For mom teams: How you can help
Mom team members are an important part of the Check on Mom program. This is a group of people Mom chooses who commits to help her during pregnancy and the 12-week period after birth, otherwise known as the fourth trimester, and beyond.
Mom teams can help recognize when Mom is experiencing issues with her maternal mental health and encourage her to talk with her healthcare provider.
What do mom teams do?
Provide maternal mental wellness support
Mom’s mental well-being is crucial. After enrollment in Check on Mom, moms can fill out their Maternal Mental Wellness Plan and share it with their team. This will outline some of their mental wellness goals for their fourth trimester—the things that bring them comfort, like taking a nap or finding time for a conversation with a friend. Mom team members should encourage open and honest dialogue and provide support without judgment.
The everyday to-dos
When a new baby arrives, ordinary tasks can feel hard to accomplish. Doing dishes, folding laundry, or other light housework like walking the dog, watching any older children, or bringing over a meal are all meaningful ways mom team members can offer support.
Check on Mom reminder bracelets
Check on Mom offers moms and mom team members a bracelet* from Little Words Project® that is a symbol of the commitment to supporting mom and a wearable reminder to keep checking in during the fourth trimester and beyond.
*Quantity limits may apply while supplies last.
Tools and inspirational content for mom teams
Check on Mom offers a variety of resources that can help mom teams and the moms they support.
Postpartum depression (PPD) awareness
Learn about the signs and symptoms of PPD. If Mom experiences any of them, encourage her to talk to her healthcare provider as soon as possible.
Curated resources
Moms and mom teams will receive educational materials from trusted sources regarding maternal mental wellness and PPD. These resources, as well as periodic tips and inspirational content, will be shared via text and email.
Live program support
Questions about the Check on Mom program? Call 888-428-1583 for live program support. If Mom has questions or concerns about PPD, encourage her to speak with her healthcare provider.
Learn the signs and symptoms of PPD
As a member of Mom’s team, it is important that you are aware of the signs and symptoms of PPD. Mom might be hesitant to reach out about how she is feeling, but you will want to be on the lookout for the symptoms below:
Persistent sad, anxious, or “empty” mood
Irritability
Feelings of guilt, worthlessness, hopelessness, or helplessness
Loss of interest or pleasure in hobbies and activities
Fatigue or abnormal decrease in energy
Feeling restless or having trouble sitting still
Difficulty concentrating, remembering, or making decisions
Difficulty sleeping (even when the baby is sleeping), awakening early in the morning, or oversleeping
Abnormal appetite, weight changes, or both
Aches or pains, headaches, cramps, or digestive problems that do not have a clear physical cause or do not ease even with treatment
Trouble bonding or forming an emotional attachment with the new baby
Persistent doubts about the ability to care for the new baby
Thoughts about death, suicide, or harming oneself or the baby
Encourage a mom to talk to her healthcare provider if she experiences any symptoms of PPD. Only a healthcare provider can diagnose postpartum depression.