The journey through pregnancy and parenthood can be a long and overwhelming road. It is filled with highs and lows, many questions, and uncertainties. The need for parent support has never been more critical.
The U.S. Surgeon General, Dr. Vivek Murthy, recently released an Advisory on the Mental Health and Well-Being of Parents, highlighting the urgent need to support parents, caregivers, and families better to help our communities thrive. This advisory documented that 33% of parents have reported high stress levels in the past month compared to 20% of other adults and that 48% of parents say that most days, their stress is completely overwhelming compared to 26% among other adults.
According to Postpartum Support International, the number one complication of childbirth is perinatal mental health conditions, with 1 in 5 moms and 1 in 10 dads experiencing postpartum depression.
There is a lot of focus on physical preparations during pregnancy, but the toll pregnancy and parenthood take on mental and emotional health is significant. Support for parents is critical for themselves as well as the health of their children.
Narrowing down specific resources can be difficult. We have listed 13 free pregnancy, postpartum, parenting, and loss resources.
Healthy Start
Healthy Start is a free maternal-infant early intervention program that provides many free services. Healthy Start programs throughout the United States may have slightly different services based on location. However, all Healthy Start programs exist to improve the health outcomes of mothers and infants.
Services typically include free home visiting programs, education, free counseling or support groups, family planning, financial support, pregnancy screening, parenting classes, car seat and safe sleep education, and medical visits, among other services.
You can search for your local Healthy Start program through the National Healthy Start Association directory here.
Postpartum Support International
Postpartum Support International (PSI) is one of the largest free support services advocating for new families’ needs and mental health. PSI offers over 50 free support groups including general pregnancy and postpartum support, postpartum planning, pregnancy loss, pregnancy after loss, fertility challenges, trying to conceive, queer and trans parent groups, birth trauma, parents of multiples, among many others.
Additional support includes a live phone chat, peer mentor program, maternal mental health provider directory and a helpline offered between 8 am to11 pm Eastern Time. Individuals can call 1-800-944-4773 and select #1 for English or #2 for Spanish or text HELP to 1-800-944-4773.
While not a crisis line, the helpline counselor can help direct callers to resources or additional support that may be needed. Support can also be accessed through their app. There are also PSI state chapters that may include additional free local support, peer-to-peer groups, or other specialized groups.
You can check for your local chapter from their directory here.
The Climb
The Climb is a free family fundraising event held one day each year. The Climb is through Postpartum Support International but is hosted by volunteers throughout the United States. The Climb is typically offered during the summer or fall months. You can check their map directory to find a Climb near you. It can be helpful to check in periodically as Climb groups get formed at different times.
While every Climb event is run differently, it is a day specific to advocating and fundraising for the mental health of all families. These events often include free giveaways, speakers, connections and referrals, kid and family-friendly activities, and an opportunity to connect with other families. You will likely find perinatal and maternal health providers in attendance, in addition to local vendors and businesses specific to pregnancy, infant, reproductive, and family services, including loss and infertility.
Whether you are trying to conceive or are a first-time or seasoned parent, The Climb is an excellent opportunity to build referrals and resources, learn about local community providers, and form new friendships.
Pregnancy and Postpartum Expos
While there may be a cost to attend pregnancy and postpartum expos, it still serves as a great opportunity to gather free items and support resources and to build up your community network. These are typically held each year at various locations around the world. These are some of the biggest events specific to pregnancy, postpartum, and women’s wellness. Included are vendors, businesses, doctors, and experts all under the same roof.
This provides an opportunity to interview providers and get to know different businesses. From pediatricians, chiropractors, counselors, occupational or physical therapists, speech therapists, OBGYN providers, local hospitals, and other women’s health professionals, these experts are often there to answer questions or will be scheduled to speak at different break-out seminars. There are also a variety of vendors marketing their business that provide giveaways or swag bags. This can be a fun way of collecting maternity and infant care items and samples.
The Prego Expo, for example, is the world’s largest expo hosted throughout the United States. You can check for 2025 dates and locations here. The cost for a single-day ticket is $20. While there is an initial cost, you will likely return home with a variety of giveaways and supplies worth well over $20.
Sometimes, these types of conventions are free, depending on the host. You can search online, on social media, or even Eventbrite to find local pregnancy, baby, family, or womens’ health expos or events near you.
National Maternal Mental Health Hotline
The National Maternal Mental Health Hotline is available 24/7. You can call or text 1-833-852-6262 (1-833-TLC-MAMA). If you are pregnant or postpartum, a first-time parent, or a parent of multiple children, you can utilize the hotline to speak with a trained counselor. Counselors will provide a safe supportive space to listen, provide resources, or help direct you to local support.
The National Maternal Mental Health Hotline provides support in English and Spanish. Interpreters who speak 60 different languages are also offered. The hotline is also available to partners and family members.
Fussy Baby Network
Babies can only communicate through crying, and hearing your baby cry for long periods can be gut-wrenching. Feeling as though you cannot soothe your baby can be difficult and very stressful for parents.
The Fussy Baby Network through the Erikson Institute is a free phone warmline for parents struggling with a crying or fussy baby. Whether your baby has colic or you just have challenges with calming your little one, The Fussy Baby Network can help.
The phone service is available from 9 am to 5 pm Central time and is based out of Chicago; however, these phone consultations are available to parents around the globe. When you call, you will be connected with an infant specialist who will provide a listening ear and help you navigate your concerns. If you call after hours, you can leave a message, and an infant specialist will return your call the next day.
While this warmline is available to any parent, The Fussy Baby Network also has partners in Berkely, Oakland, Denver, Phoenix, and Seattle. You can reach an infant specialist by messaging on their website or calling 1-888-431-2229.
Early Head Start
Early Head Start programs serve low-income pregnant women and infants and toddlers up to 3 years of age. The program aims to promote infants’ and toddlers’ physical, cognitive, social, and emotional development through safe and developmentally enriching caregiving services, including child development screenings, parenting support, early learning, and financial and family health support services.
Trained staff conduct screenings and appointments at home, daycare, and office locations. For pregnant parents, there is a maternity home visiting program offered.
An application process and eligibility requirements may vary from state to state. You can find an Early Head Start program near you from their directory here.
Local Health Departments
If you haven’t connected with your local health department, you may miss valuable free resources. Most state health departments offer free services that range from parenting classes, support groups for emotional and mental health, new parent support groups, and more. Additionally, some may offer early intervention services, immunizations and wellness visits, education and nutrition, financial support, home visiting programs, and more.
Visit the website of your local health department, where you will often find flyers and contact information for upcoming groups and events.
It is common for local health departments to offer food pantries, which will likely include formula, diapers, and baby food. If needed, you can usually find social workers or coordinators on staff who help link families to additional free resources.
Hospitals and OBGYN Offices
Local hospitals, birthing centers, and OBGYN offices offer free groups to support those during pregnancy, postpartum, and parenting. These groups can usually be found on the website of the hospital or center. Even if you are not a patient of that specific hospital or provider, these groups are often open to anyone in the community.
Group topics may include childbirth, feeding, CPR, newborn support groups, and general pregnancy or postpartum support groups. Sometimes, these groups and classes are offered on a recurring basis or require registration. If you are unsure, be sure to ask your healthcare provider.
These classes are valuable for parents not only for free information and emotional support but also for the opportunity to connect with other parents and families.
Online Community Groups
While online chat forums and peer-to-peer groups do not replace treatment provided by a licensed and trained mental health provider, psychiatrist, or physician, connecting with other parents and individuals with similar lived experiences can be helpful. Various free online chats, Facebook groups, or community forums exist to support new or expecting parents, parents navigating loss, or parents with older children.
HeyPeers or Sharewell are two examples. HeyPeers includes free groups as well as groups and one-on-one coaching sessions that require a small fee. While each group is different, some fees range from $7-$20. There is a directory where you can view group topics before committing. ShareWell offers a variety of groups for $3 a week and reports that they have over 100 groups to choose from.
The Dinner Party is a free peer-to-peer virtual support group for grief and loss. You can find topics specific to parenting after loss and pregnancy, as well as infant and child loss. You must be between the ages of 21 and 45 to join.
For parents and individuals who are navigating infertility, miscarriage, stillbirth, pregnancy, and child loss, we have listed three free specialized resources to choose from in our next resources.
RESOLVE: The National Infertility Association
RESOLVE: The National Infertility Association provides free peer-to-peer support groups throughout the United States and groups led by professional therapists. While not offered in every state, you can search their directory to find if there is a group offered near you. There are also various free virtual support groups listed on their full calendar that you can view here.
RESOLVE also hosts an annual DIY Walk of Hope which offers a free day of fundraising and community involvement for those touched by infertility. These fundraising events are hosted by volunteers in different locations throughout the United States. Additional free resources include a provider directory specific to those trained in reproductive health and an online community forum.
The TEARS Foundation
The TEARS Foundation exists to provide financial assistance for funeral expenses and emotional support for families who have lost a child from 20 weeks gestation through 22 years of age.
There is an application form for funeral assistance to submit that narrows down the specific support you are looking for. The TEARS Foundation also provides free virtual support groups, information and resources specific to pregnancy and child loss. The organization also provides a list of state and international chapters, which may provide additional local support.
Programs through The TEARS Foundation are offered in certain states and each program has different eligiblity and requirements.
You can learn more here.
Return To Zero: H.O.P.E
Return to Zero: H.O.P.E provides support for parents who have experienced pregnancy and child loss.
While the support groups offered are not free, they offer free informational articles that may be helpful to those navigating grief and loss, suggested books, and additional resources on the website.
You will find a variety of articles, poems, and videos from parents sharing their experiences through Stories of Hope and Conversations of Hope.
Also included is a provider directory and a resource directory of local support groups listed by state.
