Chicago Area Resources for New Moms and Dads

March 19, 2020

updated October 5, 2023– With the amount of national and statewide programs online, searching for postpartum support after your newborn arrives can be overwhelming. Our team of Certified Newborn Care Providers and Postpartum Doulas has compiled a list of Chicago Area Resources for New Moms and Dads.

Chicago Area Resources for New Moms and Dads

• Postpartum Mental Health Support:  Perinatal Mood and Anxiety Disorders (PMAD’s) are the most common complication of pregnancy, with one in 7 mothers experience postpartum depression. Morever, fathers and partners can also experience postpartum issues, called Paternal Post Natal Depression. Early intervention is proven to be key in helping your mental health.

Postpartum Support International (PSI), Illinois Chapters has free postpartum and postnatal support meetings at 11 area medical centers, hospitals and private facilities. Meetings are held throughout Chicago and the suburbs.

• Crisis Support – If you’re in need of immediate care, contact the National Maternal Mental Health Hotline via text or phone at 1-833-TLC-MAMA.

• Twins, Triplets and Higher Order Multiples: If you’re expecting more than 1 baby at a time, twins and multiples clubs are a fantastic source of advice from “been there, done that” parents.  Multiples of Illinois, (also known as the Illinois Organization of Mothers of Twins) has Local chapters in Cook County, DuPage, Kane, Lake, Peoria Counties. There is a club for you now matter what town you live in!

Parents of Multiples groups also have referral lists of night nannies, baby nurses and postpartum doulas specializing in the care of twins.

• Breastfeeding Support:  Perhaps the best known resource for nursing help is La Leche League International (LLL). That reputation is well earned as LLL has been helping moms and consulting with medical professionals since 1956.

La Leche League of Illinois offers in-person meetings, breastfeeding cafes and virtual support. They have email and phone support, and in person meetings open to all who are nursing, feeding human milk or support nursing. Meetings are led by accredited Leaders who are also experienced breastfeeding parents.

Whether you are in the immediate postnatal phase of nursing or later in your breastfeeding journey, LLL supports you.

Social Support

• Dad’s Support Groups: Chicago Dads Group is a place for Chicagoland dads to form networks of friends and resources to support each other in becoming the best fathers they can be. Not only do they have Meetup events but they also have a blog.
• Chicago MOMS Club– Find your fellow neighborhood parents with newborns, infants and toddlers the same age as your own kids! Mothers Offering Mothers Support is a non-profit designed to help stay at home parents and nannies meet friends in the neighborhood for free and low-cost social events.
• Every Mom Chicago – Non- profit organization that connects expectant mothers in underserved communities with the material and support resources for the critical (and challenging) early weeks of parenthood. Every Mom Chicago provides new baby kits with newborn, postpartum, and breastfeeding essentials.

Chicago Area Resources for New Moms and Dads – Postpartum Doulas and Night Nurses

Our team of certified newborn care providers and postpartum doulas offer you evidence-based feeding and baby sleep support. We can visit before your baby arrives to help you get prepared and confident, in addition to helping when you’re just home from the hospital with your newborn.

If it’s time to get your newborn on a routine or your baby to sleep through the night, our certified and experienced team is here for you. Tell us if there are other Chicago Area Resources for New Moms and Dads we should add!