Welcome!  It can be overwhelming to be pregnant or a parent of a new baby, remember you are not alone.  The following summary from Author Terra LaRock, provides a picture into how many moms often feel.  We may love our baby, or love the idea of being pregnant, but still experience sadness and gloom.   You are not alone in your thoughts when they become desperate, gloomy, or sad.

While pregnant, or after delivering your baby, people may ask you “Isn’t it great?” or “Don’t you just love being a mom?”  While their intention is to show enthusiasm and support these simple questions can challenge us, making us question if we should be happier, more put together?  It is important to reach out to neighbors, friends, people you work with.  You may just find that they too remember how hard it can be.  They may remember days of exhaustion, uncertainty, isolation, and worry. As Terra LaRock recalls, “Sleep does gets better, but as a mother, there will always be a sense of darkness that appears and fills your thoughts with doubt. It may not come frequently and the good will certainly outlast and outshine the bad, but it is there. Those words, so deep and true to me in the moments, helped walk me through a low point with the assurance that I was not alone, and that I would survive.”

We do not offer crisis management services. If you or someone you know is in immediate danger, please call 911. For additional safety information, contact the National Suicide Prevention Hotline at 1-800-273-8255.

• Fairbanks (and Statewide) Crisis Line
• Careline Crisis Intervention: 907-452-Help (4357) or 1-877-266-Help (4357)
• Kenai – Central Peninsula Counseling Services Crisis Line: 907-283-7511
• Wasilla – Serving Mat-Su Valley Residents 
• Mat-Su Health Services Crisis Line: 907-376-2411

Non-crisis-oriented services:

• Alaska Division of Public Health Comprehensive Resource List
• PSI-AK Alaska state chapter of Postpartum Support International
  • Anchorage numbers: 212-2065 or 212-4940
  • Open support group at Providence Medical Center Mondays 11am -noon
• Providence Pregnancy Information and Resources
• Alaska Network on Domestic Violence and Sexual Assault
  • 23 Member Programs around Alaska
• Women’s Care of Alaska: Post-Partum Depression

Strong Social Support During Pregnancy Improves Perinatal Outcomes for Mother and Baby.

Non-crisis-oriented services:

Suggestions from Individuals who have recently been pregnant:

Supportive assistance to your pregnant friend or loved one includes tangible and nontangible assistance. Family members or friends are important in circle of support. Supporting a person who is pregnant or just had a baby can include providing basic needs (e.g., shelter, food, clothing, and transportation) and emotional support.

• Give the parents time to rest, recover and wait for visitation.
• Drop by and provide a premade dinner (do not need to stay to visit unless you are asked to stay, just leave the food).
• Offer to stop in an babysit so the parent can take a shower or go shopping.
• Often tired, people need rest. Offer to clean the house, go pick up groceries, bring them their mail or run errands.
• Offer to provide transportation to Dr. Appointments and well-baby check-ups.

Is your loved one experiencing problems related to drug or alcohol use? There are medication and other treatment options available to help pregnant people who are struggling with drugs or alcohol. People who experience substance use disorders often feel shame, which can stop them from getting help. Emotional support, encouragement and access to treatment services will increase the chances of a healthy, safe pregnancy and positive birth experience for mother and baby.

Research the support a Doula can provide to your family member. Individuals who have used Doula services report Doula’s  informally embrace a shared belief of using their supportive measures to redirect young families in their neighborhood toward brighter futures.

• Imparting knowledge through pregnancy, childbirth, and parenting education classes.
• Offering encouragement and orientation to future goals.
• Providing emotional and physical support during pregnancy, labor, birth, and mothering.
• Alaska Native Birth workers Community

Being a first time parent can be overwhelming, another excellent resource that provides suggestions and resources for parents includes the Nurse Family Partnership: Helping the First-Time parents Succeed

• Fairbanks (and statewide) crisis line
• Careline crisis intervention: 907-452-help (4357) or 1-877-266-help (4357)
• Kenai – central peninsula counseling services crisis line: 907-283-7511
• Wasilla – serving mat-su valley residents 
• Mat-su health services crisis line: 907-376-2411

• A crisis is a time of intense difficulty, trouble, danger, or distress.
• A crisis can be mental, emotional, or physical.

Examples of situations that can become a crisis:

• Panic attack
• Aggressive behaviors
• Substance misuse
• Following a traumatic event
• Nonsuicidal self injury

• Medical emergency
• Suicidal thoughts and behaviors
• Severe effects of alcohol or drug use (substance use crisis)
• Severe psychotic states

Fast Facts:

• Drug or alcohol use or substance use disorders contributed to 63% of all pregnancy-associated deaths during 2014-2018.
• The MCDR committee reviewed all Alaska maternal deaths (16) that occurred in 2017 and 2018. MCDR defines a maternal death as any death within one year of pregnancy due to any cause. 
• 16 out of 16 (100%) maternal deaths were preventable**MCDR Committee indicated there was at least some chance to alter the outcome.
• In 2019, 12.3% of all Alaskans delivering live births experienced postpartum depressive symptoms.
• Among all Alaskans delivering live births In 2019, 14% reported that they had depression and 22% reported they had anxiety during pregnancy.

The resources below provide current advice, guidance and resources to: Treat patients experiencing challenges with substance use, improve patient communication, improve screening and assessment, improve maternal patient outcomes, and incorporate review as a part of your practice.

• MCDR Recommendations Issue 1
• MCDR Recommendation Issue 2 
• SMM Toolkit
• AKPQC
• Physician Patient Communication
• Alaska Birth Collective
• DHSS Cultural Resource Guide
• Giving a Voice to Mothers

Insight from mothers who have delivered babies recently in Alaska and responded to the Alaska PRAMS survey

“I had preeclampsia. The doctor said that can turn into postpartum eclampsia and I was glad I was forewarned and had info cause I got it and it was scary.”

“I do wish I know we have programs to help pregnant women and their children I do wish there are more counselors and case workers to help me.”

“I was unaware of some treatment programs I could have gotten into treatment while I was preg.”

“I wish I would have made better decisions and I am working through to get him back in my custody. I do wish I had done things better. This the path I am on whether I chose them or not. Blessed that my son is healthy.”

“It was pretty hard to stay clean I guess. It was hard to get help because of how long it takes to get things going and get help. Limited options.”

“I wish there were easier ways for parents to get mental health help more, I was asked a couple times very early on (in NICU) into motherhood if I needed mental health help, but I was so confused & scared. I had my son at 32 weeks due to [syndrome name] and I wish there was more talk & people reaching out about after birth trauma & PTSD, they check in once or twice at their 6-month apt, but the nurse didn’t even look at my paper I filled out, I felt forgotten and was not doing well. It was also very difficult to find a therapist my insurance would cover or that I could afford.”

“I think making sure people feel safe or comfortable to ask for help when they need it but don’t know how to ask. I think mental help is a major issue and just helping people who need it, helping them to not feel ashamed to get help, and help for the families and kids who have to live through people who need the help will make a difference.”