Bringing a new baby home from the hospital can feel euphoric. It can be exciting and exhausting and exhilarating. Friends stop by to visit, family members call every day to see how you are doing, and your husband tries to get home at lunch to see the baby. But eventually, your well-wishers fade back to their own lives. You are facing new life with a baby. You spend your days marveling over your baby, worrying about his nighttime sleep-or lack of it, watching tivo-ed shows you’ve become newly addicted to, cleaning up your house, wondering when you can begin to workout again, and looking forward to your husband getting home from work. Eventually, you figure out that you need to get out a bit.
If this is your first baby, you probably had a job before the baby was home and you decided to stay home. Even if you didn’t like your job, you saw people every day who talked about non-baby problems. You probably don’t want to rush back to work, but you miss your friends; you miss your social circle. Plus, it would be nice to have someone else to talk to about your new life. It’s time to venture out with baby and meet some new people who understand what you are going through.
Maybe you are lucky enough to have friends who have babies, but with so many people moving away from family and friends now, many first-time moms have no such local support group. You see these moms out in neighborhoods walking behind strollers, looking for new moms under the guise of enjoying a nice fall afternoon. You see them in malls, with babies in front carriers, wandering from store to store. Every new mom has done this. Almost everyone has felt lonely and isolated and craved the companionship of other mommies, but there are more pro-active ways to find other moms and connect with them.
Local Activities
Library. Check out the library storytimes for infants. Moms who have a lot of kids will likely steer clear of these activities so you will encounter a lot of other new moms at this activity. Plus, the library is such a neutral ground that everyone will feel comfortable there-and its free!
Parks & Rec Department. Check with your city for a list of activities sponsored by your local parks and recreation department. Some cities host baby and mommy classes, nature walks, and holiday-related festivities that should bring you into contact with other local moms. Some of these activities may have a small fee. Check with your local department.
Hospital. Your local hospital likely sponsors some mommy support groups. These groups usually meet monthly and are free. The hospital likely also offers some specific support groups for breastfeeding mothers, mothers of preemies, and more. Check with your local hospital for activity options.
Church or Synagogue. Many religious organizations offer their members support groups and classes. Some Jewish Community Centers offer movement and music or mommy and me classes to their members for a small fee. Check with your church or synagogue to locate their support groups. And don’t be afraid of the term “support group.” Motherhood is not an affliction to be “supported,” the mothers in these groups are not gloomy and stressed about motherhood. These groups just provide a way for moms to get to know other moms in the area.
YMCA or local gym. Many YMCAs and local gyms offer mommy and me classes for their members or residents. These courses require a fee, but give you a good opportunity to meet other local moms. Local gyms are great places to also get some health mommy time if they offer their members free childcare. You can workout while knowing your baby is in good hands.
Gymboree or We Joy See. There are several centers that provide classes for mommies and infants. These classes focus on movement, song, music, and dance and can be a wonderful environment to meet like-minded moms. These centers require a fee for attendance but often offer a one-course free policy that allows you to attend one for free to see if it interests you.
Your pediatrician or obstetrician may also be able to recommend a local support group or activity for meeting other moms. Don’t be afraid to ask them. Also check the local paper. Local groups and activities will be listed there and are almost always open to new members.
Mommy Organizations
MOMS Club. This is a national group of Moms Offering Moms Support. There is a local group in nearly every area. This group plans playdates, outings, lunches, park days, and moms’ nights out. They also offer speakers on parenting issues. It can offer a great way to get involved with local moms and give your baby a chance to interact with other kids as he or she grows. The moms in this group tend to be stay-at-home moms and can relate to the challenges and isolation of staying home full-time. To attend more than once a month, there is a small annual fee.
La Leche League. This national organization is dedicated to helping moms who breastfeed and to advocating for breastfeeding mothers’ rights. They usually meet once a month and give like-minded moms a chance to get together and discuss any breastfeeding questions, problems, or complications. The membership fee is optional and the group is usually very sympathetic and helpful for new moms. There are La Leche League groups in every location.
Mothers & More. This group is dedicated to addressing the needs of both stay-at-home and working mothers. These groups can be found in more metropolitan areas and offer weekly events for members. There is a small membership fee to join. This group also offers speakers, playdates, outings, and moms’ nights out.
