Postpartum Support Groups
ONLINE
Weekly Support Group hosted by Postpartum Support International:
Join the meeting from your computer, tablet or smartphone. Get comfortable and listen and share your stories about motherhood. Meetings in Spanish offered. To register visit:http://www.postpartum.net/psi-online-support-meetings/
Little Frogs and Polliwogs SUPPORT AND EDUCATION FOR MOTHERS OF CRAWLERS AND WALKERS WHO ARE COPING WITH DEPRESSION AND ANXIETY. EDUCATION IS BASED ON POSITIVE PARENTING AND NURTURES THE CHILD/PARENT ATTACHMENT. Join us for a safe, honest conversation about the realities of parenting a very young child while coping with the symptoms of depression and/or anxiety. Learn how to cope with and manage behavior changes in your young child and understand why they behave the way they do. Cara, Early Childhood and Family Therapist, facilitates this group on the 2nd and 4th Wednesday of the month. Space is limited for each group. Please call to learn more and find out which group has openings. Please call to pre-register 619-219-4313 carafairfaxlcsw@gmail.com
Encinitas:
Becoming a mom brings new emotions and experiences…don’t go through it alone! Join a group of new mommies to process the changes in your lives and increase your sense of community. Located at the Tree of Life Birthing Center: 617 Saxony Place Suite 103 Encinitas, CA 92024 Please contact us to discuss dates and times of groups. Contact: Dr. Kimberly Ortiz, Psy.D., LMFT ortizkd@gmail.com (619) 356-1915
Escondido
Moms in Bloom is a group for Pregnant and Postpartum women in the transition to motherhood to prevent and heal from Postpartum Depression and Anxiety. Group is $50 (discount given if mentioned you are referred by PHA) and is held Mondays from 6:45pm – 8:00pm. RSVP is required to 760.489.1002 or email inpsychcenter@gmail.com. For more infomration visit the website http://inpsychcenter.com/moms-bloom-support-group/
Kearny Mesa:
A FREE Postpartum Support Group at the Sharp Mary Birch Outpatient Pavilion- Room A & B at 5075 Health Center Drive, San Diego CA 92123. No registration needed, drop-ins welcomed! For questions, call 858-939-4141. Groups held on Tuesdays from 9:30-11:00 am.
Kearny Mesa:
A FREE Postpartum Support Group held on the 1st and 3rd Wednesday night of each month from 5-6:30 pm. Groups held at the Knollwood Building, Room A at 7944 Birmingham Drive, San Diego CA 92123. Call 858-939-4141 to register.
Kensington:
“Getting Beyond the Unexpected” A Pregnancy and Postpartum Support Group for moms who are struggling. Receive information, support, and tools to help get beyond prenatal and postpartum depression and anxiety. You are not alone. At least 1 in 8 mothers suffer during pregnancy and the first year. Facilitated by Mary Obata, MFT, and meets on the first Friday of the month from 12:30-2:00 pm. To learn more, call 619-220-4680 or visit the website https://www.meetup.com/Pregnant-Postpartum-Moms-Support-Group/ Sliding scale ($45-$5).
La Jolla:
A FREE Postpartum Support Group meets on the second Thursday of each month, 2:00 -3:30 pm, at the Scripps Memorial Hospital La Jolla. Pre-registration is required. Please call 858-626-6364 to register.
La Mesa:
A FREE Postpartum Support Group meets Tuesdays from 4:00 pm to 5:15 pm, or by appointment, at the Women’s Center at Sharp Grossmont Hospitall in Conference Room 3. Please call (619) 740-4906 for more information.
Mission Valley:
Free support group to new breastfeeding mothers. The support group is held every Tuesday from 10:30am-12:00pm by Heather Shabestari, BS, IBCLC, CLEC at Hapa Yoga studio, 4242 Camino Del Rio N #10, San Diego, CA 92108. Facilitator answers questions new mothers may have and provides a baby scale to the participants. Drop in’s welcome.
Normal Heights:
FREE Pregnancy and Postpartum Adjustment Support Group (babies <12 mos welcome). Group is facilitated by Rachel Rabinor, LCSW and is located at Whole Family Acupuncture at 4443 30th Street, San Diego CA 92116 on the 2nd and 4th Thursdays from 10:30am -11:30am. For more information visit: www.rachelrabinor.com or call: 619-780- 3277
North Park:
FREE Maiden to Mother Support Group. A circle of new motherhood led by a woman of wisdom, in a nurturing supportive environment. The group covers breastfeeding, natural baby health, baby sleep options, baby wearing, cloth and diaper free options and postpartum concerns. This is a FREE class. Babies are welcome. Groups held each Friday from 12:45-2:00 pm at Nature’s Whisper School of Yoga, 4205 Park Blvd, San Diego CA 92103.
Pacific Beach:
FREE Postpartum Support Group: There is a lot of change happening in the lives of new moms. We don’t care how you had or plan to raise your baby. We just know it’s a tough job and everyone can use a friend (or 20) during the transition. This support group is free of charge, very laid back, unbiased and nonjudgmental. So come, socialize, sip some coffee or tea and share your struggles and successes. For more information visit: https://discovertheglow.org/womens-center/ or call: (877) 360-9024
Pacific Beach:
FREE Pregnancy Support Group: Pregnancy can be an amazing time in your lives, but it can also come with a lot of fear, anxiety, and even depression. You are going through so much, come share your experiences and meet other women in the same stage of your life. For more information visit: https://discovertheglow.org/womens-center/ or call: (877) 360-9024
Point Loma:
New Mothers Support Group, Kaiser Permanente, Point Loma. A FREE group for the public and for Kaiser members. Offered on the third Thursday of the month from 1-2:30pm. Call 619-221-6114 for more information.
Point Loma – NTC:
A support group for active duty members or dependents who are pregnant or postpartum. Babies up to 12 months are welcome to attend. The group meets Tuesdays from 1330-1430 at NTC – Conference Room, 2nd Deck, Section B. 2051 Cushing Rd. 92106. Registration is not required.
Rancho Bernardo:
“Mothering From Within: A Postpartum Support Group:” A postpartum support group for new mothers who may be coping with depression or anxiety, who are want to experience greater connection with themselves, their baby and other new moms. The atmosphere will be conducive to nurturing the mindful mother within. Group led by Melody French, PsyD and Maria Hester Genter, LMFT on Tuesdays, from 5:30-6:30 pm at the Balance Center for Mental Health at 16935 West Bernardo Drive, Suite 208, San Diego CA 92127. $40/ group. For questions, call Melody at 619-786-3111.
Riverside:
Enhanced Mental Health and Child Care Services. For low-income mothers with children ages 0 -3. This unique and supportive program provides mental health treatment services to women suffering from a postpartum mood disorder and their infant or toddler along with funded child care. For more information about this program, please call 951-683-5193 and ask to speak with someone in the Mental Health Services program. FREE.
South Park:
FREE New Moms Support Group. Co-facilitated by Dr. Marni Greenberg (858) 432-3290 and Rosemary Mason at the Baby Garten Studio, 1947 30th Street, South Park CA 92102. Groups on the 4th Thursday of the month from 1:15-2:15 pm.
Infertility Support Groups
Escondido:
This group is for a woman at any point in her infertility journey. It is a safe place to share and get support for the impact of infertility on your life, and to learn coping strategies for the emotional, physical and relational stresses of reproductive difficulties. You will learn and practice techniques for relaxation and focus based on mind/body work. In addition, you will receive information and support in the areas of self-esteem, decision-making, relationship difficulties, and preventing and managing anxiety and depression. Cost is $50/group ($45 with code PHA15). Six session commitment and registration required. Located at127 East Third Avenue, Suite 201, Escondido, CA 92025. Current group held Mondays at 6:00PM. Contact: Rachael Stracka, LCSW at inpsychcenter@gmail.com or 760.489.1092
Pacific Beach:
FREE Infertility/Miscarriage Support Group. Some of the most stressful times in parenthood can happen before you even get pregnant. Infertility and miscarriage are an emotional nightmare and shouldn’t have to suffer in silence. We don’t care if you’ve been trying for 2 months or 2 years, if you miscarried at 5 weeks or 20 weeks, or if you already have 8 children. It’s tough, and we don’t judge or compete. All groups are very laid back and focus on sharing, venting and supporting. Meet-up groups are always free of charge and we also welcome anyone to come share inspirational stories from their past. For more information visit: https://discovertheglow.org/womens-center/ or call: (877) 360-9024
Call our warmline at 619-254-0023 to receive referrals to postpartum depression resources and mental health providers specializing in the treatment of postpartum mood disorders.
Take a postpartum depression self-test, the Edinburgh Postnatal Depression Scale.