The postpartum period – that is, the months after baby arrives (also known as the fourth trimester) – is a time of tremendous joy, change, responsibility, and healing. Congratulations, you just brought a tiny human into the world! Yet many of us find ourselves completely caught off guard and overwhelmed by this momentous time in our lives.

It’s time that changes.

The care you receive after giving birth is just as important as your prenatal care. After all, how can you expect to take care of someone else if your own basic needs (sleep, healthy food, time for yourself) aren’t being met?

We all want happy and healthy moms, dads and babies, which is why we’ve compiled a list of the most valuable postpartum resources and medical professionals in the area. Below, you’ll find pelvic floor therapists, support groups, psychiatrists, lactation consultants and more. Whether you’re expecting now or have just recently given birth, keep these resources handy and remember, it takes a village and you deserve all the help you can get.

Doylestown Health Breastfeeding Support Group

Doylestown Health Ambulatory Center, Levy Conference Room,

593 W. State Street, Doylestown

(215) 345-2200

Breastfeeding may be natural, but that doesn’t mean it’s easy. Many moms find it challenging in the first few weeks while you and your baby are learning this new skill. That’s where the Doylestown Health’s Breastfeeding Support Group comes in. During this free support group (which meets every Wednesday from 10 to 11:30 am), you’ll work with board-certified lactation consultants (IBCLCs) eager to help you meet your breastfeeding goals! This is also a wonderful opportunity to meet other moms and babies, have your baby weighed and create your village.

Flourish Pelvic Health & Wellness

1035 Virginia Drive, Fort Washington

(267) 223-4366

Flourish Pelvic Health & Wellness is a women-owned and operated business that specializes in providing pelvic floor therapy services for women, pediatrics and the transgender community. All of their therapists are occupational therapists with extensive continuing education in pelvic health trained in both mental and physical health as it relates to function. Some of the most common conditions they treat in women include:

• Endometriosis
• Scar tissue adhesions (including abdominal & back)
• Polycystic Ovary Syndrome (PCOS)
• Pain with intercourse
• Chronic constipation & hemorrhoids
• “Small Bladder Syndrome”
• Chronic Constipation
• Fecal or Urinary Incontinence (yes, even “just a little” when you sneeze!)
• Round Ligament Pain
• Symphysis Pubis Dysfunction/Pelvic Girdle Pain
• Heaviness or pressure in the pelvic area
• Pelvic Organ Prolapse
• Scar management (perineum or cesarean)
• Diastasis Recti Abdominis (DRA, aka abdominal separation)
• Core dysfunction
• Chronic constipation & hemorrhoids
• Upper extremity pain & discomfort (i.e. Carpal Tunnel Syndrome, shoulder pain, “Mother’s Thumb”)

The Postpartum Stress Center

1062 E Lancaster Ave, Bryn Mawr

(610) 525-7527

The Postpartum Stress Center in Rosemont, is the premier treatment and professional training center for prenatal and postpartum depression and anxiety in Pennsylvania. They offer in person and tele-health general counseling services to men, women and couples in addition to their expertise in perinatal mood and anxiety disorders. 

The Center was established in 1988 to provide a better understanding and comprehensive clinical intervention for any woman who suffers from the range of prenatal and postpartum mood and anxiety disorders and has been doing so ever since. Their objective is to provide support and treatment for the pregnant or postpartum woman and her family as well as guidance for her treating physician or therapist. The SPostpartum Stress Center is committed to providing excellent clinical care and education to both their clients and professionals who seek their expertise.

Postpartum Support International

1-800-944-4773

Founded in 1987, Postpartum Support International (PSI) provides information, support and resources to moms, dads and caregivers seeking postpartum support. This international organization functions in more than 36 countries and advocates for further research and legislation to support perinatal mental health. Check out the many ways PSI can help you and your family:

• Call or Text the HelpLine: When you contact the HelpLine, you will be asked to leave a confidential message and a trained and caring volunteer will return your call or text. They will listen, answer questions, offer encouragement and connect you with local resources as needed.
• Find a Trained Provider: Visit the PSI online directory of qualified perinatal mental health professionals.  Moms, families, and providers can now quickly and easily identify trained perinatal mental health providers in their area.
• Connect with a Local PSI Volunteer near you: There are more than than 400 local volunteers who provide support, information, encouragement, and connection with local providers and support groups.
• Join an Online Support Group: Led by trained PSI facilitators, their online groups will connect you with other parents and provide helpful tools and resources. Whether you are going through stress, adjustment to parenting, Baby Blues, or pregnancy or postpartum depression/anxiety, these groups are here for you.
• Chat with an Expert: Join the weekly call and talk with a PSI expert about symptoms, resources, treatment options and more. There is no need to pre-register or give your name. These sessions are facilitated by licensed mental health professionals and open to anyone with questions and concerns.
• Join our Peer Mentor Program: Receive dedicated support from a parent who has been in your shoes. Coping with the mental health challenges during pregnancy and after the birth of your child can feel isolating. Join today to be paired with a Mentor who’s walked in your shoes. You don’t have to do this alone.

The Maternal Wellness Center

67 Byberry Road, Hatboro

(215) 649-9916

Maternal Wellness Center is an inclusive and inviting space dedicated to improving the lives of parents and families. They provide a range of complementary-care services to emotionally and physically support people during their reproductive journey—no matter what unexpected turns occur. Specialized care includes supportive counseling and psychotherapy for individuals and couples, childbirth education classes, support groups, therapeutic, fertility, and prenatal massage.  

The Center offers a range of specialized mental health care for a wide spectrum of peripartum mood and anxiety disorders (PMAD’s) and experiences, including:

• Depression and/or anxiety in pregnancy
• Postpartum depression and stress
• Peripartum obsessive-compulsive disorder
• Adjustment to parenthood
• Family therapy
• Pregnancy after loss support
• Support for infertility
• Grief / bereavement care for miscarriage, stillbirth, or infant loss
• Supportive care for ending a wanted pregnancy / medical termination
• Reproductive decision-making & planning
• Support for families with a baby in the NIC-U
• Processing a traumatic birth experience
• Supportive care for medical complications for mother or infant
• Adjusting to life with an a-typical baby / child
• Facing single motherhood / fatherhood
• Single parenting by choice
• General support for the parenting journey
• Parenting teens/tweens
• Family, identity & career decision-making
• Support during life transitions

Vivid Women’s Health

4 Terry Drive, Suite 15, Newtown

(267) 685-6368

As a mom herself, Owner Dr. Jenn understands how frustrating it can be to recover from childbirth. After feeling lost in her own postpartum recovery and realizing a quiet and private physical therapy clinic that specializes solely specializes in women’s pelvic health concerns didn’t exist, she decided to create one. Dr. Jenn is a huge advocate for promoting women’s health and educating the community that while pelvic floor concerns are common, they are never normal.

Whether preparing for or recovering from birth, they are here to help. Vivid Women’s Health specializes in helping patients manage pregnancy related symptoms such as pain and leakage, as well as postpartum symptoms such as prolapse, urinary leakage, diastasis recti and pain.

Services offered include:
-Birth prep during pregnancy
-Postpartum recovery
-Postpartum return to sport and exercise
-Management of pregnancy symptoms
-Management of postpartum symptoms

Women’s Psychiatric Healthcare, LLC

173 Belmont Avenue, Doylestown

(267) 880-0770

Women’s Psychiatric Healthcare (WPH) integrates mind-body wellness through comprehensive and collaborative care. Shanthi Trettin, M.D., M.A. approaches initial evaluations with great attention to detail, considering medical, developmental, and relational factors. Dr. Trettin values working with her patients as a team, and also prioritizes interacting with other specialists so as to understand the individual as a whole.

Psychotherapy includes cognitive and dialectical behavior therapy, motivational, mindfulness, trauma-focused, interpersonal, and psychodynamic techniques. Dr. Trettin’s specialties include working with complicated medical or medication histories, peripartum mental health, mood disorders (depression and bipolar), anxiety, OCD, ADHD, trauma, and gender-affirming care. WPH is open to seeing all genders, but focuses on the treatment of women, 16 years of age and older. The office is conveniently located in the Doylestown borough and hours are by appointment.

Feature photo courtesy of Flourish Pelvic Health & Wellness