From creating a birth plan to setting lactation goals and finding the right breast pump, the pregnancy and postpartum journey requires careful planning and preparation to create a healthy, happy, and positive experience for mom and baby. During this period, it’s also essential to create a community of social support of other moms and moms-to-be to help you navigate the highs, lows, and everything in between.
While family members and friends can certainly provide excellent support throughout your journey, connecting with other pregnant moms going through similar experiences at the same time creates a special opportunity for you to build lasting, meaningful relationships during this milestone moment in your life.
Not sure how to start building your pregnancy community? No worries, mama, we’re here to help! Read on for advice on researching local and virtual groups, identifying the types of groups you may want to join or start, and the benefits of building social support networks during your pregnancy.
How to Find the Right Pregnancy Groups for You
Researching pregnancy groups can help you determine the kind of community you want to build during this time. Ask yourself what you want to get out of this experience and go from there. For example, do you want to find other moms in your area who are interested in meeting up in person? Are you looking for exercises and activities designed for pregnancy? Are you short on time and prefer the convenience of virtual meetings? Are you expecting twins and want advice specifically catered to that experience?
Maybe you have a strong community of seasoned moms around you, but you want to connect with other first-time moms! The truth is, support is everywhere—it just takes some time to find the right people to match your needs.
Prenatal Exercise Groups
If you’re not sure where to begin your prenatal exercise journey or don’t know what’s safe for you and your baby, rest assured, mama—exercise is a fun, safe, and healthy way to connect with other moms! In fact, pregnant moms are encouraged to incorporate regular, moderate-intense aerobic activities into their lives. This can look like taking a brisk walk, gardening, or working a few quick, low-impact exercise activities into your routine.
What Types of Exercise Can You Do During Pregnancy?
Exercise during pregnancy is great for maternal health and may decrease the risk of gestational diabetes, preeclampsia, and cesarean birth. It can also strengthen a mom’s heart and improve her mental health during pregnancy. Physical activity can even promote healthy growth and brain development throughout baby's childhood and can reduce the risk of chronic disease for both mom and baby. Be sure to check in with your healthcare provider to find the best exercise plan for you and to address any concerns you might have.
Do you already have an exercise routine that works for you? That’s great! Speak with your doctor to ensure you can continue the same plan or learn how to make necessary adjustments. If you’re new to exercising and looking for local or in-person support, consider taking prenatal exercise classes to bond with other expecting moms in a safe space.
Studios offering prenatal yoga, pilates, and barre have become increasingly popular in recent years for their energetic environments, community-minded approach to fitness, and low-impact moves to promote a healthy pregnancy. See if your local gym or studio offers prenatal classes and take this as an opportunity to make new connections. Many even offer postnatal classes too! Always consult with your healthcare provider before starting classes.
Get Out There, Mama!
If you want to spend more time outside, sign up for a gardening workshop or join a local walking group. Both provide affordable, accessible options to move your body and spend time outside in nature. Plus, walking is a fun, social activity that you can continue postpartum. You’ll retain the same great benefits of improving muscle endurance, increasing energy levels, reducing stress, and improving overall cardiovascular fitness.
No matter what you decide to do, remember to go slowly, pay attention to your body, stay hydrated, and regularly check in with your healthcare provider to ensure your safety. Remember that there are so many communities out there ready to welcome you during this experience.
Lean on Your Community
Connecting with other parents in your pregnancy classes is an easy and great way to create a community. Because pregnancy classes begin in your third trimester, you’ll be able to lean on each other as you prepare for labor and delivery, and you can celebrate the joy of welcoming your little ones into the world together. This is also a great opportunity to build a community for your babies since they’ll all be around the same age.
Libraries, community centers, churches, other houses of worship, hospitals, and even your OB/GYN's office might have additional resources and information about support groups for new and expecting moms.
Connecting Online
Busy schedules, accessibility, and variety are all good reasons you might prefer to connect with moms online. Thankfully, the internet can be a great place to find resources and support for any personality and type of pregnancy.
From support groups for first-time moms to communities catered toward working moms and everyone in between, a quick search of online resources for new or expectant mothers will yield seemingly endless results. You can even search "mom groups near me" to find local groups that meet online, in person, or offer both.
Book Clubs, Family Forums, and Specialized Support
Always have your nose in a book? Curious about the best parenting books on the market? Join a virtual book club! From What to Expect When You're Expecting to non-fiction tales from real-life moms and a mix of the latest new releases, online book clubs have something for every reader. And it doesn't just end at books! Look for mom groups that celebrate all of your hobbies and interests.
If you're looking for ways to include your partner or older children in your pregnancy journey, search for social support groups dedicated to partners and expecting parents with multiple children. Maybe you're seeking advice on introducing your older child to a baby. Are you looking for activities the whole family can enjoy? Or are you wondering how other parents balance work, child care, family bonding, and date nights? The internet has forums and spaces for the whole family!
As beautiful as your pregnancy and parenting journey can be, sometimes you need specialized advice or support to help you navigate confusing situations, high-risk pregnancies, or postpartum depression. Finding community during difficult times is important and can help you build strong, meaningful relationships. Speak with your healthcare providers and other medical professionals for help finding the best groups to support your needs.
Join Our Community in the Pumping Room!
If you're looking for a comprehensive online parenting community, The Pumping Room is an Aeroflow Facebook group that provides new and expectant parents and their support people with a safe, private space to connect, share, and celebrate the beautiful journey of parenthood.
Have questions about what's normal in pregnancy? Not sure how to begin your breastfeeding journey? Wondering what's the safe way to store breast milk? The Pumping Room is a judgment-free zone that encourages members to ask their burning questions, share their experiences, and cheer each other on from pregnancy through breastfeeding. Lactation consultants, experts, and clinicians are on hand to help support you through the highs, lows, and everything in between.
The Benefits of Social Support Groups
Social support during pregnancy and postpartum is one of the most important elements of the parenthood experience and shouldn’t be overlooked. With strong social support groups to turn to, new and expecting moms can experience positive changes in their relational, emotional, and physiological states.
While you may already have a strong support system in place, relating to other moms and moms-to-be going through similar experiences can help you feel more prepared for motherhood, lead to long-lasting and deep connections, and improve your emotional well-being during this transformative period.
Whether you meet up in person or join online communities, receiving social support is incredibly important to ensuring the health of both mom and baby from pregnancy, through childbirth, and in the postpartum period.
At the end of the day, support groups are all about finding connections with moms to share in the new, exciting, unexpected, and wonder-filled journey of pregnancy and parenthood together.
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