Pregnancy & Postpartum Support Minnesota
PPSM is a Minnesota, non-profit organization run by volunteer members and a functioning board.
We make an impact through the support of our community volunteers and donations.
History + Legacy
Pregnancy & Postpartum Support MN (PPSM) began in 2006 when Suzanne Swanson, PhD, a St. Paul psychologist, formed the group with other area mental health professionals with a passion for helping moms and families. The group created the first resource list specific to perinatal mental health. In 2015, PPSM became the Minnesota State Chapter for Postpartum Support International (PSI).
We provide support, advocacy, + awareness. We are a volunteer-led organization paving the way for perinatal mental health and setting the standard for competent perinatal care in Minnesota.
Connecting families & professionals to support & resources.
PPSM (PSI-MN) is a volunteer run organization.
Our ability to offer support, resource, and advocacy for proper care and treatment for parents and families struggling with Perinatal Mental Health Conditions depends on volunteers, members, and donors.
Mission
We are a trusted ally for families and practitioners, providing support, advocacy, awareness, and training.
We are the organization in Minnesota paving the way for perinatal mental health.
Vision
Ensuring no Minnesotan moves through their pregnancy and postpartum journey alone.
Values
Integrity, Community, Diversity, & Meaningful Service
Perinatal Mental Health
Experts estimate about 80% of new mothers experience mood swings and weepiness during the first 2-3 weeks after giving birth. Sometimes called “the baby blues,” this is a common adjustment period and resolves without any medical assistance.
While many parents experience some mild mood changes during or after the birth of a child, 15 to 20% of women experience more significant symptoms of depression, anxiety, OCD, trauma, bipolar, psychosis, or other conditions within the first 12 months after delivery of a baby. Please know that with informed care you can prevent a worsening of these symptoms and can fully recover. Perinatal mental health conditions affect new parents across any culture, age, income level, and race/ethnicity. You deserve support and do not need to suffer alone. Reach out to your health care provider to get help.
For more information, resources, support groups, and more:
Postpartum Support International (PSI)
To find a perinatal mental health or other birth professional:
Common Signs of Perinatal Mental Health Difficulties
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Are you feeling sad or depressed?
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Do you feel more irritable or angry with those around you?
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Are you having difficulty bonding with your baby?
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Do you feel anxious or panicky?
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Do you experience dizziness, shortness of breath, or difficulty concentrating?
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Are you having problems with eating or sleeping?
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Are you having upsetting thoughts that you can’t get out of your mind? Do you replay a difficult labor/delivery or related experience?
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Do you have repetitive, upsetting, and unwanted thoughts or mental images (obsessions), and sometimes feel you need to do certain things over and over (compulsions) to reduce the anxiety caused by those thoughts?
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Do you feel as if you are “out of control” or “going crazy?”
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Do you feel like you never should have become a parent?
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Are you worried that you might hurt your baby or yourself?
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Do you have flashbacks or intrusive pictures in your mind?
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Do you avoid things (e.g., hospital, medical appointments, holding your baby, etc) because it reminds you of something scary or painful?
If any of this sounds like your experience during pregnancy or postpartum know that help is available to you. You are not alone.
Honoring the Impact of Our Doula Scholarship Program
Earlier this year, we shared that our Doula Scholarship Program would be sunsetting after its impactful run from 2021–2024. While it’s easy to tally the number of hours volunteered or families served, the true value of the program goes far beyond the numbers.
This program showed Minnesota what’s possible when we invest in perinatal mental health—not just through clinical care, but through the compassionate, boots-on-the-ground support of doulas and perinatal providers. It highlighted how vibrant and deeply connected our perinatal community is. And it reminded us that doulas, midwives, therapists, doctors, and others are showing up every day with fierce dedication to walk alongside birthing people in one of the most vulnerable and transformative times of life.
Though the program has ended, PPSM’s commitment to postpartum doula care and perinatal mental health continues. In 2025, we’ll be launching a statewide community needs survey to better understand where support is most needed—and how we can show up in more sustainable, targeted ways for families across Minnesota.
We want to hear from you. If you’d like to share what perinatal mental health needs look like in your area, or have ideas for how PPSM can support families in this next chapter, please reach out.
Thank you for being part of this movement. Together, we’re making Minnesota a place where no one has to navigate the perinatal journey alone.
Program Highlights
Families Served
Your support of the Doula Scholarship Program allowed 32 families to receive necessary postpartum doula support.
Doula Hours Funded
Compassionate, expert doulas provided over 600 hours of support to Minnesota families in need.
Community Impact
This program represented something far greater: a powerful testament to the strength, compassion, and dedication of Minnesota’s perinatal provider community.
Through this initiative, doulas across the state stepped up—not just as birth workers, but as beacons of emotional and mental health support during one of life’s most vulnerable transitions. Their presence reminded families that they were not alone, and reminded all of us how deeply committed our perinatal network—doulas, midwives, therapists, doctors, and more—is to wrapping care around new parents.