Support Groups
Talking with other women who have experienced postpartum depression and anxiety can be extremely helpful. Support groups offer the opportunity to validate experiences, share coping strategies, and gain support and encouragement.
The volunteers running peer support groups all have firsthand experience with postpartum depression and anxiety, either personally or with a family member. However, these volunteers are NOT medical professionals and therefore cannot give professional advice, diagnose, prescribe, or in any way treat postpartum mood disorders.
Support groups are an adjunct to — not a replacement for — medical treatment. Those with medical, mental, or personal issues are strongly urged to seek advice from physicians and/or mental health professionals.
Groups are open to women during pregnancy or first year postpartum.
Groups are FREE, drop-in, and ongoing; no need to register.
No official diagnosis is required to attend.
Babies in arms are welcome.
UPDATED MAY 2019
Alexandria
INOVA Alexandria Hospital
4320 Seminary Road, Alexandria
HEC 1&2; 1st floor near auditorium
2nd & 4th Wednesdays each month
7:30 – 9 pm
alexandria@postpartumva.org
Arlington
Virginia Hospital Center
1701 North George Mason Drive, Arlington
Lobby Classroom / Women & Infant Health
2nd & 4th Thursdays each month
12:30 — 2 pm
arlington@postpartumva.org
Charlottesville
Sentara Martha Jefferson Hospital Outpatient Care Center
595 Martha Jefferson Drive, Charlottesville
3rd Floor, Community Education Room
2nd & 4th Thursdays each month
10:30 am to 12 noon
and
1st & 3rd Mondays each month
7 — 8:30 pm
Chesapeake
Fairfax
INOVA Fair Oaks Hospital
3600 Joseph Siewick Drive, Fairfax
Conference Center; ask at reception desk for directions
1st & 3rd Thursdays each month
7:30 – 9 pm
fairoaks@postpartumva.org
INOVA Fairfax Women’s Hospital
3300 Gallows Road, Falls Church
5th floor Lobby / Atrium
1st & 3rd Thursdays each month
11:30 am — 1 pm
fairfax@postpartumva.org
Fredericksburg
Harrisonburg
Sentara RMH Funkhouser Women’s Health Center
2010 Health Campus Drive, Harrisonburg
4th Thursday evening each month
Teresa Oliver, RN, 540-564-7200
Leesburg
INOVA Loudoun Hospital
44045 Riverside Parkway, Leesburg
Suite 114
1st & 3rd Wednesdays each month
11:30 am – 1 pm
loudoun@postpartumva.org
Lynchburg
Horizon Wellness Center — Courtland
620 Court Street, Lynchburg
4th Wednesday each month
6 – 7:30 pm
Rhonda Turner, 434-847-8035
Rhonda.turner@horizonbh.org
The Motherhood Collective
120 Linden Avenue, Lynchburg
2nd & 4th Mondays each month
7 – 8 pm
contact@themotherhoodcollective.org
Manassas
NOVANT/UVa Health Prince William Medical Center
8700 Sudley Road, Manassas
Use Hylton Birthing Center entrance and check-in at reception/security desk.
1st & 3rd Fridays each month
10 — 11:30 am
info@postpartumva.org
Midlothian
Bon Secours St Francis Medical Center
13710 St Francis Boulevard, Midlothian
Conference rooms past cafeteria
2nd Thursday each month, 9:30 – 11 am
4th Thursday each month, 6:30 – 8 pm
stfrancis@postpartumva.org
Norfolk
Children’s Hospital of The King’s Daughters
601 Children’s Lane, Norfolk
4th floor, Neonatology Conf Room
1st Tues each month, 12:30 pm (NICU moms)
3rd Wed each month, 6 pm (all moms)
757-668-7165
chkd@postpartumva.org
Sentara Leigh Hospital
Lafayette Conference Room, across from gift shop
830 Kempsville Road, Norfolk
1st & 3rd Tuesdays each month
6:30 – 8:00 pm
norfolk@postpartumva.org
Portsmouth
Portsmouth Naval Medical Center
Military members and dependents
620 John Paul Jones Circle, Portsmouth
Social Work Conf Room (Bldg 3, 4th floor)
Every Thursday afternoon, 2 pm
Kimberly Barnard-Bracey, 757-953-5861
Richmond
Bon Secours St. Mary’s Hospital
5801 Bremo Road, Richmond
Education Room by cafeteria
1st & 3rd Saturdays each month
9 – 10:30 am
stmarys@postpartumva.org
Cypress Counseling
1312 West Main Street, Richmond
3rd Friday each month
McKenzie Casad, 757-553-2780
mcasad@postpartumva.org
Urban Baby Beginnings
Sarah Garland Center
2600 Nine Mile Road, Richmond
1st & 3rd Saturdays each month
1 – 3 pm
Learn more and register HERE
Richmond - VCU
VCU Health
Children’s Pavilion
1000 East Broad Street
Richmond, Virginia 23219
5th Floor Conference Room – Room 5-086
Twice meetings each month – 5:30 pm to 7:00 pm
For the complete schedule and to register, visit: vcuhealth.org/postpartumsupport
Healthy snacks, childcare and parking vouchers are provided to VCU group registrants.
Williamsburg
Sentara Williamsburg Regional Medical Center
100 Sentara Circle, Williamsburg
Jamestown Conference Room
2nd & 4th Tuesdays each month
5:45 – 7:30 pm
williamsburg@postpartumva.org
Child Development Center
150 Point O Woods Road, Williamsburg
1st & 3rd Wednesdays each month
1:45 – 3 pm
(757) 566-3300
Virginia Beach
Sentara Princess Anne Hospital
2025 Glenn Mitchell Drive, Virginia Beach
2nd floor FMC Classroom
2nd & 4th Tuesdays each month
6:30 – 8 pm
virginiabeachspah@postpartumva.org
Woodbridge
Woodbridge
Woodbridge Support Group – Sentara Northern Virginia Medical Center
2300 Opitz Boulevard, Woodbridge
Hylton Education Center
2nd & 4th Tuesdays each month
10 –11:30 am
woodbridge@postpartumva.org
PMAD Open Studio: Therapeutic Artmaking for Military Moms
9518 Workhouse Way, Lorton
Workhouse Arts Center: Warrior Way Art Studio
3rd Tuesday each month
10 am — 1:00 pm
yonseniawhite@workhousearts.org
Winchester
Winchester Medical Center
1840 Amherst Street, Winchester North Tower
Women & Children’s Classroom B
Beginning June 11: Second & Fourth Tuesdays
11:00-12:30 pm
winchester@postpartumva.org
Long Distance Resources
Can’t find someone to talk to close to home? Several resources are available online or via phone:
- Postpartum Support International offers weekly online support groups, including a group just for military mothers.
- Online PPD Support Group offers online moderated discussion forums about perinatal mood and anxiety disorders.
- Smart Patients Postpartum Community offers an online community where women can learn from each other about recovery, treatments, the latest science, and how it all fits into the context of their experience in a private space where they can feel comfortable sharing openly.
If this is a medical emergency, or if you feel you might harm yourself or your baby, contact 911 or go to the nearest hospital emergency room.