It has been hard to find good support groups and organizations for new moms out here in the Pomona Valley area! A lot of searching online lead me to La Leche League but I really couldn't find anything else. That is until I stumbled upon two groups using an app called Meetup.
MOMS (Moms Offering Moms Support) is an international organization dedicated to providing support to stay at home moms during the day, when moms are often isolated. I was surprised at how hard it was to find my local chapter (probably because members are busy being moms and not actively marketing the group...). I found a chapter for the next town over via Meetup and contacted them. They directed me to the MOMS web site so I could find the Diamond Bar chapter. I went to the web site, filled out a form and got a response within a few hours. There was some paperwork and a $25 (annual) fee to join. I took care of that part last week and attended my first group meeting yesterday at the Cal Poly Pomona pumpkin patch. The group seems great with several local moms and kids of all ages. They were all very welcoming. It was really nice to get out of the house and I am very much looking forward to the next meeting. I recommend visiting the MOMS web site to find a chapter near you too!
I also found a Pregnancy and Postpartum Stress group at the Pomona Valley Health Center. This is a weekly, free support group for pregnant women and postpartum moms who are experiencing stress, depression, anxiety or other issues. Pre-crawling babies, nursing, bottle feeding, crying, laughing and any other emotional outbursts are totally welcome. There is a light lunch provided by the clinic. So far, this has been has the best group for me! I have been struggling with postpartum depression (PPD) and anxiety, and this was a wonderful place to share and feel somewhat normal. The "fourth trimester" is extremely difficult for most of us, and it helps to remember that you're not alone while you go through it. This group made me feel like a part of something special and the exact opposite of isolated. I found this group using the Meetup app, and I highly recommend something like it for anyone going through PPD or any postpartum issues. Do a Google search for "postpartum support groups near me" if you're stuck. You should at least get some leads for good resources in your area.
La Leche League is a better-known organization, however, it was actually harder to find a local LLL group than it was to find the other two groups. It took more Googling than I expected. The organization is focused on breastfeeding, and known for members who breastfeed their kids until middle school... well, maybe not that long. But the organization does have a reputation for not only encouraging breastfeeding past infancy but also for harshly judging women who either can't or choose not to breastfeed. Thankfully, when I did find a local group and attended a meeting, the women in the group were not judgmental at all. In fact a few moms talked very openly about supplementing with formula or weaning after a few months. There were a couple of moms who touted breastfeeding multiple children at a time, for years, but no one was pushy about her own personal choices. It was a free and open discussion, and everyone shared her own individual experience. It was a great opportunity to ask questions. And I did get to breastfeed in front of other breastfeeding women. This was important to me because as a first time mom I often find myself worrying whether baby girl's feeding habits are "normal." So I was thrilled to feed her in front of other moms and freely ask "does your baby do this?" in real time. Even if you're not breastfeeding, LLL meetings provide opportunities to get to know other moms. Find a group near you!
If you need support, find it. There are groups and organizations out there dedicated to new moms. This - the fourth trimester - is a tough time, and thankfully we live in a time that recognizes this. Don't isolate if you're having any feelings of depression or anxiety. Hell, email me if you want to talk to someone! It is not hopeless.
MOMS (Moms Offering Moms Support) is an international organization dedicated to providing support to stay at home moms during the day, when moms are often isolated. I was surprised at how hard it was to find my local chapter (probably because members are busy being moms and not actively marketing the group...). I found a chapter for the next town over via Meetup and contacted them. They directed me to the MOMS web site so I could find the Diamond Bar chapter. I went to the web site, filled out a form and got a response within a few hours. There was some paperwork and a $25 (annual) fee to join. I took care of that part last week and attended my first group meeting yesterday at the Cal Poly Pomona pumpkin patch. The group seems great with several local moms and kids of all ages. They were all very welcoming. It was really nice to get out of the house and I am very much looking forward to the next meeting. I recommend visiting the MOMS web site to find a chapter near you too!
I also found a Pregnancy and Postpartum Stress group at the Pomona Valley Health Center. This is a weekly, free support group for pregnant women and postpartum moms who are experiencing stress, depression, anxiety or other issues. Pre-crawling babies, nursing, bottle feeding, crying, laughing and any other emotional outbursts are totally welcome. There is a light lunch provided by the clinic. So far, this has been has the best group for me! I have been struggling with postpartum depression (PPD) and anxiety, and this was a wonderful place to share and feel somewhat normal. The "fourth trimester" is extremely difficult for most of us, and it helps to remember that you're not alone while you go through it. This group made me feel like a part of something special and the exact opposite of isolated. I found this group using the Meetup app, and I highly recommend something like it for anyone going through PPD or any postpartum issues. Do a Google search for "postpartum support groups near me" if you're stuck. You should at least get some leads for good resources in your area.
La Leche League is a better-known organization, however, it was actually harder to find a local LLL group than it was to find the other two groups. It took more Googling than I expected. The organization is focused on breastfeeding, and known for members who breastfeed their kids until middle school... well, maybe not that long. But the organization does have a reputation for not only encouraging breastfeeding past infancy but also for harshly judging women who either can't or choose not to breastfeed. Thankfully, when I did find a local group and attended a meeting, the women in the group were not judgmental at all. In fact a few moms talked very openly about supplementing with formula or weaning after a few months. There were a couple of moms who touted breastfeeding multiple children at a time, for years, but no one was pushy about her own personal choices. It was a free and open discussion, and everyone shared her own individual experience. It was a great opportunity to ask questions. And I did get to breastfeed in front of other breastfeeding women. This was important to me because as a first time mom I often find myself worrying whether baby girl's feeding habits are "normal." So I was thrilled to feed her in front of other moms and freely ask "does your baby do this?" in real time. Even if you're not breastfeeding, LLL meetings provide opportunities to get to know other moms. Find a group near you!
If you need support, find it. There are groups and organizations out there dedicated to new moms. This - the fourth trimester - is a tough time, and thankfully we live in a time that recognizes this. Don't isolate if you're having any feelings of depression or anxiety. Hell, email me if you want to talk to someone! It is not hopeless.
Comments
Post a Comment