Social Connections
Online Communities for New Moms
It is often understated how important it is to connect with other moms both during and after pregnancy. The ability to commiserate and share stories, advice and even to say "been there, done that" is extremely important. Feelings of isolation can fuel issues with Postpartum Depression as well as lead to other issues down the road. It's important for new moms to remain as social as they were before, well almost as social, even if it involves new friends. For many new moms the problem lies in where to find other new moms.
Get Online
Social Networks provide a valuable resource for people everywhere to connect over common interests, locations and more. For moms these networks unite them in the commonality of motherhood and help them face the struggles and fun times ahead. Large Social Networks like Facebook and MySpace are great for connecting old friends with each other and even helping new friendships evolve. Both sites can share private information (such as exact physical location and last name) so be advised to always know your "friends" and only share information you're comfortable with the larger audience knowing. There are also some great Social Networking sites built just for moms. CafeMom is one such example, a national site that aims to connect moms all over the country. While, MomsLikeMe.com, another example, connects moms within their local communities. Both sites offer their users robust community tools, like the ability to share photos and to join groups. But mainly these sites offer moms the ability to connect with other moms who know just what they are going through! As with any online presence you might create for yourself, it is important to keep in mind general safety tips. Don't share your first and last name and exact address to anyone who you wouldn't mind showing up on your doorstep. Also keep in mind that photos and personal information you share will be publicly available, so use discretion.
Take It Offline
It is important to make connections offline, as well. Encourage the people you meet online to have playdates or mom's night outs. Join or create a New Mommy Group in your neighborhood and have weekly get-togethers. The trick is making the day of the week and time one that works for most people's schedules and making them a regular occurrence. Weekly events ensure that moms won't feel alone and will have something to help fill their time. Physically interacting with other moms who are going through the same things you are can prove to be invaluable. These types of interactions also lay a great foundation for your child's social life, as you are creating their first "friendships" for them. Watching your babies grow together is only part of the fun.
