In states with abortion bans, postpartum doulas for teens are needed now more than ever. 

In 2022, the rate of pregnancy among teens in Texas rose for the first time in 15 years following the implementation of a near-total abortion ban in 2021. Living in Florida with a six-week abortion ban as of May 2024, it is possible we could experience similar results.  

Abortion bans can cause long-lasting and profound effects on the lives of affected pregnant teens and their families, including limiting their access to educational advancements, employment opportunities, financial security, and more.  

Even more concerning, teen mothers are twice as likely to experience postpartum depression (PPD) as adult mothers, with an estimated rate that's double the U.S. average of 10 – 20%. This means that at least 30,000 adolescent girls in the U.S. suffer from postpartum depression each year. 

While getting checkups shortly after childbirth is a routine part of postpartum or postnatal care, the ability to attend these checkups may be more strenuous and stressful for teen parents of unintended pregnancies. They may find they need to advocate for themselves more than older patients to get the same amount of care, or coordinate with multiple people for things like carpooling, financial assistance, and more. 

In the U.S., Black women and teens are even more at risk of having postpartum complications — and dying from them — because of long-term structural racism, discrimination, poverty, and barriers to postpartum care.  

At Planned Parenthood of South, East and North Florida, we’ve made it our mission to support people in every step of their reproductive lives – including the lives of teens who need postpartum care in our community. We are proud to announce we now offer a free 6-week program that provides new parents between the ages of 13-19 in select communities with postpartum doula support in the first year after birth.  

Our postpartum doula program is a hybrid model meant to be flexible for the busy postpartum lives of teen parents. Our doulas will meet with participants online and in-person at public places like restaurants or libraries.  

Postpartum doulas provide support after birth during the new journey into parenthood. Going from months of pregnancy and preparation to suddenly being responsible for a newborn can be an isolating transition. And it’s especially difficult if you don’t have the chance to process your pregnancy and birth experience – including in situations of forced birth due to things like abortion bans and restrictions.   

Postpartum doulas may offer help with things like:  

• Postpartum recovery 

• Providing free baby items such as: diapers, clothes, bottles, or nursing products 

• Breastfeeding/infant feeding support 

• Meals and nutrition education 

• Mental health support 

• Infant care education about things like sleeping and eating, childcare, and more 

• Resources and referrals for things like WIC, Medicaid, Early Learning Coalition, pediatricians, etc. 

• Gift cards and gas stipends 

• Connection to community resources 

• And more 

The best part? These services will be completely free to qualifying teen parents and their families who need them.  

Now more than ever, it is crucial postpartum doulas are available to all birthing people in Florida – especially for teen mothers and parents. Having a doula be a part of the postpartum experience could mean the difference between life and death for some pregnant teens.