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-do's

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.

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 most of the day, nearly every day, for at least 2 weeks
Feelings of hopelessness or pessimism
Feelings of irritability, frustration, or restlessness
Feelings of guilt, worthlessness, or helplessness
Loss of interest or pleasure in hobbies and activities
Fatigue or abnormal decrease in energy
Being restless or having trouble sitting still
Difficulty concentrating, remembering, or making decisions

Difficulty sleeping (even when the baby is asleep), waking early in the morning, or oversleeping
Abnormal changes in appetite or unplanned weight changes
Physical aches or pains, headaches, cramps, or digestive problems that do not have a clear physical cause and do not go away with treatment
Trouble bonding or forming an emotional attachment with the baby
Persistent doubts about the ability to care for the baby
Thoughts of death or harming oneself or the baby or suicide attempts

Encourage a mom to talk to her healthcare provider if she experiences any symptoms of PPD. Only a healthcare provider can diagnose postpartum depression.

“Baby blues” or PPD: Know the difference

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