Bump Up Your Social Circle
Networking Through Pregnancy
The first trimester of pregnancy can be absolutely agonizing. First of all, there is the possibility of morning (or afternoon or evening) sickness. But also, from the minute the at-home test comes back “positive,” the growing baby inside your belly is all that you think about 24/7. If you are waiting until the 12-week mark to share your news, those eight weeks between the test in your bathroom and the big announcement seem like an eternity. While sharing the news of your pregnancy is more fun than any other announcement you will ever make, it’s easy to forget that while you think about and may want to talk about being pregnant all the time, not everyone shares these sentiments.
A lot of women go through pregnancy without having any friends who are also pregnant at the same time. This can be an isolating time, which is why it is important to not only find a good support system, but also a few friends who can share your emotions as they go through pregnancy and eventually motherhood at the same time as you. With the advent of technology and the ease of the Internet, many women rely on websites and other online resources as their source of support. The problem is, message boards can make a person crazy and paranoid, and often one can forget that the person on the other end is a mystery.
It is incredibly important to actually meet and connect with other women in the same life stage. Finding a good support system helps make these nine months even more amazing than they already are. Only a year ago, there were not many options in Chicago for expectant mom support. However today, if you spend some time on Google or other online resources, you can find free classes at local and national retailers, as well as a few social groups for moms and moms-to-be.
Social groups can help you to meet people due around the same time as you, making it easy to continue your relationship with your babies once you become moms. If you don’t have a social group for expectant moms close by, take extra steps to find a network of your own. Go to a pre-natal yoga class and introduce yourself to the person next to you, or say hi to someone friendly while shopping for maternity clothes. Maybe ask a friend to set you up for coffee with someone that they know is pregnant. The conversation will come easy. With two women who are expecting, the topics of discussion are endless.
I have been very lucky to find and meet a great group of women throughout my pregnancy that have become dear friends of mine. As I wait for the birth of my own baby any day now, I am now finding comfort in my new friends who are delivering right before me. Not only have they been a huge support system throughout pregnancy, but they are now sharing the “inside delivery scoop” that others neglect to provide as you go into labor. The best part is that these relationships will only continue to grow with our babies. We are already making plans to get together with our babies on Friday afternoons!