Through MCC’s MOMobile programs, advocates meet parents and families for pregnancy, parenting, and community reproductive health education. Parents and families can also receive baby items to help with their child’s development. (Maternity Care Coalition)
Danielle Smith – Keystone State News Service

About one in eight new mothers reports symptoms of postpartum depression, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. A community-based organization works in Pennsylvania and Delaware to reduce that figure, and infant mortality as well. “MOMobile” family therapy is one of the Maternity Care Coalition’s programs.

Louise Jones, a clinical supervisor for MOMobile, said they also include evidence-based home visiting, childcare through early Head Start, and parenting education.

“We also provide doula and lactation programs. We have doula trainings, which there’s one actually going on right now. So if a client is interested in a doula, that’s something that we do as well. We provide trainings to the community, and once someone’s completed the training, they can become certified,” Jones explained.

Jones pointed out the collaboration between her group’s home visitation advocates and family therapists is crucial, since social factors have a big impact on mental health. The home visiting staff focuses on basic needs – like healthcare, finances and housing – while the therapists focus on clients’ behavioral health concerns.

Dr. Donna O’Shea, chief medical officer with UnitedHealthcare, said risk factors for postpartum depression include a personal or family history of mental health issues, or living in an under-resourced community. She suggested people who are concerned about postpartum changes consult their healthcare provider, and noted that treatment options are available, even for the most severe postpartum depression cases.

“This year, Zurzuvae is an option that is in pill form that’s taken daily for two weeks – and can make a difference in three days. There are many available treatments and paths a woman can go, depending on the severity of her symptoms,” she said of the new postpartum pill zuranolone.

O’Shea added that many businesses provide an Employee Assistance Program, which allows their workers to seek help confidentially from a behavioral health clinician, often free of charge.