Prenatal and Postpartum Care
Workplace Resources for Family Leave and LactationEmployee Rights, Family Leave and Disability Information
As of January 1, 2018 employees in small businesses with a minimum of 20 workers have access to 12 weeks of unpaid family leave. Employees requesting leave must have 1,250 hours on the job prior to requesting leave. Family Leave does not have to be taken in 12 consecutive weeks. California has increased the wage benefits under disability and eliminated the one week waiting period for all family leave claims. Employees can use the online Disability Insurance and Family Leave Calculator to determine their benefits. Disability benefits are provided for up to six weeks. |
Need Help?
Download the Family Resource Center Directory and contact the appropriate Family Resource Center for help from an advocate or other staff member.
Family Resource Centers can help with non-medical needs too, such as food, clothing, and shelter. |
Resources for Parents with Infants
Click above to view the useful infographic about workplace breastfeeding.
Workplace breastfeeding support is required by law. This means that nursing mothers have sufficient break time and access to a private space - not a bathroom - to pump. Workplace breastfeeding support includes providing time and private space to express breast milk. Moms need to pump as often as every 2-3 hours.
Women can also take Paid Family Leave in California (up to six weeks at up to 55% of usual weekly earnings) to have more time to bond with their baby and breastfeed.
Breastfeeding Warmlines
Telephone assistance (English and Spanish) for breastfeeding questions: www.centralcoastbreastfeeding.com/telephone-support
Central Coast Breastfeeding Coalition
Local resources for breastfeeding and information on workplace rights at centralcoastbreastfeeding.com
Parent Connection
An online Family Resource Center with local information about classes, support groups,
and resources for breastfeeding and parenting. Go to Sloparents.org or call (805) 543-3700.
Pregnancy and Parenting Support of SLO County (formerly Alpha)
A Family Resource Center with support and practical assistance for families during pregnancy and through the child's second year, in English and Spanish. 541-3367 or ppsslo.org.
First 5 SLO County
First 5 SLO County has free Kits for New Parents. Call 781-4058 to request a kit.
WIC
WIC (Women, Infants, and Children) is a federally-funded health and nutrition program for low to medium-income women who are pregnant or have a child under five years of age. The SLO County WIC program provides coupons for free healthy, nutrient-rich foods; nutrition and breastfeeding education; and referrals to health care and other social services. WIC staff provide dental health education and a dentist conducts oral screenings for children and applies fluoride varnishes.
WIC offers extensive breastfeeding education and support, including:
SLO County Public Health Nurse Family Partnership
The SLO County Public Health Nurse Family Partnership helps parents of newborns learn positive parenting skills, practice healthy behaviors and assist families in setting future goals. It provides in-home services countywide to eligible mothers, fathers, family members or friends involved in the care of the child and includes specialized assistance with low-birth weight and failure to thrive babies, difficult parent/child relations, tobacco/drug/alcohol exposure to mother or baby, and possible birth defects. The program serves low-income, at-risk families. For more information: (805) 781-2068 or www.slocounty.ca.gov/Departments/Health-Agency/Public-Health/All-Public-Health-Services/Nurse-Home-Visiting.aspx
Women can also take Paid Family Leave in California (up to six weeks at up to 55% of usual weekly earnings) to have more time to bond with their baby and breastfeed.
Breastfeeding Warmlines
Telephone assistance (English and Spanish) for breastfeeding questions: www.centralcoastbreastfeeding.com/telephone-support
Central Coast Breastfeeding Coalition
Local resources for breastfeeding and information on workplace rights at centralcoastbreastfeeding.com
Parent Connection
An online Family Resource Center with local information about classes, support groups,
and resources for breastfeeding and parenting. Go to Sloparents.org or call (805) 543-3700.
Pregnancy and Parenting Support of SLO County (formerly Alpha)
A Family Resource Center with support and practical assistance for families during pregnancy and through the child's second year, in English and Spanish. 541-3367 or ppsslo.org.
First 5 SLO County
First 5 SLO County has free Kits for New Parents. Call 781-4058 to request a kit.
WIC
WIC (Women, Infants, and Children) is a federally-funded health and nutrition program for low to medium-income women who are pregnant or have a child under five years of age. The SLO County WIC program provides coupons for free healthy, nutrient-rich foods; nutrition and breastfeeding education; and referrals to health care and other social services. WIC staff provide dental health education and a dentist conducts oral screenings for children and applies fluoride varnishes.
WIC offers extensive breastfeeding education and support, including:
- A comprehensive breastfeeding class for pregnant women and their partners.
- Lactation consultant services provided by an International Board Certified Lactation Consultant at 3 WIC sites on a weekly basis. The lactation consultant helps with difficulties that cause women to prematurely discontinue breastfeeding.
- An electric breast pump loan program for women who will be separated from their babies due to work or school. Women can receive one of these high-quality pumps for up to one year...FREE.
- A Breastfeeding Peer Counseling program. The Peer Counselors are WIC staff with specialized training. They provide women with very frequent individualized support for up to 6 months postpartum.
SLO County Public Health Nurse Family Partnership
The SLO County Public Health Nurse Family Partnership helps parents of newborns learn positive parenting skills, practice healthy behaviors and assist families in setting future goals. It provides in-home services countywide to eligible mothers, fathers, family members or friends involved in the care of the child and includes specialized assistance with low-birth weight and failure to thrive babies, difficult parent/child relations, tobacco/drug/alcohol exposure to mother or baby, and possible birth defects. The program serves low-income, at-risk families. For more information: (805) 781-2068 or www.slocounty.ca.gov/Departments/Health-Agency/Public-Health/All-Public-Health-Services/Nurse-Home-Visiting.aspx
Reproductive Health Care for Parents
CAPSLO's Center for Health & Prevention has clinic locations in San Luis Obispo and Arroyo Grande where adults can obtain free, confidential reproductive health care. Providers speak Spanish and walk-ins are accepted.
Planned Parenthood provides confidential reproductive health care in San Luis Obispo and Santa Maria with no- and low-cost fees.
San Luis Obispo Public Health Department has reproductive health care services available now in 3 locations: Paso Robles, San Luis Obispo, and Morro Bay. For appointments and contact information: www.slocounty.ca.gov/Departments/Health-Agency/Public-Health/Clinic-Locations.aspx.
Planned Parenthood provides confidential reproductive health care in San Luis Obispo and Santa Maria with no- and low-cost fees.
San Luis Obispo Public Health Department has reproductive health care services available now in 3 locations: Paso Robles, San Luis Obispo, and Morro Bay. For appointments and contact information: www.slocounty.ca.gov/Departments/Health-Agency/Public-Health/Clinic-Locations.aspx.
Support for Perinatal Mood and Anxiety Disorders
The term Perinatal refers to the time frame from pregnancy throughout the first year after the birth of a baby. Perinatal Mood and Anxiety Disorders (PMADs) are a set of disorders that can develop any time during your pregnancy or postpartum period. They include depression, anxiety, panic, obsessive compulsive disorder, post-traumatic stress disorder and postpartum psychosis. (See more about the disorders below.)
- At least 1 in 7 mothers experience serious depression or anxiety during pregnancy or during the postpartum period.
- 1 in 10 fathers experience postpartum depression.
- Perinatal Mood and Anxiety Disorders (PMADs) are the #1 complication related to childbearing.
Women of every culture, age, income level and ethnicity can develop these disorders. Symptoms can appear anytime starting during pregnancy into the first year following the birth of a baby.
Some risk factors put women at a higher risk:
What can you do?
It is important to reach out for help as soon as possible so you can get the help you need and deserve.
For more information and a list of resources go to:
SLO County PMAD Support Website: www.pmadslo.org
SLO County Maternal Wellness Website: www.postpartumwellness.org
Local Telephone Resources:
SLO County PSI Coordinator: 1-805-994-0873
SLO Hotline and Information Line: 1-800-783-0607
Postpartum Depression Support Line: 1-805-541-3367
Some risk factors put women at a higher risk:
- Personal or family history of depression, OCD, anxiety, bipolar disorder or postpartum psychosis
- Lack of support from family or friends
- High level of physical or emotional stress
- History of abuse (physical, emotional, sexual, verbal)
- Pregnancy complications or a traumatic delivery or birth experience
- Chronic sleep deprivation
- History of miscarriages, pregnancy losses and infertility
What can you do?
- Talk to a health care provider who has training in perinatal mood and anxiety disorders
- Ask for help from friends or loved ones
- Join a support group (local or online)
- Exercise is beneficial in your physical and mental health
- Sleep- take a nap when you can
- Take time for yourself
It is important to reach out for help as soon as possible so you can get the help you need and deserve.
For more information and a list of resources go to:
SLO County PMAD Support Website: www.pmadslo.org
SLO County Maternal Wellness Website: www.postpartumwellness.org
Local Telephone Resources:
SLO County PSI Coordinator: 1-805-994-0873
SLO Hotline and Information Line: 1-800-783-0607
Postpartum Depression Support Line: 1-805-541-3367
About Perinatal Mood and Anxiety Disorders
Depression: symptoms may include feelings of anger, fear, guilt, irritability, helplessness, hopelessness, lack of interest in the baby, appetite/sleep disturbance, difficulty concentrating and making decisions.
Anxiety: symptoms may include nervousness, extreme worries and fears, agitation, constant worry, racing thoughts, high alert, sleep disturbances, excessive concern about baby’s health or her own health, heart palpitations, shaky, dizzy or shortness of breath.
Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder (OCD): may include repetitive, disturbing and unwanted thoughts or mental images. Some women may feel the need to do certain things over and over again to reduce their anxiety caused by those thoughts.
Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD): can be caused by a traumatic childbirth or a previous traumatic life event. Symptoms may include, nightmares, flashbacks, avoidance of the stimuli associated with the event (thoughts, feelings, people, places, details of the event), and persistent increased arousal (irritability, difficulty sleeping, hyper-vigilance, exaggerated startle response).
Psychosis: may include seeing or hearing voices or images that are not there, increased energy, inability to sleep, delusions, and significant mood changes with poor decision-making. This rare illness is dangerous and should be treated as an emergency.
Postpartum struggles are more common than you might think. You are not alone. Help is available!
Anxiety: symptoms may include nervousness, extreme worries and fears, agitation, constant worry, racing thoughts, high alert, sleep disturbances, excessive concern about baby’s health or her own health, heart palpitations, shaky, dizzy or shortness of breath.
Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder (OCD): may include repetitive, disturbing and unwanted thoughts or mental images. Some women may feel the need to do certain things over and over again to reduce their anxiety caused by those thoughts.
Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD): can be caused by a traumatic childbirth or a previous traumatic life event. Symptoms may include, nightmares, flashbacks, avoidance of the stimuli associated with the event (thoughts, feelings, people, places, details of the event), and persistent increased arousal (irritability, difficulty sleeping, hyper-vigilance, exaggerated startle response).
Psychosis: may include seeing or hearing voices or images that are not there, increased energy, inability to sleep, delusions, and significant mood changes with poor decision-making. This rare illness is dangerous and should be treated as an emergency.
Postpartum struggles are more common than you might think. You are not alone. Help is available!