Online Resources
Helpful Apps
Insight Timer
Insight Timer is a great app that has a free version filled with guided meditations, sleep stories, meditations, and courses., as well as a self-timer for meditating. You can choose from hundreds of self-guided meditations. Recent studies have shown that depression and anxiety symptoms decrease in pregnant and postpartum women after following a simple mindful meditation course for 8 weeks.
Gottman Deck
A must-have if your relationship with your partner is taking the brunt these days. The Gottman Card Deck is an app for couples and is highly recommended by many new moms.
Peanut
Peanut helps connect local moms. The complimentary Peanut app is a location-based app that works like a dating app and will introduce you to other mothers in your area based on your top interest, your kids’ age, and distance from one another. In the app, you can also ask questions to a community and plan meetups using their forum feature. You can link your Facebook or Instagram accounts, so you and the moms you meet can follow each other and get to know each other a bit better on social media.
Sound Sleeper
Developed by new parents to help newborn babies sleep outside of the womb, Sound Sleeper is also recommended for people with depression-related insomnia, anxiety, and stress. Offering a large selection of white noise sounds and soothing lullabies, the app helps you create a relaxing ambiance in your bedroom. In addition, the app allows you to track sleep progress as well as a nightlight and clock. The app is free to download on Apple and Android.
Happify
Developed by psychologists, Happify uses behavioral cognitive therapy practices and mindfulness to help you turn negative and sad thoughts into positive and uplifting ones. Designed to help ease stress and help you cope with depression, Happify offers exercises, games, and activities that can instantly boost your mood. The app is free to download, but Happify Plus—an extended membership with more exercises and games—is $14.99 per month and is available on Apple and Android.
Podcasts
Mom & Mind
This is by far our favorite podcast for women experiencing a maternal mental health complication. Dr. Kat is a pioneer with this podcast and she has many episodes that offer hope for any woman, no matter what she is feeling or where she is in her journey back to wellness.
Websites & Social Media
4th Trimester Project
This website is designed to provide the latest medical evidence and offer real, honest stories to inform postpartum planning. The information on the website has been reviewed by doctors, midwives, and nurses.
The Blue Dot Project
The Blue Dot Project was created to raise awareness of maternal mental health disorders, get people to recognize the blue dot as the symbol of MMH disorders, and to help combat stigma and shame. Their Facebook pages offer women support and hope.
Postpartum Support International Facebook Group
Postpartum Support International offers a supportive private Facebook group to help women find community and to get answers. Facilitated by skilled moderators, this group can help connect you with other women who are feeling just like you.
If you are in crisis or you think you may have an emergency, call your doctor or 911 immediately. If you're having suicidal thoughts, call 988 to talk to a skilled, trained counselor at a crisis center in your area at any time (National Suicide Prevention Lifeline).