New Mom Finds Postpartum Support through Ascension Seton Program

Brenda was a new mom. After trying to have a child for a few years, she and her husband welcomed a new baby boy into their lives in August of 2020. It was recommended that Brenda deliver the baby by C-section, but otherwise everything was normal.

“About the fifth week after the baby was born, things just totally changed,” Brenda said. “I started feeling panicked when the baby cried.” Brenda’s sleep schedule suffered too. “It became less and less possible to sleep well. There was a general feeling of uneasiness or a feeling of not being well,” she said. “It’s hard to describe because I had never felt that way before.”

Brenda sought medical attention, but was frustrated with the help (and sometimes lack of help) she received. “I looked in the folder of handouts that Ascension Seton gave me, to see what the hospital had to offer. That’s when I found the postpartum support group. It was great that I didn't have to go anywhere,” she said. “Since it was online, I could participate from home and just have my husband watch the baby for an hour.”

“Before that point, I had felt like a little fish in a giant sea. There were so many people out there but none willing to help,” Brenda said. “When I logged on, there were other moms there and I felt hope and relief.”

Hearing other mom’s perspectives helped normalize things for Brenda. “It was an hour for people to listen and validate feelings and experiences. Everyone has different levels and effects of postpartum difficulties, but hearing others gave me a sense of relief,” she said. “I’m not going crazy and it’s not a never-ending situation.”

Charlotte Holland, RN, serves as the Community Development Coordinator for Ascension Seton Williamson. Prior to this, Charlotte had served as a Labor and Delivery Nurse for 20 years. “I realized we do a fabulous job of leading women through their pregnancies and deliveries but don't necessarily offer support after the baby arrives,” Charlotte said.

Recognizing the importance of supporting moms struggling with depression, Charlotte created the postpartum support group. Charlotte facilitates the group, which originally met in person at Ascension Seton Northwest. “After COVID-19 restrictions, the program went virtual and now serves our entire area,” said Charlotte. “We can reach more people and the moms can get access to support without leaving home, which can be a huge plus for someone with an infant to care for,” she said. In addition to the support group, Charlotte has been able to make connections with physicians who help these patients, such as Dr. Roshni Koli at Dell Seton Medical Center and Dr. Jeff Newport, Director of Women's Reproductive Mental Health.

Ascension Texas has a particular focus for clinical excellence in women’s health, centering on maternity, gynecology and specialized and surgical care. Through the women’s health partnership with UT Health Austin -- the only such academic partnership in Central Texas -- Ascension Texas brings together a team of highly specialized providers who are at the forefront of the latest research and technological developments in this field of medicine to build an integrated system of care. In addition to providing exceptional clinical patient care, Ascension Texas strives to use resources to improve the health and quality of life of the communities it serves by expanding access, creating supportive healing environments and shaping health knowledge. The postpartum support group is an example of how Ascension Texas gives back to the community in this way.

The postpartum support group is free of charge, and is in keeping with Ascension Texas’ mission and values to help others in need. “As part of our efforts to give back, we have a special commitment to maternal and fetal health as well as overall mental health and well-being,” said Charlotte. “So providing this program at no cost serves multiple purposes in living out our mission.”

When asked what she would tell moms who are going through a similar experience, Brenda said, “I vouch for that program. It’s free, it doesn’t require insurance and it’s accessible online. You don’t have to drive anywhere, and it felt as if we were all in the same room even though it was online,” she said. “Charlotte and the group were just a blessing at my lowest point. I want to thank Ascension Seton for having the postpartum support program. I owe them so much gratitude, and don’t know what I would have done otherwise.”

“I’m doing fine now and my family is too,” she said.

If you or someone you know would like to find out more about the postpartum support group provided by Ascension Texas, please visit the following link for dates of upcoming meetings and registration information: https://ascension-tx.regfox.com/perinatal-support-group?fbclid=IwAR1Gx-J28qMs7QcLyArJsJObccFKgIII6jq50LHrHaN9ojB-RK6AM04nE64

Ascension Texas is focused on making a lasting positive impact on the lives of Central Texans. This article is part of a series of Ascension Texas Impact Stories - each celebrating how we live our mission through clinical service delivery, public partnership, community benefit, community investment and community engagement.