Support Services

Breastfeeding Mothers Group

Breastfeeding is the most natural way to nourish your baby and provides many benefits. Summa Health’s free Breastfeeding Mothers Group is available at our Akron campus and is designed especially for you and your baby. In addition, the support group gives you the opportunity to interact with other breastfeeding mothers to share your concerns, ideas and successes, as well as the opportunity to weigh your baby to further evaluate their progress.

Click here for more information. 

Postpartum Support Services

What does postpartum depression look or feel like? If you have recently experienced any of these symptoms, you may want to consider counseling from a Summa behavioral health specialist for further evaluation of your situation.

• “Blue” or “down” mood: having feelings of  tearfulness/hopelessness or  feeling empty inside
• Anxiety or agitated feelings
• Loss of pleasure in either all or most of your daily activities
• Appetite and weight changes: usually a drop in appetite and weight, but sometimes the opposite
• Sleeping problems: usually trouble with sleeping, even when your baby is sleeping
• Noticeable change in how you walk and talk: can be restlessness or sluggishness
• Extreme fatigue or loss of energy 
• Feelings of worthlessness or guilt
• Difficulty concentrating and making decisions
• Thoughts about death or suicide: possible fleeting, frightening, or fearful thoughts of harming yourself or your baby
• Physical symptoms may include rapid heartbeat, dizziness/shakiness, chest pain, headaches, breathlessness, or numbness

About Postpartum Support Services

This service helps mothers find their way through their feelings, fears and concerns.

A behavioral health specialist focuses on:

• Assessing the patient's current emotional health situations
• Monitoring the progress or setbacks
• Self-evaluating historic and current risk factors
• Education regarding the psychological and physical impact of postpartum depression on children and families
• Learning concrete tools to help minimize the potential negative impact of postpartum depression

Additional Information

If you have questions about our postpartum support services or need help finding other behavioral health services in your area, please feel free to contact us at 234.867.7965.

For immediate assistance, you can contact the National Postpartum Depression hotline, 24 hours a day/7 days a week: (800) PPD-MOMS 800.773.6667. If you are having a medical emergency and feel you may cause harm to yourself or your baby, call 9-1-1 immediately.