Atlanta nonprofit helps mothers navigate life after childbirth

After struggling with postpartum anxiety following the birth of her children, an Atlanta mother is working to ensure other women don’t have to navigate the transition to parenthood alone.

Melissa Fernandez, a mother of three, founded Atlanta Postpartum Doula after realizing many new mothers lack the support they need once they bring their babies home. She said becoming a parent meant adjusting to far more than sleepless nights.

Before having children, Fernandez performed as a Cirque du Soleil acrobat. She said motherhood brought unexpected changes, including the loss of her career, daily routine and sense of identity.

Those experiences inspired her to create a business focused on caring for mothers as they recover from childbirth. The agency’s most requested services include overnight and daytime postpartum doulas who help care for newborns while supporting mothers during the early weeks after delivery. The organization also offers meal delivery services to help ease the demands of new parenthood.

July is Postpartum Changes Awareness Month, a reminder that recovery after childbirth includes both physical and emotional changes. According to the Emory University School of Medicine, postpartum depression affects about one in seven women after giving birth.

Another resource available to Georgia families is Peace for Moms, an Emory University School of Medicine program that connects health care providers with psychiatrists specializing in perinatal mental health.

Mental health experts say postpartum depression and anxiety are treatable, and they encourage mothers to seek help early if they experience symptoms after childbirth.