Motherhood can hard, especially if you are experiencing mental health challenges like postpartum depression, anxiety, or the stress of adjusting to new roles and routines. Fortunately, there are now many apps available to support your mental health during this crucial stage. These apps offer accessible tools and resources for parents who are expecting, postpartum, and beyond.
Whether you're looking for mindfulness exercises, a supportive community, or guided therapy, these apps provide valuable help at your fingertips. Here are our choices for the top 10 apps supporting maternal mental health:
1. Mind the Bump
Mind the Bump is designed especially for expecting and new parents. It offers mindfulness and meditation exercises specifically tailored to the unique challenges of early parenthood. For moms who feel stressed, anxious, or emotionally drained, this app provides simple and effective ways to stay grounded and present.
Its features include:
- Guided meditations tailored to each stage of pregnancy and the early stages of parenting
- Mindfulness exercises to reduce anxiety and improve emotional well being
- Tools to help partners practice mindfulness together
2. Happify
Happify offers science-based activities and games aimed at reducing stress and building resilience. For moms dealing with depression, mood swings, or anxiety, Happify provides quick and engaging exercises that can turn your mindset around in just a few minutes.
Happify features:
- Evidence-based games and activities to boost your mood
- Personalized tracks based on your emotional needs
- Progress tracking to monitor your mental health journey
3. Sanity & Self
Sanity & Self is designed for women who need a dedicated space to focus on self-care, emotional well-being, and personal growth. It's perfect for busy moms who are juggling multiple responsibilities. The app features bite-sized audio sessions that cover everything from managing stress to navigating relationship challenges.
With Sanity & Self, you can access:
- Short audio sessions led by expert coaches
- Guided journaling prompts to help process emotions
- Community support for shared experiences and encouragement
4. Baby2Body
Baby2Body focuses on fitness, nutrition, and mental health, specifically designed for pregnant women and new moms. For moms needing guidance on how to care for their bodies and minds during the perinatal period, Baby2Body provides easy-to-follow plans that fit into your busy schedule.
This app offers:
- Workouts for each stage of pregnancy and postpartum recovery
- Mental wellness tips and stress-relieving exercises
- Nutrition advice to support overall health and mood
5. Peanut
Peanut is a social networking app that connects women through all stages of motherhood—from fertility and pregnancy to postpartum and beyond. It is ideal for moms feeling isolated or in need of support. Peanut helps you find friends, share advice, and build a supportive community around you.
With Peanut, you can:
- Connect with moms nearby or in similar life stages
- Join groups focused on specific interests or challenges
- Access expert Q&A sessions on various topics related to motherhood
6. Bloom: CBT Therapy & Self-Care
Bloom brings the benefits of Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT), a type of therapy that focuses on changing negative thought patterns, into an easy-to-use app format. It includes guided therapy sessions and self-care exercises. It’s ideal for moms struggling with persistent negative thoughts or anxiety who are looking for structured, therapeutic support.
In a nutshell, Bloom offers:
- Video sessions that guide you through how to use specific CBT techniques
- Daily mental health check-ins and mood tracking
- Exercises designed to reduce anxiety, depression, and stress
7. Sanvello
Sanvello offers daily mood tracking, exercises, and coping skills that are rooted in CBT, mindfulness, and positive psychology. This app is great for moms who want to actively track their mental health and have immediate access to tools that help during stressful moments.
Sanvello's features include:
- Guided exercises for depression, anxiety, and stress
- Tools for tracking mood and daily check-ins
- Breathing and relaxation techniques to calm the mind
8. MindShift CBT
MindShift CBT is a mobile app designed to reduce anxiety. This can be helpful for moms experiencing postpartum anxiety or stress. The app provides straightforward tools and guidance to help you develop new thought patterns and learn tools to tackle anxiety head on.
Its features include:.
- Tools to tackle worry, panic, perfectionism, and social anxiety
- Quick relief exercises for immediate anxiety reduction
- Progress tracking to monitor changes in mood and habits
9. Headspace
Headspace is a popular meditation app that offers mindfulness exercises for everyone, including those specific to parents. For new mothers needing a mindful break or a way to manage stress, Headspace offers practical and accessible meditation sessions that can squeeze into just a few minutes.
Here are some of the features of Headspace:
- Short guided meditations tailored to parents
- Sleep sounds and exercises to promote relaxation and help with insomnia
- Stress relief sessions to cope with overwhelming moments
10. Connect by PSI
Connect by PSI is a new app created by Postpartum Support International. It offers an abundance of information and resources on perinatal mental health. You get all of the benefits of the PSI website at your fingertips.
By downloading the Connect by PSI app, you can access:
- Information on the PSI Helpline and crisis intervention resources
- Over 50 weekly online support groups
- PSI resources, support services, and treatment options
Conclusion
These apps are not just tools—they can be lifelines for busy parents who need support at their fingertips. By integrating one or more of these apps into your daily routine, you can find the support, connection, and peace of mind you deserve.