Owlet Cares is our advocacy initiative that is dedicated to making a positive impact in the lives of babies and parents. One way we do this is by partnering with leaders who share our mission. 

This month, we are proud to feature VillageFor - a free app that screens for postpartum depression and anxiety at every stage. The women behind VillageFor explain, in their own worlds, why they built this village and why their door is open to moms everywhere.

The content provided on this blog is intended for informational and educational purposes only. It is not a substitute for professional medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment. Always seek the advice of a qualified healthcare provider with any questions you may have and to learn more about you or your child's specific needs.

By Christy Davis and Caitlin Probst

When we became fast friends, we didn’t expect our friendship would serve as a lifeline during postpartum, or that those postpartum experiences would become the foundation to create our own company. All we knew was that we liked each other and bonded over Love Island. But, in a world that so often feels isolating, especially for first-time moms, having each other meant everything. 

We poured into each other’s happiness and celebrated every exciting milestone like it was our own. On the same days, we could also point out red flags that others might have missed. When the anxiety didn’t go away or the OCD looked like more than just baby blues, we had each other’s backs. Those are the type of villagers we need as we enter motherhood, the ones who are not just willing to say the hard things but ones who will also help us through them. 

It often feels like mental wellness, like feeling really, really good in your skin and mind during pregnancy or as a new mom, is a fairytale other women experience, but never you. Our friendship helped each of us cope when we struggled with postpartum depression and postpartum anxiety. We started working together to heal, moving towards a real life that resembled that fairytale as much as it could. Now, as the founders of VillageFor, we create a safe space for other women to feel empowered in and own their motherhood evolution. Whether they’re TTC or 7 months postpartum, everyone needs an honest, loving friend who can hold them on the hard days or remind them to show themselves some extra love on the normal days. We built that in app form, and here’s what we’d tell ourselves if we could go back:

Daily check ins matter

Self-care is more impactful when you practice it a little every day rather than overloading all the self-care you can fit into a single day every 9 months. When we think about the days that made our pregnancies more fun and healthy, we think about short walks with our dogs, trading memes with each other about how it really felt to be in our third trimesters in the middle of summer, and Facetimes about work and planning our maternity leaves. Those moments added up every day. The VillageFor app features easy-to-use daily journaling, gratitude, and personalized affirmations so your daily check-in feels uplifting and fun. 

Get the tools to stay ahead of your biggest worries 

It’s impossible to anticipate all the worries you’re going to have during your pregnancy or postpartum. But if some keep popping up now, there’s no reason you can’t plan ahead for them. Christy, VillageFor’s co-founder and CEO, had a difficult childbirth experience. Her little guy spent time in the NICU because of breathing complications. Once they were home, the Owlet Dream Sock® monitor that they’d registered for months before finally got to do its job of giving peace of mind while the little man slept. He wore it every night, and knowing she would receive notifications if his readings went out of range allowed Christy to get the much-needed sleep her body and nervous system needed to heal. Months later, Dream Sock also notified her when her little boy stopped breathing in his sleep which they found out was due to a seizure. The red notification went off, allowing Christy and her husband to swoop in instantly. Christy was better prepared for postpartum by adding it to her registry in the first place and later by letting it do its job on both the smooth and difficult nights. As moms who lived through tough postpartum periods, we believe that tools like Dream Sock can be a vital part of your plan to help your mind thrive postpartum. 

Jot down who is in your village

Even though it feels like it, not everyone lives near their parents or other family members who can step in for pregnancy check-ins or babysitting gigs. One healthy mental wellness tip is to focus on what you do have or do need, rather than on what you believe others have going for them. Jot down the friends, neighbors, or support team (from your doula to your dog sitter) that are in your corner. This includes paid villagers! Both Christy and I have to pay to fill some gaps in our village. We understand how privileged we are to be able to do that. Instead of feeling some type of way about not having free help available anytime, we pay for exactly what we need and applaud ourselves for getting those needs met. Writing their names down in a single place (the notes app on your phone) can help you anytime you feel lonely on your journey. 

Treat maternal mental health like a part of your wellness journey

You don’t have to wait for a postpartum mental health crisis to take care of your mental health. You can treat it as a part of your journey from the moment you start TTC. Create a ritual around learning about and tracking your mental health, in the same way you take your prenatals or add movement to your day. The VillageFor app is a free resource that enables you to practice gratitude every day, receive affirmations based on your specific motherhood journey, and track your mental health trends so you can feel in control of what comes next. 

Motherhood comes with a WHOLE range of emotions (and that’s the understatement of the year). Prioritizing your mental health will set up a solid foundation for the bumpy days, and the amazing ones. 

You’ve got this! 

Caitlin Probst

Co-Founder, VillageFor

The quotes, stories, and experiences included here are those of the individuals and are not representative of Owlet's views or claims about our product. Individuals were not paid and did not submit their information as part of any paid promotion by Owlet.

As a reminder, Dream Sock is intended to track your baby's pulse rate and oxygen level and keep parents informed, but it is not intended to diagnose, treat or cure any disease or other condition including, but not limited to, Sudden Infant Death Syndrome (SIDS) and/or Respiratory Syncytial Virus (RSV).