Pregnant and Postpartum Support Program

Empowering Women on Their Recovery Journey

Chestnut Health Systems’ Pregnant and Postpartum Program is dedicated to supporting pregnant women and new mothers as they navigate recovery. Our goal is to provide stability, support, and wellness by offering tools for a healthy, sober future.

What We Offer:

• Comprehensive Support: Access to substance use treatment, mental health care, and recovery resources.

• Doula and Peer Recovery Assistance: Dedicated doulas provide continuous emotional, physical, and informational support from pregnancy through the first year postpartum.

• Essential Services: Connections to housing, food, clothing, and community resources.

• Transportation Assistance: Help getting to medical, legal, and other vital appointments.

• Medical Assisted Recovery and Treatment (MAR/T): Linkage to treatment options that support recovery.

What is a Doula/Peer Recovery Support Specialist?

This dual role provides non-judgmental, continuous care during pregnancy, birth, and postpartum. Specialists use their personal experiences to mentor, educate, and support women in recovery.

How Can a Doula Help During Pregnancy?

• Emotional and physical support during pregnancy, labor, and delivery.

• Education on childbirth and recovery.

• Assistance in creating a personalized birth plan.

• Coaching during labor, including pain management techniques.

• Guidance for loved ones on how to best support the mother.

• Encouragement of early bonding between mother and baby.
   

How Can a Doula Help After Birth?

• Breastfeeding and bottle-feeding support.

• Newborn care education.

• Light housework and meal preparation assistance.

• Support in balancing family life with a new baby.

• Helping older children transition to a new sibling.

• Providing a judgment-free listening ear and postpartum mental health support.
   

Why Choose Doula Support?

Studies show that having a doula can lead to:

• Increased positive birth experiences

• Higher rates of breastfeeding success

• Better pain management during labor

• Shorter labor duration

• Fewer medical interventions and C-sections

• Greater confidence in personal healthcare decisions

Doulas do not provide medical care or deliver babies; they offer continuous, compassionate support before, during, and after birth.

Meet Our Doulas

Get Started Today

Doulas can provide services in the Illinois counties of Bond, Clinton, Jersey, Macoupin, Madison, Montgomery, and St. Clair.

For more information or to enroll, call (618) 877-4420 or email healthyfamilies@chestnut.org.

These services are supported in part by a grant to Chestnut Health Systems from the Illinois Department of Human Services, Division of Substance Use Prevention & Recovery, as part of the Illinois State Opioid Response (SOR) grant from the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (TI-083278).