Postpartum support for Maine Families

Postpartum support for Maine Families You are not alone. You are not to blame. And with help, you will be well.

This page is dedicated to raising awareness about Perinatal Mood and Anxiety Disorders and connecting mothers and families with support and resources they need in their communities.

Keep talking about postpartum psychosis. Keep talking about perinatal mental health. Keep sharing your stories. Keep chi...
08/24/2026

Keep talking about postpartum psychosis.

Keep talking about perinatal mental health.

Keep sharing your stories.

Keep chipping away at the stigma.

Keep making sure more parents know they are not alone, they are not to blame, and with help, they WILL be well 💙

Get help now ⤵️
🔵 Call or text the Postpartum Support International HelpLine at 800-944-4773. You never need a diagnosis to ask for help.
🔵 Call or text the National Maternal Mental Health Hotline at 1-833-852-6262
🔵 In a crisis situation, call or text the National Su***de & Crisis Lifeline at 988.
🔵 Download the Connect by PSI app in the App Store or Google Play Store
🔵 Visit Postpartum.net for additional programs and resources.

08/18/2026

We are heartbroken to hear of the passing of Hayden Panettiere 💙

Hayden used her platform to speak about her experience with postpartum depression at a time when few public figures did. Her honesty about the stress, the anxiety, the isolation of feeling like "nobody around understood" gave voice to what so many new parents feel but rarely say out loud.

By sharing her story, Hayden helped normalize the conversation around perinatal mental health and let countless parents know they weren't alone in their struggle. That kind of courage leaves a lasting impact.

Our thoughts are with her family, her daughter, and everyone who loved her.

If you are struggling, please know help is available and you don't have to carry it alone. We are here for you, always.
🔵 Call or text the PSI HelpLine: 800-944-4773
🔵 Call or text the National Maternal Mental Health Hotline at 1-833-852-6262
🔵 In a crisis situation, call or text the National Su***de & Crisis Lifeline at 988
🔵 Visit Postpartum.net for free perinatal mental health resources and support programs
🔵 Download the Connect by PSI app

There is a version of postpartum motherhood we don’t talk about enough.Where you’re exhausted, anxious, overwhelmed, dis...
08/15/2026

There is a version of postpartum motherhood we don’t talk about enough.

Where you’re exhausted, anxious, overwhelmed, disconnected, terrified, or having thoughts that scare you.

I know because I’ve been there.

After having Molly, I experienced postpartum depression, postpartum anxiety, and eventually postpartum psychosis. I remember feeling terrified, disconnected, and completely unlike the person I had been before becoming a mother. At one point, I truly didn’t know how I was going to keep going.

And for a long time, I thought something was wrong with me. There wasn’t. I was sick. And I needed help.

Today, I look at my daughter and at the life I have now, and I want every mother who is struggling to know this:

This is not your fault.
You are not a bad mom.
You are not alone.
And this does not have to be your forever.

Perinatal mental health disorders are incredibly common. Postpartum Support International estimates that 1 in 5 women and 1 in 10 men experience depression or anxiety during the perinatal period. And yet, so many parents suffer quietly because they’re afraid of being judged, afraid someone will think they aren’t grateful, or afraid to say out loud what is happening inside their minds.

Please listen to me when I say: asking for help is not failing. It is one of the strongest things you can do for yourself and your family.

If you are struggling, tell someone. Your OB or midwife. Your primary care provider. A therapist. A trusted friend. Your partner. Anyone.

And if you don’t know where to start, I can help you find a place to start.

You do not have to suffer in silence.

There is hope. There is help. And there is so much life beyond the darkest days. ❤️

When I was pregnant with Molly, I was so excited to bring her home. I read the books, watched the videos, and did everyt...
08/13/2026

When I was pregnant with Molly, I was so excited to bring her home. I read the books, watched the videos, and did everything I could to prepare for motherhood. But I never prepared for postpartum depression!

After bringing her home, I was overwhelmed by sadness, anxiety, fear, and hopelessness. The hardest part? I felt completely disconnected from my newborn and I was ashamed to admit it.

I remember thinking, How can I feel this way when I wanted this baby so badly?

What I know now is that postpartum depression affects about 1 in 5 women. It isn’t a lack of gratitude, a lack of love, or a failure as a mother. And it doesn’t always look like sadness. It can look like anxiety, anger, irritability, numbness, racing thoughts, exhaustion, trouble sleeping, feeling like a failure, difficulty bonding with your baby, or feeling hopeless.

If you’re struggling, please don’t wait until you’re at your breaking point to ask for help.

Start somewhere:
🫶 Tell your partner or someone you trust exactly how you’re feeling.
🩺 Tell your OB, midwife, P*P, or pediatrician. You can simply say, “I don’t feel like myself and I’m struggling.”
📋 Ask to be screened for postpartum depression and anxiety. Screening can help identify when more support is needed.
💬 Consider therapy or a postpartum support group. Talking to someone who understands can make you feel far less alone.
💊 Know that treatment may include therapy, medication, or both. Needing treatment does not mean you’ve failed.
😴 Accept help with meals, laundry, errands, or the baby so you can rest. “Doing it all” is not the goal.
🤝 I am a Maine State Navigator for Postpartum Support International, I help moms and families understand what they’re experiencing and connect them with appropriate resources and support. 100% free- see contact card added to this post.
❤️ Don’t judge yourself for how you feel. Symptoms are not a reflection of how much you love your baby.
📕 This Isn’t What I Expected by Karen Kleiman was a great read and I recommend it to families.

And please remember: postpartum depression is treatable.

If you’re having thoughts of hurting yourself or your baby, or feel unable to keep either of you safe, seek immediate professional help by calling 911 or having a loved one bring you to the nearest emergency room. You deserve support in that moment.

As someone who has lived through postpartum mental health struggles this is what I wish every mom knew:

You can love your baby and still struggle.
You can be grateful and still need help.
You are not a bad mom.
You are not alone.
And this is not forever. 🫶🏼

Intrusive thoughts are something I wish more moms knew how to talk about.I know firsthand how scary it can be when your ...
08/12/2026

Intrusive thoughts are something I wish more moms knew how to talk about.

I know firsthand how scary it can be when your brain throws something at you that feels completely opposite of who you are or what you want. The fear, the shame, the “what does this say about me?” can be overwhelming.

But an intrusive thought is not an intention. It is not a desire. And it is not a reflection of what kind of mother you are.

Sometimes a loving, protective brain becomes hypervigilant and starts scanning for every possible danger. The thoughts can feel vivid, disturbing, and completely out of character—and that can make them even more frightening.

Please don’t suffer in silence. Talk to someone you trust. Tell your provider exactly what you’re experiencing. You deserve support without judgment.

And if you’re a mom experiencing this: you are not a bad mom. You are a mom whose brain is trying way too hard to keep everyone safe. ❤️

💕 Resources
• Postpartum Support International (PSI) — Free, confidential support for parents worldwide
🌐 www.postpartum.net
• National Maternal Mental Health Hotline — 24/7 support, no diagnosis required
📞 1-833-9-HELP4MOMS (1-833-943-5746)

✨ Healing is possible.
✨ This is not the end of your story.
✨ Brighter pages are still being written.

07/31/2026

⚠️Postpartum psychosis is a psychiatric emergency. It is also exceedingly unpredictable. Delusions can fluctuate, creating brief moments of lucidity marked by profound fear and fleeting awareness that something is terribly wrong. In those passing moments, can she ask for help? Perhaps. But we cannot assume she can. Psychosis often robs a woman of the very insight she would need to recognize her own suffering, let alone name it. Her silence may not be fear or shame. It may be that the illness itself has taken the words and the awareness along with it.

That is what makes this illness so dangerous. We cannot count on disclosure. We cannot rely on her to tell us. And if a lucid moment does arrive, and she does find the courage to speak, will we be prepared to respond with the knowledge and confidence to get her help at once?

We cannot know what has not been revealed, and psychosis may make revealing impossible. But we can become more attentive to what is only partially shown: a subtle shift in her manner, a comment that doesn't quite fit, a silence that feels different from ordinary exhaustion. We can become more curious. We can ask the hard questions anyway, not because she is certain to answer, but because sometimes, in a passing window of clarity, she might.

Here are some of the hard questions to ask EVERY perinatal woman in distress and just as importantly, to ask those who are with her, since she may not be able to answer for herself.

- Does she or anyone in her family have a history of bipolar illness or previous psychosis?
- Is she talking or acting in a strange manner that is not characteristic for her?
- Is she unusually quiet and withdrawn, or speaking rapidly with little concentration?
- Does she claim to hear things or see things that others do not?
- Is she suspicious of others, or expressing concern that others are out to get her or trying to harm her in some way?
- Does she have a decreased need for sleep or food, and/or exhibit a high degree of confidence or an exaggerated sense of her capabilities or self-worth?
- Does she feel abnormally hyperactive, with racing thoughts and/or behaviors?

She may not be able to tell us what is happening to her.
That is not a reason to stop asking.
It is the reason we must keep asking.

You are not alone. ❤️So many new moms quietly wonder, “What happened to me?” They remember feeling confident, joyful, an...
07/31/2026

You are not alone. ❤️

So many new moms quietly wonder, “What happened to me?” They remember feeling confident, joyful, and like themselves… then suddenly they’re overwhelmed by anxiety, sadness, guilt, or fear. They often assume this is just what motherhood is supposed to feel like.

It isn’t.

About 1 in 5 women experience a perinatal mood or anxiety disorder during pregnancy or the first year after birth. These conditions are the most common complication of childbirth, yet so many mothers suffer in silence because they think they should just “push through.”

I was one of them.

After my daughter was born, I developed postpartum depression, anxiety, and postpartum psychosis. I didn’t recognize myself. The confident, carefree woman I had always been disappeared, replaced by fear, hopelessness, and a mind that no longer felt like my own. Thankfully, my family recognized something was seriously wrong, intervened, and made sure I got the treatment I needed. That support saved my life and my daughter’s.

Today, I am healthy, thriving, and using my story to remind other families that these illnesses are treatable. They are not a sign of weakness or failure. They are medical conditions that deserve compassion and care.

If you don’t feel like yourself after having a baby, please hear this:
🤍 You are not a bad mom.
🤍 You are not alone.
🤍 You are not broken.
🤍 Help is available.
🤍 Recovery is possible.

Please don’t suffer in silence. Reach out to your healthcare provider, a trusted loved one, or a postpartum support organization. The sooner you get help, the sooner healing can begin.

There is hope. I know because I was one of them, and today I’m here to tell you that you can get through this too. 💚

07/30/2026

🚨 If a new mom says she wants to hurt herself or her baby, take it seriously.

I want every family member, friend, and healthcare provider to hear this.

⚠️ If a new mom says she’s having thoughts of harming herself or her baby, don’t brush it off. Stay with her and help her get evaluated by a medical professional immediately.

Here’s an important distinction.

Many moms experience intrusive thoughts as part of postpartum OCD. These thoughts are unwanted, distressing, and completely against what they want. They often cause intense anxiety, and moms with postpartum OCD usually go to great lengths to protect their baby because the thoughts horrify them. These moms need compassion, proper assessment, and treatment, but intrusive thoughts alone are not the same as wanting to act on them.

However, if a mom says she wants to die, believes she may act on thoughts of harming herself or her baby, says she can’t keep herself or her baby safe, or is experiencing hallucinations, delusions, paranoia, or confusion, that is a psychiatric emergency. She should not be left alone while getting immediate medical care. Depending on the evaluation, inpatient psychiatric treatment may be the safest option.

I know this because in 2014, after giving birth to my daughter, I became one of those women. I developed postpartum psychosis, lost touch with reality, and nearly ended both my life and my daughter’s. Thankfully, my family recognized that I needed emergency help. They intervened, got me the treatment I needed, and while I recovered, I wasn’t left alone to care for my daughter until my treatment team determined it was safe. That time allowed my brain to heal, and today I have made a full recovery.

I’m sharing my story because intervention saves lives. Today, I have the privilege of educating families about maternal mental health so they know what warning signs to look for and when to speak up. If you feel like your loved one isn’t being heard, keep advocating. Tell providers exactly what she’s saying. Ask for an urgent psychiatric evaluation. And if you believe she or her baby is in immediate danger, call 911 or go to the nearest emergency department immediately.

The biggest takeaway?

❤️Not all scary thoughts mean the same thing. But every mom deserves to be heard, evaluated, and connected to the right level of care.

⭐️Early treatment saves lives. Recovery is possible. I know because I’m living proof.

💜 If something doesn’t feel right after having a baby, trust your instincts.Too many moms suffer in silence because they...
07/29/2026

💜 If something doesn’t feel right after having a baby, trust your instincts.

Too many moms suffer in silence because they think what they’re experiencing is “just part of being a new mom” or they’re afraid of being judged. You know yourself better than anyone. If you don’t feel like yourself, it’s worth talking to someone.

📊 Here are the facts:
• 1 in 5 women experience a perinatal mood or anxiety disorder during pregnancy or the first year postpartum.
• About 1 in 7 mothers experience postpartum depression.
• Postpartum anxiety is just as common but often goes unrecognized.
• Postpartum psychosis is rare, affecting about 1 to 2 out of every 1,000 births, but it is a medical emergency that requires immediate treatment.

The good news? These conditions are highly treatable. Treatment may include:
💜 Therapy, such as cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT) or interpersonal therapy (IPT)
💜 Medication, when appropriate and safe, including during pregnancy and breastfeeding for many families
💜 Peer support groups
💜 Better sleep and practical support at home
💜 In some cases, newer treatments like zuranolone or brexanolone may be appropriate for postpartum depression

Recovery is possible. Most parents who receive treatment get better and go on to enjoy life with their baby.

If you are having thoughts that scare you, feeling disconnected from yourself, overwhelmed by anxiety, or simply know something isn’t right, please tell someone today. Reach out to your OB provider, primary care provider, pediatrician, a trusted friend or family member, or Postpartum Support International. Asking for help is a sign of strength, not weakness.

You deserve support, and you do not have to go through this alone. 💜

💙 You Are Not Alone 💙Did you know that 1 in 5 moms experience postpartum depression (PPD), postpartum anxiety (PPA), or ...
05/09/2026

💙 You Are Not Alone 💙

Did you know that 1 in 5 moms experience postpartum depression (PPD), postpartum anxiety (PPA), or other perinatal mental health challenges? So many families struggle silently — and that’s exactly why events like this matter. 🌿

Join PSI Maine for The Climb — a family-friendly community event focused on connection, healing, support, and raising awareness for perinatal mental health. Whether you’re a parent, expecting parent, support person, friend, or community member… you belong here. 🤍

✨ Enjoy:
📸 Photo Booth
💆 Massage & Craniosacral Therapy
🎨 Face Painting & Kids Crafts
🧘 Vinyasa Yoga (bring a mat!)
🍦 Darling’s Ice Cream Truck
🎁 Door Prizes
🫶 Story Sharing & Symbolic Walk
📚 Resource Tables
👧 Kid Activities & Snacks

🗓 Saturday, June 13th, 2026
⏰ 3:00–5:00 PM
📍 Harold Alfond Athletics & Recreation Center at Colby College
4900 Mayflower Hill Dr, Waterville, ME

Hosted by Postpartum Support International to bring awareness, support, and hope to families navigating pregnancy and postpartum life. 💙

Please share this post so we can help spread awareness that maternal mental health matters. You never know who may need to hear:

✨ “You are seen. You are supported. You are not alone.” ✨

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