If you are thinking about harming yourself or your baby, or you feel like you can’t keep yourself safe, call or text 988 or call 911 now. You can also go to your nearest emergency room.
You expected to be tired. You probably expected a few tears. What you might not have expected is the racing thoughts at 3 a.m., the constant feeling that something bad is about to happen, the numbness, or the sense that you’re not yourself anymore.
If that sounds familiar, please hear this first: you are not alone, this is not your fault, and with help, you will feel better.
Perinatal mood and anxiety disorders (often shortened to PMADs) are the most common complication of pregnancy and childbirth. According to Postpartum Support International, about 1 in 7 women and birthing people experience postpartum depression, and anxiety is just as common. Partners are affected too, with about 1 in 10 new fathers experiencing postpartum depression.
At Kansas City Newborn Care, our postpartum doulas see families in those raw early weeks. We know how hard it can be to say “I’m not okay” out loud. This guide gathers trusted resources in one place so you or someone you love knows exactly where to turn.
Baby Blues or Something More?
Up to 80% of new parents experience the “baby blues” in the first couple of weeks after birth. Weepiness, mood swings, and feeling overwhelmed are normal as hormones shift and sleep disappears. The baby blues usually ease on their own within about two weeks.
It may be more than the baby blues if symptoms last longer than two weeks, get worse instead of better, or make it hard to function. Postpartum anxiety and depression can start anytime during pregnancy or in the first year after birth.
Signs of postpartum depression can include:
- Feeling sad, hopeless, empty, or numb most of the day
- Losing interest in things you used to enjoy
- Feeling disconnected from your baby
- Intense guilt or feeling like a bad parent
- Changes in appetite
- Trouble sleeping even when the baby sleeps
- Thoughts of harming yourself
Signs of postpartum anxiety can include:
- Constant worry that’s hard to turn off
- Racing thoughts
- Feeling on edge, restless, or irritable
- Physical symptoms like a racing heart, tight chest, dizziness, or nausea
- Unwanted, scary thoughts or images (often about the baby getting hurt) that you would never act on
- Checking on the baby over and over, or avoiding certain tasks out of fear
Those intrusive thoughts can be terrifying, and many parents are afraid to mention them. They’re a recognized symptom of postpartum anxiety and OCD, and treatment helps.
When it’s an emergency: Postpartum psychosis is rare but serious. Seeing or hearing things that aren’t there, extreme confusion, feeling paranoid, or not sleeping for days are signs to call 911 or go to the ER right away.
Free National Hotlines and Support
These resources are free, confidential, and available from anywhere in the U.S.
National Maternal Mental Health Hotline
Call or text 1-833-852-6262. Available 24/7 in English and Spanish, with interpreters in many other languages. Trained counselors offer support, resources, and referrals for pregnant and new parents and their families. Learn more from HRSA.
Postpartum Support International (PSI) HelpLine
Call 1-800-944-4773 (press 2 for English, 1 for Spanish), or text 800-944-4773 in English or 971-203-7773 in Spanish. PSI’s HelpLine connects you with trained volunteers who can listen and point you to local help. This is not a crisis line. Visit Postpartum Support International.
988 Suicide and Crisis Lifeline
Call or text 988 any time, day or night, if you’re in crisis or having thoughts of suicide.
Crisis Text Line
Text HOME to 741741 to reach a trained crisis counselor by text.
Online Support Groups and Community
Sometimes the most healing thing is talking to someone who truly gets it.
- PSI online support groups: PSI runs more than 50 free, facilitator-led virtual groups, including groups for new parents, dads, birth trauma, NICU families, pregnancy and infant loss, military families, BIPOC parents, and LGBTQ+ parents.
- Chat with an Expert: PSI hosts free weekly calls with licensed mental health professionals. No registration required.
- PSI Peer Mentor Program: Get matched with a trained volunteer who has recovered from a perinatal mood disorder.
- Connect by PSI app: A free app with resources and support at your fingertips.
Finding a Therapist or Psychiatrist
Not every therapist has training in perinatal mental health. A specialist will understand what you’re going through and know how to treat it.
- PSI Provider Directory: Search psidirectory.com for perinatal mental health professionals near you, including therapists, psychiatrists, and support groups.
- Your OB, midwife, or primary care provider: They can screen you, talk through treatment options, and give referrals. Many medications are compatible with breastfeeding.
- Your baby’s pediatrician: Pediatricians often screen parents for postpartum depression at well-baby visits. It’s okay to bring it up yourself.
Kansas City Area Resources
- PSI Kansas and Missouri chapters: Local volunteer coordinators can connect you with groups, providers, and services on both sides of the state line. Find your chapter through Postpartum Support International.
- Kansas Department of Health and Environment: The state’s perinatal mental health page lists screening tools and resources for families and providers.
- All Inclusive Wellness: individual and family therapy in Gladstone.
- Centimano Counseling: therapy specializing in perinatal mental health.
- Whole Parent Foundation: mental health support for Kansas City parents.
Small Things That Help Alongside Treatment
These don’t replace professional care, but they can support recovery:
- Protect your sleep. Even one longer stretch of uninterrupted sleep can make a real difference. This is one reason families use overnight newborn care.
- Eat regularly. Low blood sugar can make anxiety feel worse.
- Get outside. A short walk in daylight can lift your mood.
- Tell one person. A partner, friend, or provider. Saying it out loud takes some of its power away.
- Lower the bar. The laundry can wait. Recovery is the priority.
For Partners and Loved Ones
You may notice the signs before the new parent does. Gently share what you’ve noticed, listen without trying to fix, and offer to help make the first phone call. Take over a night feeding so they can sleep. And remember that partners can experience postpartum depression and anxiety too. These resources are for you as well.
How Kansas City Newborn Care Can Help
Our postpartum doulas and newborn care specialists are not therapists, but we are part of your support team. We can give you time to rest, attend appointments, or simply shower and breathe. We’re also trained to notice when something seems off and to help connect you with resources.
You deserve to feel like yourself again. Reaching out is a sign of strength, not weakness.
Need support at home? Contact Kansas City Newborn Care to talk about daytime or overnight care for your family.
This post is for general education and isn’t medical advice. If you’re worried about your mental health, please talk to your healthcare provider. In an emergency, call 911 or 988.