Mental Health Resources for New Moms in Denver
Becoming a new mom is an incredible journey, filled with so many highs and lows. One minute it can feel like you’re on cloud nine, snuggling with your baby while they nap or soaking in their first smiles and giggles, and the next you’re pulling your hair out over feeding problems, blowouts and sleepless nights. There can be moments where you feel really connected to your partner and family, sharing this new love and joy that nothing can prepare you for. And, there can also be moments that feel really lonely, isolating and anxiety-inducing. Moments where you feel totally disconnected from your old life and identity. Moments where it feels like there must be something “wrong” with your baby, or moments where it feels like you’ll never have a full night’s sleep again.
Being a new mom is both beautiful and hard. And sometimes, in those really hard moments, it can feel like there’s nothing you can do to feel better. It can feel like leaving the house is so much work that there’s no point in trying. And while giving yourself rest during the first few weeks or months of the postpartum period is crucial for your recovery from childbirth, once you are physically feeling well enough, research shows that women who are more active in physical and occupational activities postpartum have a lower risk of developing postpartum depression and other mental health concerns. This makes sense with what we know about depression, anxiety and mental illness in general - getting out of your house, staying busy and moving your body are key parts of coping with mental health challenges. Knowing the resources in your area is important for creating a postpartum mental health plan and setting yourself up for success. As a fellow Denver mom, here’s what I’ve learned about local resources to take care of your mental health from pregnancy to postpartum and beyond.
Support and Self-Care After Birth: Pregnancy and Postpartum Resources
A lot of new or expectant mothers find themselves needing more support than what they get through their OB practice. Things like prenatal yoga, lactation support and doula services are all things that many moms and moms-to-be find incredibly helpful, but typically you need to do a bit of your own research to get connected. Here are some places to get support for these services in Denver;
Belly Bliss
Belly Bliss, located in Cherry Creek is an all-in-one, comprehensive treatment center that provides prenatal and postpartum care. Their services include prenatal massage, acupuncture and chiropractic care, lactation support, perinatal education classes, doula services, and they are one of the few places in Denver that you can find prenatal-specific yoga! Their classes include childbirth education, pregnancy classes, postpartum classes and parenting classes. They know how overwhelming it can be to arrange all of these services on your own, and their one-stop-shop approach allows new and expectant moms to have many of their perinatal needs met in one place.
The Lactation Network
The Lactation Network is a great national resource for new moms who need breastfeeding support - which according to research ) is more than 50% (and anecdotal evidence may suggest even higher numbers). Their site allows you to verify your insurance coverage to try and find providers that are in-network and can schedule with you as soon as possible, often within a few days. If you are a new mom who has attempted breastfeeding at some point, you know how stressful it can be when you don’t know how much food your baby is taking in, your nipples are sore and cracked, or you have a clogged duct that won’t ease up. Lactation consultants can be crucial in dealing with some of these issues and helping you find solutions that feel right for you and your family.
Places for New Moms to Hang Out
Maternity leave can be such a special time to bond with your baby. But it can also be very isolating, especially if you don’t have other friends or family that are available during the daytime. Let’s be honest - babies don’t do a whole lot those first few months other than eat, sleep, cry and poop, and if you’re out of new Netflix shows to binge or struggle with wanting to get out but not knowing what to do, Denver actually has a ton of options for new moms looking to get out of the house with their infants. If you want to get some fresh air and/or connect socially but aren’t ready to stick your baby in a hiking backpack quite yet, here are a few of the great places for new moms to hang out in Denver:
The Den
The Den is a baby-friendly coffee shop located in Denver’s Lo-Hi neighborhood. They offer space for parents to sit and mingle, enjoy a cup of coffee and even answer emails while their baby is playing in the baby-friendly play area, or “play cafe”. Their values center around empowering parents, creating community and supporting parents’ mental and physical health. They also offer specialized classes and events, as well as space rentals for private parties.
Tumble Haus
Tumble Haus is a space for family play and connection, located in Denver’s Highlands neighborhood. They offer “open tumble”, tumble classes and even a happy hour for parents to socialize in the late afternoon.
Denver Children’s Museum Infant Room
Denver’s Children’s Museum has a ton of activities to engage young children. They have an infants-only exhibit called “Bloom” for babies newborn - 36 months that has a ton of sensory and developmentally-appropriate activities for your little one.
Denver botanic gardens in spring
Denver Botanic Gardens & Mordecai Children's Garden
Denver Botanic Gardens is a 24-acre garden located in central Denver, right next to Cheesman Park. Most of the gardens are stroller-friendly and it’s a great place to meet up with friends or just change up your regular walk around the neighborhood. There is so much to take in, and it looks different in every season! The Mordecai Children’s Garden is also included in admission, which has hands-on experiences and activities geared towards children, and fostering their connection to nature.
Wash Park at sunset
Wash Park Infant Playground
Research shows that mothers who have greater access to green space are less likely to experience postpartum depression. Getting out and spending time in a park can be so healing, and Denver has many to offer. Wash Park in particular is a great place to stroll around and meet other mom friends when you want to get out of the house - Denverites know that this is the park where there’s always something going on! The new playground closest to the boathouse is geared specifically towards infants and toddlers: there are multiple baby swings, a small slide and a tunnel for babies to crawl through. Your little one will love getting to practice their gross motor skills without all of the chaos from bigger kids running around.
Support Groups for New Moms
Rose Mamas Circles
For those who are scheduled to deliver at Rose Medical Center (“Denver’s baby hospital”), joining a Rose Mamas Circle can be a great way to get support throughout your pregnancy and postpartum journey from other moms with due dates in the same month as yours. They facilitate virtual meetup sessions starting towards the end of pregnancy and continuing for the first several months postpartum. Many group members form connections that continue long after their baby’s first birthday. It’s a great way to get support from other moms who are going through the same things at the same time with their pregnancy and newborn journey.
Postpartum Support International (PSI)
PSI has a HelpLine for new moms that you can call or text at 1-800-944-4773. Calls are returned between 8am-11pm EST (6am-9pm MST). They also offer over 50 free online support groups on topics such as ADHD support for pregnant & postpartum moms, early pregnancy loss support, fertility challenges, birth trauma support. and many more. They have many groups geared specifically towards supporting minority populations including BIPOC, queer and trans people.
Colorado PSI
The Colorado Chapter of the organization Postpartum Support International has amazing resources for new moms in Denver and throughout all of Colorado. Also known as The Birth Squad, they offer classes, support groups and community events for new parents and parents-to-be.
Postpartum Therapy and Counseling for New Moms
Sometimes, you try many of the above things, and you’re still really struggling. Or maybe you recognize that getting out, making connections and even joining support groups can be helpful, but you want to work with someone one on one to process feelings that are coming up for you from your own childhood, better manage challenges in your marriage or overcome feelings of inadequacy as a parent. That’s where I come in - as a postpartum therapist trained in perinatal mental health, I will help you to heal from your past, get out of your head and connect to your own voice and values as a mom. This time in life is so precious, and postpartum counseling can help you to really be present and find joy in these special moments.
The transition to motherhood can be the most beautiful time in your life, but also the most challenging. You don’t have to do this all on your own. Denver is full of wonderful resources to help you feel connected, supported, and empowered during this season of your life.
Other Services at Root to Rise Therapy:
Other mental health services at Root to Rise Therapy include Therapy for Anxiety, Therapy for Perfectionism, Therapy for People-Pleasing, Cultural Identity Counseling, ADHD Therapy and Postpartum Counseling. I see clients located in Colorado, New York and New Jersey. Contact me to learn more about how I can help you overcome anxiety and reclaim your life!
