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| Moms Supporting Moms 919-454-6946 |
| © 2007 Moms Supporting Moms. All Rights Reserved. |
| Hope --- Encouragement --- Information |
| About Moms Supporting Moms |
The mission of Moms Supporting Moms (MSM) is to provide support and encouragement for women struggling with issues
related to pregnancy, delivery, and early motherhood. Support group meetings are offered four times a month and
provide a safe, nonjudmental atmosphere in which to share stories, discuss problems, and seek solutions. Phone support
volunteers are available to help, as well. MSM is meant to be an aid in recovery, a compliment to traditional medical
treatments from primary health care providers and therapists.
We also offer educational outreach programs for members of the community serving pregnant and postpartum mothers.
Services we provide:
A combination of treatments, including medication, therapy, and group support, can accelerate the recovery process,
and we encourage all moms to pursue all three approaches. All who attend will be encouraged to rely on their personal
physicians or mental health care provider as their first line of treatment and to use the group as additional support.
How MSM can help . . .
Beginning with the realization she is pregnant, a woman begins to know, to personify and to love the person
developing within her. But it is a complex journey fraught with potential stress and influences from her past, her
current life, her relationships and social support network, and sometimes even from her experiences during delivery.
Sometimes women are perplexed, even frightened, when the reality of their feelings is significantly different from their
expectations. Women may develop symptoms of depression or anxiety; these are feelings that go beyond the
“baby blues” commonly experienced after giving birth. Symptoms include feelings of hopelessness or helplessness,
insomnia, loss of appetite, panic attacks, restlessness, intrusive thoughts, sleeping too much, or an inability to
concentrate or cope with daily tasks.* These feelings can develop anywhere from a few days to several months after
delivery, or sometimes even before the birth.
It can be very reassuring and constructive to know that many other perfectly competent mothers have shared similar
experiences. Resolution of stress, anxiety, even depression, can be significantly enhanced by supportive social
interaction with other mothers who have recovered from postpartum depression. Moms Supporting Moms provides
a place for new mothers to gather and discuss problems, find a network of emotional support, and share information.
Each meeting is facilitated by experienced mothers. All information that is shared among the group is confidential.
Frequently, a medical advisor will be present to answer questions.
At the meetings, acceptance is the norm. No one can be surprised. No one is ever critical.
If you should find yourself feeling inexplicably anxious, overwhelmingly fatigued, constantly “down” or simply confused by
feelings you don’t understand, come join the group.
Share, learn, and feel better.
*If you are experiencing any of these symptoms, we encourage you to rely on your personal physician and/or mental
health provider as the first line of treatment. MSM is here as an additional means of support. Please contact a
moderator if you need help finding medical care.
related to pregnancy, delivery, and early motherhood. Support group meetings are offered four times a month and
provide a safe, nonjudmental atmosphere in which to share stories, discuss problems, and seek solutions. Phone support
volunteers are available to help, as well. MSM is meant to be an aid in recovery, a compliment to traditional medical
treatments from primary health care providers and therapists.
We also offer educational outreach programs for members of the community serving pregnant and postpartum mothers.
Services we provide:
- Peer support group meetings that offer a positive, confidential place to share feelings and stories
- Four meetings per month with two locations available
- Medical advisor available at evening meetings to answer questions
- Network of mothers with similar experiences to provide emotional support
- Warm line monitored by trained volunteers to return calls and answer questions (919-454-6946)
- Phone support volunteers available to listen and talk between meetings
- Outreach programs to educate others about PPMDs
A combination of treatments, including medication, therapy, and group support, can accelerate the recovery process,
and we encourage all moms to pursue all three approaches. All who attend will be encouraged to rely on their personal
physicians or mental health care provider as their first line of treatment and to use the group as additional support.
How MSM can help . . .
Beginning with the realization she is pregnant, a woman begins to know, to personify and to love the person
developing within her. But it is a complex journey fraught with potential stress and influences from her past, her
current life, her relationships and social support network, and sometimes even from her experiences during delivery.
Sometimes women are perplexed, even frightened, when the reality of their feelings is significantly different from their
expectations. Women may develop symptoms of depression or anxiety; these are feelings that go beyond the
“baby blues” commonly experienced after giving birth. Symptoms include feelings of hopelessness or helplessness,
insomnia, loss of appetite, panic attacks, restlessness, intrusive thoughts, sleeping too much, or an inability to
concentrate or cope with daily tasks.* These feelings can develop anywhere from a few days to several months after
delivery, or sometimes even before the birth.
It can be very reassuring and constructive to know that many other perfectly competent mothers have shared similar
experiences. Resolution of stress, anxiety, even depression, can be significantly enhanced by supportive social
interaction with other mothers who have recovered from postpartum depression. Moms Supporting Moms provides
a place for new mothers to gather and discuss problems, find a network of emotional support, and share information.
Each meeting is facilitated by experienced mothers. All information that is shared among the group is confidential.
Frequently, a medical advisor will be present to answer questions.
At the meetings, acceptance is the norm. No one can be surprised. No one is ever critical.
If you should find yourself feeling inexplicably anxious, overwhelmingly fatigued, constantly “down” or simply confused by
feelings you don’t understand, come join the group.
Share, learn, and feel better.
*If you are experiencing any of these symptoms, we encourage you to rely on your personal physician and/or mental
health provider as the first line of treatment. MSM is here as an additional means of support. Please contact a
moderator if you need help finding medical care.
A Project of the Center for Perinatal Emotional Wellness, Inc.