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Some reliable resources for parenting your baby include:

*County Department of Education - Parenting Classes/Playgroups

*Community Education - Usually has free publications at the library and local schools advertising free and inexpensive classes/literature on parenting.

*Parenting Magazine - They usually have copies of their magazines at your Obstetrician's office, your Pediatricians office and the hospital/birthing center where you had your baby. These magazines usually have on-line resources with local contacts.

*Churches - Often have 'Mommy and Me' or 'Mothers of Pre-schoolers' or Playgroups that meet regularly. This is a good social activity for you and your baby.

*Hospitals - Medical Centers often have support classes on everything from how to recognize you're depressed and what to do about it, to how to get fit after giving birth. You can also get help with nursing your baby if there's a problem such as the baby's not latching on properly or you don't feel like you're able to create enough milk to meet your baby's needs.

*For Childcare (If you're preparing to go back to work) - The County Department of Social Services can direct you to licensed childcare providers. You can find everything from in-home providers to full-sized daycare centers.

*IF YOU REALLY NEED HELP:

If you feel as if you may hurt your baby or yourself, but you don't know who to talk to, who to trust, then you should call your doctor or perhaps your pastor (if you go to church).

He/She can help you find the support and help you need to get through it, also, sometimes your hormones don't bounce back to normal without a bit of help after having a baby.

Depression can sit on you like a cold wet blanket, but you might not even know it's there.

This is especially difficult if there are problems at home:

Maybe your partner is off fighting the war in Iraq or doing a dangerous job such as Police Work or Firefighting... and you're not eating or sleeping properly, perhaps living in a strange place without any help or support to speak of.... Little things can add up to big problems. If you feel overwhelmed, then ask for help.

Maybe the baby's daddy is out of the picture OR - Unfortunately, he's still around and abusive as ever... You have the right to be safe and content in life.

Whatever the issues are in your particular situation, if you're having negative thoughts about going on with life... then you need to know that you're not the first person to feel like that.

But, you and your baby deserve to be safe both physically and emotionally and there's help for you, just waiting for your call...

So call your doctor and be honest about what's going on, and they can check you over, and/or refer you to the help you need, to survive and thrive.

*peace*

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