Resources

 

We love connecting our clients with community resources! If you’re looking for something that you haven’t been able to find, please reach out to us and we’ll do our best to help.

Note: Unfortunately most of the written resources on this list - like most resources around pregnancy, birth, and parenting - contain cishet normative language. We will note written resources we know to use inclusive language with three asterisks***.

Jump to a topic:

Abortion

Access:

NOTE: “Womens Choice Network” is not an abortion care provider. They are a religious anti-choice organization that aims to prevent people from accessing abortion care. Read more about the (un)ethics of “pregnancy resource centers.”

Practical Support:

Emotional Support:

Legal Questions:

 Allergy Support

Anti-Racism in Perinatal Health Care

See our Anti-Racism Commitment page to learn more about what we’re doing in our practice to advance reproductive justice.

 Art Therapy for Expecting & New Parents

  • Virginia Bobro offers virtual art sessions related to birth, parenting, and other life transitions.

Baby Sign Language

Parent kissing baby in carrier Pittsburgh postpartum doula

Babywearing

Birth Plans

  • ***Motherboard Birth is a user-friendly resource for creating a birth plan. (All our birth doula clients get a free account to build their birth plan!)

  • ***The book Transformed by Birth by Britta Bushnell, Ph.D. has a wonderful chapter about creating a birth plan that we highly recommend (along with the whole book!)

Birth Trauma & Recovering from a Difficult Birth

Black Birthing Families

Black parents playing with toddler and laughing Pittsburgh birth doula

Pittsburgh resources:

  • The Birthing Hut is a group of Black doulas and educators offering 1:1 support for families, as well as Blacktivist Birthkeeper Training for aspiring Black doulas.

  • Brown Mamas is a Pittsburgh-based grassroots organization created by and for Black moms. They have a working moms support group and offer mentorship opportunities.

  • Elephant Song Doulas is a collective of Black birth workers in Pittsburgh offering birth and postpartum doula support, culturally relevant childbirth education, and lactation support. Check out their founder Kie on TikTok.

  • Jeaonna Hodges is a Black traditional midwife serving clients of every background in the greater Pittsburgh area. They are also an experienced doula and lactation counselor, and their team is staffed by Black birth workers and wellness professionals.

  • Kangaroo Birthing & Maternity Concierge offers individual and group support for growing families, as well as postpartum meal services.

  • Masters of Maternity is a Black-owned tech startup connecting expecting parents in Pennsylvania with local resources.

  • Melanin Mommies PGH centers historically marginalized Black pregnant or parenting mothers, helping to address and overcome intergenerational trauma. They have programs to support mental health and teach Black infants and kids how to swim.

  • Pittsburgh Black Breastfeeding Circle offers weekly support for Black nursing parents, hosted by Ngozi D. Tibbs, IBCLC

  • ***Selena Eisenberg is a Pittsburgh-based Black traditional midwife and educator. Learn more about them on our blog!

  • ***SisTers PGH: a Black and trans led non-profit organization that serves QTBIPOC (Queer Trans Black Indigenous People of Color) trans, and nonbinary people in Southwestern PA

  • Yoga Motif is a Black-owned yoga studio in Pittsburgh offering virtual prenatal yoga classes.

Online support groups & other resources:

Rights in childbirth:

See below

Books for Kids

Books for Parents

Preparing for birth and new parenthood:

Parenting your baby:

As your little one gets older:

Cesarean Birth

Parents kissing during c-section PIttsburgh Magee doula

  • ***Prepare for a Mindful Cesarean Birth is a beautiful article written by one of our mentors, Virginia Bobro. This resource explains what to expect in the operating room during a cesarean birth, as well as ways to bring love, intention, and connection when welcoming a baby via c-section.

  • How to Have the Best Cesarean is an article written by Sarah Buckley, MD, an internationally-renowned expert on the hormones of birth. She discusses the differences between what parents’ and babies’ bodies physically “expect” from the birthing process, how cesarean births differ, and ways families can bridge the “hormonal gap” to promote recovery and bonding in the early postpartum time.

  • ***Motherboard Birth offers thorough educational resources to help parents understand their options for a cesarean birth, and even create a cesarean birth plan. Whether a c-section is your plan A, B, or Z, it can be beneficial to have a cesarean birth plan on hand just in case.

  • This article about family centered cesarean births can be a helpful resource if you know in advance that you will be birthing by cesarean

  • Evidence Based Birth published an article on the evidence for skin-to-skin after a cesarean birth. It discusses how the current widespread practice of routinely separating parents from babies after birth stacks up against the evidence.

  • The International Cesarean Awareness Network (ICAN) is a great resource for parents who birth by cesarean. Whether planning for or recovering from a cesarean, hoping for a VBAC, or overcoming an emotionally difficult birth, you'll find education and support here. There is also a local Pittsburgh ICAN chapter that holds monthly support meetings.

  • Special Scars, Special Hope is an organization providing resources for people who have uterine scars other than the typical “low transverse” scar common with cesarean births. They share articles and birth stories, and they have a Facebook support group.

See VBAC section below for resources concerning vaginal birth after cesarean.

Child Safety

Parent securing baby in car seat Pittsburgh postpartum doula

Car seats:

In Pennsylvania, 9 out of 10 car seats are installed incorrectly!

Here’s what you can do to make sure your car seats are safe:

We highly recommend working with someone one-on-one to learn how to properly install your baby’s car seat!

  • PaTECHS maintains a list of car seat fitting stations in/around Pittsburgh staffed by certified Child Passenger Safety Technicians (CPSTs)

  • Amanda Cagle is CPST who offers virtual car seat education and installation sessions. She can help you become comfortable installing and removing your car seat and securing your little one as safely as possible every single time. 

  • Find a certified CPST near you by using this directory. We recommend using your state and county to search. There are dozens of CPSTs here in Allegheny County!

  • Learn about Pennsylvania’s car seat laws

  • Car seat recommendations from the American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP)

  • Car seat FAQs for parents and caregivers

  • Car Seats for the Littles is a blog by a CPST that answers common questions about car seats

  • Search for recalls on your car seat

First aid, CPR, and choking relief:

Medication safety in pregnancy and lactation:

  • Infant Risk is a research center providing evidence-based information regarding the safety and effects of medications, alcohol, exercise, herbs, environmental factors, and more on pregnancy and lactation. They offer a hotline you can call to ask specific questions (highly recommend this!), as well as an app you can use to check the safety of certain medications.

Sleeping baby Pittsburgh newborn sleep consultant

Product recalls:

Sleep safety:

Water safety:

Plant safety:

  • “Poisons Help: Emergency Identification for Mushrooms & Plants” is a wonderful resource for anyone with children or pets. Poison Control, Animal Poison Control, and many emergency doctors and veterinarians refer directly to this group.

    If someone ingests a plant or fungus and you are concerned it may be poisonous, you can post in this group and they will identify the specimen to help you know whether you need to seek emergency care.

    This isn’t a typical Facebook group - it is run by a team of expert botanists and mycologists and has strict rules about posting and commenting. The reason for this is that the experts who volunteer are located all around the world, and the group admins call and wake them up if their expertise is needed to help in an emergency.

    If you have preventative questions (i.e. "This is growing in my yard. Is it poisonous?"), the group gives links to other plant and fungus ID resources that will help you with that.

Circumcision & Intact Care

Parent playing with baby Pittsburgh doula

Cloth Diapering

Congenital Heart Disease (CHD) Support

Doctor listening to baby's heart virtual birth doula

Disabled Parenting

Pittsburgh resource:

Online resources:

Essential oils and herbs Pittsburgh doula

Essential Oils Safety

Friends & Family

Lactation & Infant Feeding

Baby nursing Pittsburgh lactation consultant

One-on-one lactation support:

Pittsburgh support groups:

Parent smiling while nursing baby Pittsburgh breastfeeding help

Comprehensive lactation course:

  • ***The Practical Parent’s Plan for Nursing a Newborn is our online, self-paced course to learn about nursing and lactation before your baby arrives. It’s an approachable class that focuses on the practical aspects of making nursing work in your own life, and will help you avoid common pitfalls. (Our doula clients have free access to this course included with their package!)

Other online resources:

  • Kelly Mom is a helpful resource for digestible, evidence-based information about lactation (including nursing, pumping, and bottle feeding). There are many pages addressing questions about whether certain issues are normal - something that can comfort nursing parents (or help you know when to seek out additional support).

  • African American Breastfeeding Network is an organization that prioritizes lactation education and support for Black parents

  • Chocolate Milk Cafe offers virtual support group meetings for Black parents who are nursing

  • Breastfeeding after a Cesarean is a pretty thorough resource that includes real stories in addition to well-researched information

  • La Leche League International is an organization dedicated to helping parents breastfeed through peer-to-peer support groups and education. We find their website a bit difficult to navigate, but if you know what you're looking for it can be a good resource. They also host a Facebook support groups for people nursing twins and multiples.

Dysphoric Milk Ejection Reflex (D-MER):

  • Some parents experience strong feelings of depression, anxiety, or other negative emotions when nursing or expressing milk. This is known as Dysphoric Milk Ejection Reflex (D-MER), and unfortunately there isn’t much research on the subject. D-Mer.org is the most thorough resource we’ve found, and they also host a Facebook group for peer support.

    If this is happening to you, please know that you’re not alone (and you’re not a bad parent!). Marlee would also be glad to help you explore your options if D-MER is affecting your desire/ability to continue lactation.

Lactation policy and advocacy:

Peer-to-peer milk sharing:

Lactating person pumping milk Pittsburgh breastfeeding help

Pumping and milk storage:

Inducing lactation and relactation:

Parent feeding baby with bottle Pittsburgh breastfeeding support

Formula:

  • If you have questions about supplementing your baby with formula or feeding exclusively formula, Marlee is happy to assist

  • The World Health Organization (WHO) has a publication regarding safe infant formula preparation at home. We highly recommend following this protocol (especially using boiling water, since powdered formula cannot be sterilized on its own).

  • Baby Formula Expert is a website run by Bridget Young, Ph.D. who has a doctorate in nutrition and is also a certified lactation counselor (CLC). This is a great resource for helping to figure out what kind of formula might be best for your baby, as well as answers to commonly asked questions.


Baby led weaning:

LGBTQIA+ Families

Queer couple with baby Pittsburgh LGBT doula

Organizations and providers serving the LGBTQIA+ community in Pittsburgh:

  • ***Open Space Counseling, Consulting & Wellness has a number of mental health professionals from the queer and trans community, and offers counseling and support groups specifically for the trans/nonbinary and LGBQIA+ communities

  • ***Felishatee Rodriguez is a Latinx LGBTQIA+ therapist specializing in needs of the BIPOC & LGBTQIA+ communities, trauma, and more.

  • ***PGH Equality Center: promotes education, advocacy, and social justice for all LGBTQIA+ people and allies in Western Pennsylvania

  • ***SisTers PGH: a Black and trans led non-profit organization that serves QTBIPOC (Queer Trans Black Indigenous People of Color) trans, and nonbinary people in Southwestern PA

  • ***Dreams of Hope: queer youth arts

  • ***PFLAG Pittsburgh: support, education, and advocacy for parents and families of queer children

  • ***Proud Haven: Helping LGBTQIA+ youth and adults experiencing homelessness and housing instability in the Pittsburgh region find resources and housing options

  • ***QBurgh: Pittsburgh’s queer news source

LGBTQ+ Facebook groups for Pittsburgh folks:

Queer and trans affirming reproductive healthcare in Pittsburgh:

Queer parents playing with newborn Pittsburgh queer doula

Queer conception & fertility resources:

Pregnancy loss support:

Supportive online groups for gestation:

Queer and/or gender expansive postpartum & parenting resources:

Supportive online groups for postpartum & parenting:

Queer Family-Building Stories:

Neurodiverse Parents

Brain with rainbow colors virtual birth doula

NICU Families

Parenting Support

Child and parent laughing Pittsburgh postpartum doula

  • Visible Child is a practical parenting approach rooted in child development principles and healthy nervous system regulation. There is a Facebook group for information and support with this mindful parenting perspective, and founder Robin Einzig also offers consultations.

  • Human at Birth by Kristen Long Fegan is another online resource for respectful parenting

  • NurturePA offers a virtual peer-to-peer parenting support program. Parents are paired with a mentor who can offer information and act as a sounding board.

  • The Longest Shortest Time is a podcast (no longer producing new episodes) featuring stories from real families about the struggles and joys of parenthood

  • Parenting for Social Change is devoted to the idea that connected relationships between parents and children can change lives.

  • The Child Development Network introduces basic developmental stages that can be helpful if you’re just starting to learn more about child development

  • Down Syndrome Association of Pittsburgh offers resources for parents of children with Down Syndrome, from prenatal diagnoses through adulthood.

Pelvic Floor Health

  • The Longest Shortest Time podcast produced a couple episodes about pelvic floor dysfunction that are super helpful if you're just starting to learn about this issue: Healing after Childbirth and Ask a Pelvic Floor PT Anything. 

  • Childbirth Connection has a page called Pelvic Floor: Preventing Problems that provides a great overview of the pelvic floor, in addition to disorders of the pelvic floor and ways to prevent them.

  • The Interstitial Cystitis Association provides information about pelvic floor physical therapy. They describe the process of physical therapy to treat pelvic floor disorders, which can be life-changing for people suffering from pelvic floor disorders.

  • Pelvic floor health isn’t only important in regards to vaginal birth! This article explains how parents who give birth by cesarean can still benefit from working with a pelvic floor physical therapist.

Perinatal Mental Health

Parent holding newborn Pittsburgh postpartum doula

Crisis lines:

Therapy, counseling, and relationship coaching:

Additional resources:

Pregnancy after Loss

Rainbow in a cloudy sky Pittsburgh bereavement doula

  • Pregnancy after loss can bring its own unique challenges and joys. The Return to Zero H.O.P.E. has a helpful page with some tips for this sensitive time. 

  • Return to Zero H.O.P.E. also offers online support groups for people who are pregnant after loss.

  • Pregnancy After Loss Support (PALS) offers online support groups for pregnancy after different types of loss so you can interact with others who have had similar experiences.

Pregnancy Loss

  • Pregnancy after loss can bring its own unique challenges and joys. The Return to Zero H.O.P.E. has a helpful page with some tips for this sensitive time. 

  • Return to Zero: H.O.P.E. also offers online support groups for people who are pregnant after loss. Topics in the past have included:

    • Ending a wanted pregnancy

    • Support for grandparents

    • Support for infant loss parents

    • Parenting after loss

    • Pregnancy loss support for BIPOC

  • Pregnancy After Loss Support (PALS) offers online support groups for pregnancy after different types of loss so you can interact with others who have had similar experiences.

  • LGBT Pregnancy & Infant Loss Facebook group

Prenatal Yoga

Pregnant person practicing yoga Pittsburgh childbirth class

Rights in Childbirth

Parent holding newborn with hospital bracelet Pittsburgh Magee doula

Substance Use Disorder

Vaginal Birth after Cesarean (VBAC)