Postpartum Progress is often asked where moms can go for postpartum psychosis help. What if you have psychosis or severe postpartum depression and need hospitalization or intensive treatment?

There simply aren’t enough beds and spaces at perinatal inpatient and partial hospitalization/intensive outpatient programs in the United States compared to the number of women who will need them each year.

Why a perinatal unit? Just ask the moms who have been hospitalized for postpartum psychosis or severe PPD.  We’ve talked to moms placed in general units with whom not a soul ever mentioned the words perinatal or postpartum. No one talked about role transitions or becoming a mother. No one offered lactation support. Some had no access to supplies like pads for post-birth bleeding. Some were told they had to quit breastfeeding. Many were not allowed to see their babies at all, or only for brief moments, during their hospital stay. Most were the only person there with a maternal mental illness.

We know that specialized programs for women with perinatal mood and anxiety disorders work. We know taking care of both mother and baby during pregnancy and first year is critical to health. These programs are led by people who are experts in maternal mental health. Who understand how medication affects pregnancy and breastfeeding. They make sure that mother-infant attachment is supported and encouraged. And they readily provide supplies like breast pumps and safe places to store breast milk.

We wanted you to see how few of these place there are in the United States, because this matters. Mothers deserve the best possible postpartum psychosis help, and not enough of them are getting it.

Postpartum Psychosis Help (as of September 2016)

California – Huntington Hospital Maternal Wellness Program (Pasadena), El Camino Hospital MOMS Program (Mountain View), MemorialCare Perinatal Mood & Anxiety Disorders Program (Long Beach)

Illinois – Perinatal Intensive Outpatient Program of AMITA Health (Chicago area)

Michigan – Pine Rest Mother & Baby Program (Grand Rapids)

Minnesota – Hennepin Mother-Baby Program (Minneapolis)

New York – Zucker Hillside Perinatal Psychiatry Unit (Glen Oaks)

North Carolina – University of North Carolina Perinatal Psychiatry Inpatient Unit (Chapel Hill)

Pennsylvania – Drexel Mother Baby Connections (Philadelphia)

Rhode Island – Women & Infants Day Hospital (Providence)

Special thanks to Heather, Candice, Laurie, Laura, Catherine, Samantha, Stephanie, Lisa, Jess and many more members of the Warrior Mom® Community for helping us put this project together.