PPD affects approximately 10- 20% of women in the first year postpartum. Many women may suspect they have PPD but be reluctant to seek help because they feel ashamed or guilty. This can make the mom feel isolated and more depressed and she may even try to hide her feelings from those who can help her most. Though a personal or family history of depression is a risk factor, even women who have no history of depression can develop PPD. It can develop gradually and the mother may have both “good” and” bad” days. Some signs of PPD include:

Insomnia or sleep disturbances

Sadness, depression, feeling hopeless

Change in eating habits
Excessive/uncontrollable crying or irritability
Feelings of not being a good mother, feelings of guilt or inadequacy

Fatigue or exhaustion

Difficulty concentrating or memory loss, confusion

Excessive concern for baby’s well being

Lack of interest in your baby

Fear of “losing control”

Lack of interest in your partner/sex

Fear of harming the baby or yourself

This list is meant to help you to find information, support, and resources, and to help you locate someone who specializes in treating women with PPD. It is not an all- inclusive list but is growing with time! PPD is not your fault and is treatable with good medical and psychiatric care and support. Don’t be afraid to seek help! It is the best thing you can do for you and your baby.

General Resources in New England - Please alert us if you know of any changes / additions:

Parents Anonymous 800-882-1250

Parental Stress Line 800-632-8188

United Way’s Parent Line 617-421-1789

24 hour computerized service to find answers to parenting questions

calls returned within 24 hours

Support Groups in Massachusetts and Surrounding Area

(list from http://www.postpartumma.org/specialists.html)

Online

Online PPD Support group: www.ppdsupportpage.com

For Fathers: www.postpartumdads.org

Towns organized alphabetically

Amherst

MotherWoman Group: Getting Real About Motherhood

Wednesdays 10:00am-11:30am

Amherst Family Center, basement of the Unitarian Church

Annette Cycon at (413) 253-8990 or annette@motherwoman.org.

MOCAI's Mothers of Color Awareness Initiative

Women's Circle

Tuesdays 7:30-9:00pm MotherWoman Office, Amherst

Free, weekly drop-in circle for all women of color

96 N Pleasant Street

413.253.8990

www.motherwoman.org

Grandparent Support

Tuesdays 9:00–12

a program of the UMass Office of Family Resources

The Amherst Family Center

Unitarian Meeting House

121 North Pleasant Street

Beverly

Infant Loss Support Group at Beverly Hospital. Kauders Conference Room

85 Herrick Street Beverly, Massachusetts. Contact: 978 236-1650. Days/Date: Fourth Tuesday each month. Time: 7:00 - 9:00 p.m. Notes: There is no fee or pre-registration required.

Brookline

“Out of the Blue” Postpartum Depression Support Group. 1415 Beacon St.

Brookline, MA 02446. Contact: Liz Tyler, LICSW 617-566-2200 ext. 48; direct voice mail 617-566-7914 ext. 122.

Chicopee

Mothers Among Us Group

every other Friday 2:45-4:30pm

For mothers incarcerated at the Western MA Regional Women's Correctional Center (WCC) Administered by The Prison Birth Project

contact Marianne Bullock at theprisonbirthproject@gmail.com. MotherWoman trained facilitator.

Concord

“This isn’t What I Expected” Postpartum Depression Support Group. Childcare is provided during the group if needed. No fee, but please call to register.

Please contact Laura Gerson, LICSW, at (978) 287-0221 for further information and/or to register.

Greenfield

Franklin County Postpartum Support Group: This is Harder Than I Thought.

Fridays, 10-11:30am Community Action Family Center

90 Federal St.

Join mothers for a free, safe, confidential drop-in group for mothers of infants and babies up to one year old who are experiencing a challenging postpartum time.

Contact Pam Baldwin at 413-774-1000 x2015 or

Sandy Clark at 413-475-1566.

Grandparent Support Group

Thursdays from 10am to 12pm; weekly meetings beginning in October 2009 and continuing throughout the winter

Greenfield Family Center

90 Federal Street

contact Francia Wisnewski at the Greenfield Family Center

413-475-1553 or fwisnewski@communityaction.us.

Green River Doula Network

www.greenriverdoulas.org

A postpartum doula provides services and support in the home to help facilitate a warm and nurturing experience for the entire family.

Holyoke

MotherWoman Postpartum Support Group

Wednesdays 1pm

Midwifery Care of Holyoke

230 Maple Street

Contact Lisa Pack at (413) 534-2700

Join mothers for a free, safe, confidential bi-lingual drop-in support group for mothers of infants and babies up to one year old. Expectant mothers welcome. Runs year-round. Administered by the Birthing Center at Holyoke Medical Center

Hyannis

Hospice & Palliative Care of Cape Cod has an ongoing Postpartum Depression

Support Group for new mothers. Most insurance accepted. No one turned away.

Thursdays 10:30-11:30 a.m. in the Hyannis office.

Please call Aimee Rozum, LMHC ATR-BC at 508-957-0267.

Manchester, NH

Support groups held weekly (Tues 10:30am – 12pm) at Elliot Hospital Child Care Center Activity Room. 450 Massabesic St. Alison Palmer at (603) 663-3052 or palmer1@elliot-hs.org

Newton

Newton-Wellesley Hospital. 1st & 3rd Wednesday each month 7:15-9:00 p.m. Focuses on women dealing with depression, anxiety or psychosis after the birth of their child. Contact: 617- 524-2542 or 837-4242.

Northampton

MotherWoman Postpartum Group: This is Harder Than I Thought

Tuesdays 10:15am - 12:15pm

Community Action

56 Vernon St

(413) 253-8990

Join mothers for a free, safe, confidential drop-in group.For mothers of infants and babies up to one year old who are experiencing a challenging postpartum time. Expectant mothers welcome. Feel heard, valued, understood, nurtured and energized.Free childcare up to four years old. Runs year-round except during December, February, and April school vacation weeks. This

group follows the Northampton public school schedule and does not meet when the schools are closed or have delayed opening due to weather. Contact Annette Cycon at (413) 253-8990 or annette@motherwoman.org.

MotherWoman Group: Getting Real About Motherhood

Mondays 10:00am-11:30am, starting September 14th

Quaker Meeting House

43 Center Street, second floor

Annette Cycon at (413) 253-8990

MOCAI's Color Play

Every 3rd Saturday 10am-12pm

Forbes Library

Free, on going, drop-in for all families parenting children of color

mocaigroup@gmail.com

http://mocai.org/

Free Emotional Wellness Drop-In for Pregnant or Postpartum Women

Every Thursday 1pm

Cradle

3rd Floor of Thorne's Marketplace

www.cradlefamily.com

Beyond Birth

A weekly gathering for new parents and their babies.

Thursdays from 1–3pm

Childbirth Center

Cooley Dickinson Hospital

Contact Maria Curtin-McKenna at (413) 582-2736

Berkshire Children and Families Support Group

Childcare and limited transportation provided

Contact Gail Fries at (413) 584-5690

Empty Arms Support Group

For parents grieving infant and pregnancy loss

4th Wednesday of every month at 7pm

Conference Room D

Cooley Dickinson Hospital

Contact Carol McMurrich and Greg Reynolds at (413) 529-1610 carolmcmurrich@comcast.net

Norwell

Kristin Penza. 80 Washington St, Ste C-17, Norwell 02061. Contact: 781-264-8953

Pittsfield

MotherWoman Support Group: Every 2nd and 4th Friday of each month, 6:30PM-8:30PM Community Room @ 48 Elizabeth St

Plymouth

@ Jordan Hospital:

Parenting, Birth to Birthday, Every Tuesday, 9:30 to 11:30 a.m. 508-830-2929

Parenting Your Toddler, Every Monday, 9:30 to 11:30 a.m. 508-830-2929

Infant Massage,Tuesdays (four-week session offered every other month)12:30 to 2:00 p.m.

508-830-2929

Providence, RI

Women & Infants Day Hospital

Contact: Margaret Howard, PhD. 401-274-1122; www.womenandinfants.org

A day program for PPD that includes your baby.

Rockland

NRC Family Network

Rockland, MA 02370

Contact Rosemary Chretien, M.Ed. at 781-681-9736

Springfield

Baystate Postpartum Support Group

Wednesdays at 1:30pm

NICU, Conference Room B

2nd floor, Wesson Building

Baystate Hospital

413.794.2742

Fresh Start

Pregnant and new mothers concerned about their babies being affected by drug use or

alcohol use in the family.

Square One

947 Main Street

413.732.5183

Waltham

"This Isn't What I Expected" Postpartum Depression Support Group.

Wednesdays, 2-3:30pm, at JF&CS, 1430 Main Street, Waltham, MA 02451. Contact: Debbie

Whitehill at 781-647-JFCS (5327). Wednesdays, 2:30 - 4:00p.m.

http://www.jfcsboston.org/CERS

Weymouth

@ South Shore Hospital:

New Mom Group: Contact: 781-624-8602

More Than the Blues: Second and Fourth Wednesday 6:30 p.m.Weymouth Woods Medical Building: Contact: 781-624-3704

Worcester

Peripartum and Postpartum Depression Support Groups, UMass Medical. Contact Linda Rinaldi at 508-334-7445

Newborn Resources

Postpartum Depression Resources

Pregnancy Resources