional postpartum ceremony, spiritual nourishment, grounding practices, and ancestral wisdom.
The Pregnancy and Postpartum Mood Workbook — Beth Creager Berger
Practical worksheets used widely in perinatal mental health groups for mothers of color.
Crying In The Bathroom: Essays by Erika L Sanchez
She discusses intrusive thoughts, postpartum-like emotional struggles, and cultural stigma around mental health.
A House Of My Own- Sandra Cisneros
Essays about womanhood, loneliness, body, and identity — often used in maternal mental health workshops.
Clap When You Land, The Poet X: Elizabeth Acevedo; stories/essays reg. Motherhood
Nurture: A Modern Guide to Pregnancy, Birth, Early Motherhood Erica Chidi (afro-latina)
Writings by Dr Nicole Aponte: postpartum literature
Writes about perinatal mental health, postpartum anxiety and depression, mothering through cultural expectations, healing inner child wounds after birth.
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Postpartum Support International
An amazing organization that offers classes, connection, resources for wom http://postpartum.net, PSI Help Line (English/ Spanish): 1-800-944-4773
Free hotline
Free consult for specialized psychiatric consultation with primary provider
PSI Text Line Spanish option: 971-293-7773
https://postpartum.net/get-help/family: PSI has dedicated support and education for partners, non-birthing parents, and families navigating perinatal mood disorders. They offer helplines, peer support, and connections to local resources.
Black Mamas Matter Alliance
Reading and community content. Blackmamasmatter.org
Mamás Con Poder?
is a Spanish-language, grassroots community and advocacy platform launched as part of the broader MomsRising/MamásConPoder.org movement. It’s designed to organize, empower, and support mothers (mamás), caregivers, and families, especially from Latinx and Spanish- speaking communities. www.mamasconpoder.org
Black Girls Mental Health Collective Foundation
work promoting mental health equity, funding therapy, offering training, and connecting people to culturally responsive care.
Latinx Parenting
Essays, trauma aware mothering content. https://latinxparenting.org/
Supporting Latina Mothers Project
www.supportinglatinamothers.com (resources for care, housing, immigration, mental health)
Latina Moms Connect
Asian American Perinatal Mental Health Network
Identity centered healing. asianhealthservices.org
Birth Center Equity
https://birthcenterequity.org: works to expand access to midwifery and birth center care for BIPOC and indigenous communities
Pacific Post Partum Support Society (PPPSS)
Offers Chinese ↔ English resources for postpartum mental health 604-255-7999, 1-855-255-7999 Postpartum.org
Asian Health Services (Oakland)
Provides perinatal care, social support, and multilingual services.510-735-3900. asianhealthservices.org
AAPI Mothers Support Group
Peer support space for Asian and Pacific Islander- spaceforkapwa.com
Postpartum Support Center (Northern California)
Offers maternal mental health resources and education.
National Maternal Mental Health Hotline
(1-833-TLC-MAMA, 1-833-852-6262 Spanish available)
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Sister Web San Francisco Community Doula Network
A community –doula network that centers and uplifts families – offering community doula care
Doulas By the Bay
Offer birth, postpartum doulas and newborn care specialists serving families in Bay Area before, during, and after birth; accept HSA/FSA and various payment methods
Bay Area Night Doulas Collective
Provides post-partum care including daytime care, overnight care, and 24-hour live-in support tailored to new families in the Bay.
East Bay Birth Collective
Invaluable resource. Run a postpartum circle in Oakland. Meetings are small, often low cost or donation based, making them more accessible. Good for building community, peer support and connection with other new parents in the East Bay – helpful for BIPOC and queer families too (they also offer a Queer Family Circle
Postpartum Support Center
postpartumsc.org or contact their support line at 415-320-6707. Free counseling and support groups for mothers and fathers
UCSF Perinatal Wellness Program
Obstetrician- Gynecologist:
Offers behavioral health services for pregnant and postpartum patients (mental health, emotional support, etc): helpful if you need clinical support with depression, anxiety, perinatal mood disorders or wrap-around care. Good for those looking for a medical/therapeutic route rather than or in addition to doula support.
Midnight Milk Club
A therapeutic group for breastfeeding and lactation support, offering a space for sharing stories and healing. Taneferlc.com
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Star Legacy Foundation
starlegacyfoundation.org -Free online support groups for individuals and families who have experienced: Early pregnancy loss, stillbirth, infant loss, pregnancy after loss, dads, grandparents, extended family groups. These groups are facilitated by trained professionals and are offered regularly throughout the month
Rachels Gift: Pregnancy Loss And Support Groups
Runs free support groups (virtual and in-person through partner hospitals) for families coping with miscarriage, stillbirth, and infant death. Groups are led by qualified counselors and social workers. www.rachelsgift.org
Share Pregnancy Infant Loss and Support.
Sisters in Loss
A community and podcast that centers Black women’s stories of pregnancy loss, infant loss, and infertility. It also offers peer connection and healing resources. SistersInLoss.Com
Black Moms In Loss Support Group
A weekly online group specifically for Black mothers grieving pregnancy or infant loss. A safe, understanding space to connect with others who get it. (Thru Postpartum Support International website).
Empty Arms Bereavement – BIPOC Pregnancy & Infant Loss Support Group
A free, inclusive monthly Zoom support group for people of color who have experienced pregnancy or infant loss https://www.emptyarmsbereavement.org/
Return to Zero
Offers a 6-week virtual support group for Black, Indigenous, and People of Color who have lost a baby through miscarriage, stillbirth, or infant death. https://rtzhope.org/
Maternal Mental Health Leadership Alliance (MMHLA)
Site include mental health resources geared toward Black and BIPOC women. mmhla.org
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Empty Arms: Coping with Miscarriage, Stillbirth and Early Infant Death
A compassionate guide widely recommended for grieving parents
At a Loss: Finding Your Way After Miscarriage, Stillbirth, or Infant Death (Donna Rothert)
Essays and reflections on navigating grief and meaning after loss
Unexpecting: Real Talk on Pregnancy Loss (Rachel Lewis)
Real-life reflections and support for people dealing with loss.
Empty Cradle, Broken Heart: Surviving the Death of Your Baby (Deborah L. Davis)
Classic grief memoir and support book.
The Baby Loss Guide (Zoë Clark-Coates)
Practical day-by-day support through grief.
Silent Grief: Miscarriage – Child Loss: Finding Your Way Through the Darkness (Clara Hinton)
Supportive insights and guidance.
An Exact Replica of a Figment of My Imagination (Elizabeth McCracken)
About What Was Lost: Twenty Writers on Miscarriage, Healing, and Hope
A collection of voices that speak to miscarriage and its emotional terrain. widely praised memoir about stillbirth, blending honesty and reflection.
Unspeakable Losses: Healing From Miscarriage, Abortion, and Other Pregnancy Loss
Explores grief across different kinds of pregnancy loss and mourning processes
Miscarriage Map: What to Expect When You Are No Longer Expecting- Sunita Osborne