Groups for expecting moms?

[abbie romanul]

I've lived in Davis for 3 years but was an out of stater before that. My husband and I are expecting our first baby in May and we are both in our late 20s. We are the first of our friends to have kids, so I am interested in any local pregnancy/parenting groups I might look into joining. Any suggestions would be appreciated! Thank you :)

Comments

[darlucky.livejournal.com]

My wife really enjoyed her new mom classes she took at Isis in Arlington.

Also this:

http://www.yelp.com/biz/baby-cafe-malden

Good luck!

[chenoameg.livejournal.com]

Somerville moms mailing list. (It's not just for moms, but there's no easy way to change the name of the list apparently.)

It's busy, but awesome. At any hour of day or night there is someone who can respond to your email plea of "is this supposed to be like this?"

http://groups.yahoo.com/group/SomervilleMoms/

[pekmez.livejournal.com]

I second this!

There have occasionally been people organizing meetup groups for expectant parents on the SomervilleMoms list. (In addition to being for both moms and dads, it's for both expectant parents and people who already have kids...)

Also, there is a free new moms group for up to age 1 that meets in Somerville, sponsored by Jewish Family & Children's Services. It meets at Temple B'nai Brith on Tuesdays, at 11:30am I believe. (Even though a temple provides the space currently, and the nonprofit that funds it it has "Jewish" in the name, the new moms group is open to everyone, and not religiously-based.)

[emcicle.livejournal.com]

i definitely recommend a first times mom group through Isis up in Arlington Center. I joined one when my son (almost 5 1/2 now) was born, and several of us mom's get together every other month or so still. it was a great support.

[derekp.livejournal.com]

+1 on the already mentioned Somerville Moms mailing list. You can also take a child birth and/or child care class at Isis. And infant CPR as well - I wish I did that before my kids were born... it's really hard to make the time after. I didn't think the child care classes were really necessary.

After the kid arrives though, get thee to an Isis parenting group. My wife did this and it kept us both sane. It gave her people to talk to that actually understand the stuff she was dealing with and as painful as I thought the full-family group gatherings would be, I found it nice to talk to other dads (though I stopped short of enrolling in the similar dad's class). We still talk to and hang out with many of the people from her very first class there.

[tr0kee.livejournal.com]

Congratulations!

It's a little far for a postpartum mom, but I couldn't have lived without the breastfeeding support group and the new mom's group at the Cambridge hospital. And I third (or fourth, or whatever) the somerville mom's list.

Hope your pregnancy goes well.

[obie119.livejournal.com]

The JF&CS group at the temple in Somerville is wonderful; there's also one in Arlington on Fridays from 10 to 11:30 which I liked even better. It was a lifeline! Our cohort still gets together every Friday, and we've formed a babysitting coop, and it's been a wonderful experience. These groups are moderated but in a low-key way; there is no curriculum, only caring and total openness and honesty. And it's free!

Here is the list; it's hidden in the webstie a bit: http://www.jfcsboston.org/OurPrograms/ChildrenFamilies/CenterforEarlyRelationshipSupport/SupportGroups/tabid/225/Default.aspx
You don't have to be Jewish; it's completely nonreligious.

There was a midwives of Mount Auburn group on Monday afternoons at the UU church in Arlington; you don't have to be a Mt A patient. They have a lactation consultant available. This group is freeform and sort of hit and miss, but you'll want to get out and do something every day.

There are baby-friendly movies at the Capitol on Mondays and Som Theatre on Thursdays.

AND - as a mom of an April baby (2011), I think you are having a kid at the best possible time; your maternity leave will be during the nicest weather of the year, and just getting outside, you'll meet someone. I was terrified before Joey was born that my social life (which was very busy) would end...but instead, a new one started. Parenthood can be very social in its own distracted way. Congrats! If you are staying-at-home, be enterprising - start a playgroup once fall hits, invite a few mom friends you know, and invite them to invite someone as well. You can switch houses each week.

But: I'll be the voice of dissent saying that I hated my Isis class! I ponyed up for it (it's pricey!) because I panicked (as one is likely to do postpartum once partner has returned to work and doting grandparents have left) and it was just way too structured for me. Want to talk about how parenthood has thrown a grenade into your happy relationship? "we'll cover relationships in Week 5!"

To be fair, a lot there depends on which instructor you get, and yes I did talk to the management. But I did always feel schlumpy at that Isis group; I was the only one in the class without a pedicure, etc...

[emcicle.livejournal.com]

i just want to echo that it completely depends on the make-up (no pun intended!) of the group at Isis. It is pricey. But the group i was in, none of us were high fashion or made up. Heck, half the time most of us were in PJ pants. If I could have gone in slippers, I would have. :)

[obie119.livejournal.com]

Totally, emcicle. And I wish my group - nice as the ladies were - was more like yours!