First Time Mommies Group

 Last night, I went to an introductory meeting for a first-time mommies group.  The group was founded in 2006 when the organizer was 6 months pregnant, new to the area, and feeling alone.  She moved here to help take care of her mother, who was becoming increasingly ill, and this caused a deep depression during her pregnancy. She reached out to others by creating a group and found much-needed support that changed her life.  Support groups like these are wonderful for asking questions, sharing experiences, and being around other people who understand what you're going through.


The large group has more than 1,000 members, and the members are divided into nearly 85 small groups of 12 women or less.  The organizer gets information about new members' due dates, locations, and whether they are staying home or going back to work after the baby is born.  Women are placed in groups with people who are due around the same time.  Then those groups get together to support each other through pregnancy.  When the babies are born, there is already a built in play group.  Wonderful!

I am going to be placed in a group with women going back to work who are due between October and December.  I connected with Mona, who is due in December, and we're going to be in the same group.  She is going back to work after the baby is born, because she's afraid that she will loose the ability to advance in her career.  From the women at the intro meeting, we are the only two going back to work after our babies are born.