Maternal & baby care journey

Finding the right care,
at the right time

Maternal and infant care can feel fragmented — and many women end up coordinating it themselves. This map shows who you need, when you need them, and how they connect. Because finding the right local support should feel easier.

This content is intended solely as a general educational overview and should not be interpreted as medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment. Individual care pathways and medical needs may vary. Please consult your healthcare provider for guidance specific to your situation.

Where the right support changes everything

From OBs to pelvic floor therapists to lactation support, the right care is often scattered across different systems that don’t talk to each other. It’s hard to find, hard to coordinate, and even harder to know what’s actually covered.

The result? You end up doing the coordination yourself — researching, calling, cross-checking insurance — all while pregnant or caring for a newborn.

Behind every stat is a moment where the right support could have made a difference.

~12-15%
of couples do not conceive within 12 months of trying [4]
75%
of mothers with a perinatal mood or anxiety disorder go untreated [3]
60%
of U.S. mothers stop breastfeeding earlier than they intended to [1]
1 in 3
women will experience a pelvic floor disorder in their lifetime [2]

Whether it’s finding a lactation consultant before giving up on breastfeeding, getting pelvic floor care before symptoms worsen, or connecting with a therapist during pregnancy — the challenge isn’t that care doesn’t exist.

It’s knowing where to find it, when to seek it out, and how to actually access it locally.

That’s what this map is here to make easier. matrea helps you find and connect with maternal care providers near you — when you actually need them.

1
Fertility planning

Before you start trying, a preconception visit with your OB-GYN can be a helpful early step. This visit may include bloodwork, review of chronic conditions, medication discussions, and planning for a healthy pregnancy. It can also be a time to discuss whether referrals — such as to a fertility specialist, dietitian, or therapist — may be appropriate for your situation.

1 in 8couples in the U.S. experience infertility [5]
~50%of infertility cases involve male factor — yet it's often the last thing tested [5]
First contact
OB-GYNPreconception visit
Refers to
Fertility specialistIf needed
NutritionistLifestyle support
Mental health specialistEmotional support
💡 Consider planning ahead. A preconception visit 3–6 months before you start trying may give your care team time to identify issues early and help you prepare for pregnancy.
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2
Pregnancy

Pregnancy care can involve more than routine prenatal appointments. Your OB or midwife often serves as a central hub and may refer you to specialists depending on your needs. For example, high blood pressure may involve Maternal Fetal Medicine co-management, low back or pelvic symptoms may involve pelvic floor physical therapist, and anxiety or mood concerns may involve a mental health professional. Midwives and OBs can have overlapping roles, so finding the right fit early can be helpful.

6–8%of pregnancies are considered high-risk and may benefit from Maternal Fetal Medicine co-management [6]
~20%of pregnant women experience depression or anxiety during pregnancy itself — not just after [7]
Primary care
OB-GYNObstetrician-gynecologist
MidwifeCNM / CPM
Refers to
Maternal Fetal MedicineIf high-risk
Pelvic floor therapistPrevention
NutritionistOngoing support
Mental healthOngoing support
Self-enrolled
Baby prep classesChildbirth educator
💡 It is okay to ask about referrals. If you have physical symptoms, feeding concerns, anxiety, mood changes, or other questions, consider asking your care team whether a referral to a specialist may be appropriate.
↓
3
Postpartum

The postpartum period is often where gaps in care feel most noticeable. Many physical and emotional changes happen in the first several weeks after birth, while the traditional postpartum visit often occurs around 6 weeks. Your OB can refer you to specialists, and depending on your needs, insurance, and local options, some providers may also be contacted directly. A doula, for example, is often arranged before birth and is self-scheduled.

84%of perinatal women live in maternal mental health provider shortage areas [8]
Weeks 1–4a critical early period when many women experience significant physical and emotional changes [9]
First contact
OB-GYNPostpartum follow-up
Refers to
Lactation specialistFeeding support
Pelvic floor therapistRecovery
Mental healthPPD screening
NutritionistRecovery diet
Self-arranged
DoulaBirth / postpartum support
💡 The 6-week visit is one touchpoint, not the only one. If something feels off before then — physically or emotionally — contact your OB, Lactation Specialist, therapist, or another qualified healthcare professional. For urgent symptoms, seek immediate medical care.
↓
4
Childcare

Once your baby arrives, your pediatrician is a key resource — tracking development, administering vaccines, and flagging anything that needs specialist attention. If your baby is not meeting expected speech, feeding, or motor milestones, your pediatrician may refer to a speech-language pathologist, physical therapist, or occupational therapist. Nannies and sleep consultants are hired directly by families and aren't part of a medical referral chain — but they're just as real a part of the support system. Practical daily care can also make a meaningful difference for your own recovery and wellbeing.

1 in 6children are diagnosed with a developmental disability — including ADHD, speech delays, autism, hearing loss, and learning disabilities. Early referrals before age 3 may connect families with federally supported Early Intervention services [10]
55.8%of babies receive any breast milk at 6 months — but only 24.9% are exclusively breastfed, meaning most need a feeding plan before returning to work [11]
First contact
PediatricianPrimary care
Refers to
Occupational therapistDevelopmental delays
Speech-language pathologistSpeech / feeding delays
Physical therapistMotor delays
Self-arranged
NannyIn-home childcare
Baby sleep consultantCertified sleep coach
💡 Early Intervention services support eligible children ages 0–3 under IDEA. If your pediatrician flags a developmental concern, consider asking about an Early Intervention referral. Availability, eligibility, and costs can vary by state and program.

We built this map because we went through it ourselves — confused, overwhelmed, and wishing someone had handed us a clearer roadmap. The system is not always easy to navigate. Providers may not always be connected. Referrals and next steps can be hard to track. And some helpful care options — such as pelvic floor PT, Lactation Specialist support, or perinatal therapy — may not always be discussed unless you know they exist.

So ask questions, learn what support exists, and talk with your care team about what may be right for you. You deserve support at every stage.

with love, matrea

Sources

  1. Eunice Kennedy Shriver National Institute of Child Health and Human Development. Common Causes of Infertility. n.d. nichd.nih.gov
  2. Maternal Mental Health Leadership Alliance. Maternal Mental Health Conditions and Statistics. 2024. mmhla.org
  3. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Breastfeeding Report Card, United States, 2022. cdc.gov
  4. Lawrence JM, et al. Prevalence and co-occurrence of pelvic floor disorders in community-dwelling women. Obstet Gynecol. 2008;111(3):678-685. pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov
  5. CDC. Infertility FAQs. National Center for Chronic Disease Prevention and Health Promotion. cdc.gov
  6. American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists. Medically Indicated Late-Preterm and Early-Term Deliveries. ACOG Practice Bulletin. acog.org
  7. Fawcett EJ, et al. The prevalence of anxiety disorders during pregnancy and the postpartum period. J Clin Psychiatry. 2019;80(4). pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov
  8. Policy Center for Maternal Mental Health. 2025 U.S. Maternal Mental Health Risk and Resources by County. policycentermmh.org
  9. Luca DL, et al. Financial Toll of Untreated Perinatal Mood and Anxiety Disorders Among 2017 Births in the United States. Am J Public Health. 2020. doi.org
  10. CDC. Developmental Disabilities. National Center on Birth Defects and Developmental Disabilities. cdc.gov
  11. CDC. Breastfeeding Report Card, United States, 2022. cdc.gov