Postpartum Support Referrals: My Top 5 for Every New Parent

By Dr. Emma Basch, PsyD  |  Licensed Psychologist, Washington, DC  |  Women's Mental Health & Perinatal Specialist

Dr. Basch is the founder of Dr. Emma Basch & Associates, a Washington, DC therapy practice specializing in women's mental health who has spent over 10 years helping new and expecting parents navigate the emotional, physical, and relational shifts of the postpartum period.

Every new parent deserves a full team of support — but most leave their 6-week postpartum visit without one.

In my last post, I talked about the experience of walking out of that appointment feeling totally blindsided by the mental, physical, and relational shifts that birthgivers simply aren't prepared for. There is a whole world of postpartum support available, but if patients aren't told about it, they may never get the support they deserve.

My dream is that at every 6-week postpartum visit, all patients are given a warm handoff to providers who can help. After well over a decade of supporting postpartum clients, here are the 5 postpartum support referrals I believe every patient should receive.

1. Postpartum Doula

I always recommend clients hire a postpartum doula — even if it's just for a few shifts. Postpartum doulas offer holistic support for the entire family system. Their focus is not just on the new baby, but on supporting, educating, and empowering new parents. Whether that means practical support like laundry, feeding, or meal prep, or helping a sibling adjust, their focus is on nurturing new and growing families.

2. Feeding Support Specialist

No matter how you are feeding your baby, every feeding relationship is new at the beginning and takes time to develop. I always recommend clients connect with someone who can help — whether that's a lactation consultant or a feeding specialist. Bringing down maternal and parental stress around feeding is so important for postpartum mental health.

Be sure to share your feeding goals so you can find the right type of support. For parents who want to pump or need to prioritize bottles, a good lactation consultation should support your goals and make sure you are emotionally and physically cared for.

3. Pelvic Floor Physical Therapist

No matter how you gave birth, pregnancy takes its toll on your pelvic floor. Being "cleared" by your doctor does not mean your pelvic floor is stable and strong. I always recommend that my clients meet with a pelvic floor PT at least once during pregnancy and once postpartum. A pelvic floor PT can help with pain, incontinence, scar tissue discomfort, core strength, and so much more.

4. New Parents Group

There is nothing more isolating than being alone with an infant. New parents' groups are a lifeline. It can be helpful to find a group that feels aligned with your experience (e.g., a second-time mom group), your identity (e.g., a group for LGBTQ+ parents), and your emotional needs (e.g., a group for NICU parents). For clients with mental health concerns, a group led by a therapist can be especially useful.

5. Postpartum Mental Health Specialist

You don't need a clinical anxiety or mood disorder to benefit from working with a postpartum therapist. I'd argue that every new parent will hit bumps in the road as they navigate such a significant life adjustment. This is where a perinatal therapist comes in.

We are trained to understand the hormonal, physical, emotional, relational, and identity-related shifts that come with pregnancy and the postpartum period. Whether you meet once for a check-in to understand your risk factors for postpartum depression, or need support for a clinical condition such as perinatal depression and anxiety, birth trauma and PTSD, perinatal OCD, or postpartum psychosis — a perinatal mental health specialist is an essential postpartum referral.

You may have noticed that while not all the referrals I listed directly involve mental health support, they can all contribute to better mental health outcomes postpartum. The fact is that the postpartum period is an extremely vulnerable time for developing mental health concerns, and having a full team of support is something everyone deserves.

Ready for more support now? Contact usfor a postpartum mental health check-in or to connect with a perinatal therapist who can help.