Tandem Postpartum House, a center aimed at offering services that aren’t typically found in postpartum care, opened in July 2025 in Bloomington. Through the new facility, Executive Director Julie Duhon hopes to transform due dates from end goals into beginnings.
“Our goal is to bring postpartum back to the community,” Molly Mendota, a perinatal mental health therapist with Tandem, said. “Part of the goal is to raise awareness that this is not something that ever was intended to be done alone.”
Postpartum care in the United States often ends after a single follow-up appointment. The American College of Obstetricians & Gynecologists recommended in 2018 that postpartum care should become a continuous process rather than a single encounter.
Tandem Postpartum House is designed to provide a nurturing environment where parents can focus on recovery and bonding with their children. Services include postpartum doula care, which provides nonmedical support after birth, as well as support and education groups, overnight stays and daytime room use.
Each private room includes a queen-sized bed and bathroom, with a handmade quilt and care supplies for infants and toddlers. Shared amenities include a kitchen, where guests can request a meal, and spaces for classes, group meetings and activities, allowing families to connect with staff and other families.
All support groups are free, but may require registration, while other services are offered on a sliding cost scale based on families’ ability to pay. Some fees are covered by donations through Tandem’s scholarship fund and higher fees paid by some families to ensure care is accessible to all.
“The last thing we are here to do is create hardship,” Duhon said. “If you say I’ve got 10, pay $10. If you say you’ve got nothing, you pay nothing.”
In addition to physical recovery, Tandem emphasizes the importance of mental health support for new parents.
Mendota provides clinical support and leads mental health programs for new parents. She encourages people to go beyond the usual congratulations with new or expecting parents and simply ask how they are doing.
Mendota noted that approximately 20% of birthing people encounter some form of mental health challenges either during pregnancy or within the first year following childbirth.
“Postpartum depression is one form of mental health challenge after birth, but it can also manifest as anxiety, obsessive-compulsive disorder, bipolar disorder, PTSD, panic disorder — there's a bunch of mental health things that can happen,” Mendota said.
Tandem's Perinatal Mental Health Group, which Mendota oversees, brings together parents to discuss emotional and psychological challenges during and after pregnancy.
Classes and support groups include those for dads and other partners, queer family social hour, Black parenting support groups and more, providing multiple avenues for connection and guidance based on each family's needs.
“The postpartum journey is something people need to talk more about as a society,” Elspeth Hayden, one of Tandem’s clients, said. “We had a doula coming once or twice a week for like the first three months after I gave birth, and that is probably the experience that is most life changing.”
Tandem’s doula services are offered both in clients’ homes and at the postpartum house, organized into four tiers: in-home daytime and three overnight options increasing in support. The doulas provide hands-on support for new parents, helping with feeding, diapering, soothing the baby and light household tasks, while offering guidance on infant care and postpartum recovery.
“I am a total advocate for Tandem,” Hayden said. “You can go before you even start your journey.”
Tandem relies on community help to maintain its programs. From diaper drives and gift contributions to volunteer support, the organization depends on community engagement to provide essential services. One popular offering is the “Free Room,” stocked with donated supplies including maternity clothes, diapers and cribs from the community that families can take for free, with no restrictions.
Prospective parents interested in Tandem’s services can call 812-727-0134 or visit tandembloomington.org for more information about scheduling visits and available programs. Tandem encourages families to reach out directly to discuss their needs and arrange appointments.
“I feel very confident saying that we have saved lives at Tandem, not just through our direct actions, but through this community building,” Duhon said. “It’s about rebuilding the village we all say it takes to raise a child.”
