Steps to Wellness, Part 3.

When moms contact me, questioning their emotional roller coasters during pregnancy or during their postpartum year, I always start back at the basics. The Steps to Wellness were developed by Jane Honikman, founder of PEP and later Postpartum International.  More than thirty years later, they are just as relevant to all people, especially new parents.

Today I am going to review steps 7-8.  Jane addresses practical support and referrals to resources.  I am adding treatment as step 9.  This is the step that after talking with myself or another volunteer, it is up to the mother to take upon herself. Sometimes treatment is clinical, sometimes it is not. This is for the mother to decided. 

Once I have been listening to a mother for awhile, we usually go into what time of professional help she thinks she needs.  Here I offer her a few names and numbers to contact.

Referrals are not always for mental health counselors or psychiatrists, sometimes they are for lactation consultants, primary care providers, pediatricians, child development or parenting classes, postpartum doulas, and even great play groups or toddler friendly parks near her. 

We always invite moms to our support groups.  Our goal is to provide resources that fits the needs of the family.

In order to make sure we can enact Steps 1-6, we might have to call in the troops. Sometimes this is mustering the courage to ask our own mothers or mother-in-laws to help with housework.  Other times it is hiring professionals to do the tasks we simply can't get to 

Sometimes our partners or friends don't fully understand our feelings, but they do usually want to help in any way they can.  Accepting help is a skill many new parents aren't familiar with, but having a new baby necessitates the development of said skill. 

So next time someone asks, "What can I do/bring/make?" Give them an answer!

Step 9 is my addition.

The first 8 steps are crucial and for many mothers alleviate most of their symptoms of postpartum distress. However, we encourage all moms to follow through with a professional evaluation.  This can be through a therapist or medical provider. 

Sometimes the resource first referred isn't a good fit for ongoing treatment, in this case, we will gladly help look for additional options.

Treatment looks different for everyone. 

If you or someone you know could benefit from the Steps of Wellness series, please share!  
To be contacted by a volunteer, please complete this form. 

Additional tools for families, including a Postpartum Plan, can be found here. 
More information about our SAMMI Support Groups can be found here.