The importance of parent groups
By Boston Area Doulas Owner / Manager, Jane Gajsiewicz
Babies don’t come with manuals. I can’t tell you how many times I’ve talked to parents and they all describe the same feeling. Being discharged from the hospital with a mix of excitement, relief, and the feeling of “are you sure I’m qualified to take care of this tiny human?”. We all need support as we transition to parenthood. I think of it as building your team. You need the right OB / midwife, doula, feeding specialists, therapist, and a village of other parents.
No one likes forced socializing, ice breakers, coming up with fun facts about yourself. But as we transition to parenthood, finding other parents at the same stage as us can be immensely helpful for our mental health. We need other parents to vent to and laugh with, other people who can help us figure out what is normal and how to trust when something really is just a phase. It’s common to feel isolated, especially in early postpartum, and it’s also a hard time to find peers who may be going through the same thing. Joining a parent group might feel like forced friendship, but it can be beyond helpful, and once you join, you realize everyone is looking for the same thing:
Emotional support
Real-life advice to build your parenting confidence
Connection and community
We all need a judgement-free place to go learn! Groups in our area vary in structure. Some are led by a clinician or facilitator who provides a general topic for discussion. Others include informational talks by professionals in our area for you to learn. While sometimes they are just open groups to come, ask questions, and just be with other parents. Some encourage bringing your baby with you, making it easier to make it and more flexible for your schedule. Others encourage you to come alone and get a break from parenthood to connect with others. It can be really helpful to look for speciality groups that might be tailored to your specific experience. It can be helpful to connect with other working parents as you make the transition back to work, to connect with other parents of multiples as you get ready to welcome twins, or connect with other parents who have more than one child etc.
One aspect that is often overlooked is emotional support for the non-birthing parent. 1 in every 10 partners who did not give birth experience PPD / PPA. They are also experiencing a major life transition, and need support in experiencing their own emotions in this unchartered territory. There are also Grandparent Support Groups available throughout our area!
Parent groups I would highly recommend in the Boston Area. Your OB / midwife / hospital may also have some great options in your area!
In-person options
Beyond Birthing - Beverly, MA
New Family Needs - Needham, MA
Little Lovage Club - South End, Boston, MA
Stork Ready - North Reading, MA
We Speak Baby Collective - Wayland, MA
Gather Well (Dawn Ellis) - Newton, MA
Rachel Hess: Postpartum Doula - Roslindale, MA
Medford Family Network - Medford, MA
Jewish Family and Children Services - Arlington, Sharon, Brookline, Watertown, Jamaica Plain- *groups are nonsectarian and open to all parents in the community
Mind and Milk Yoga Flow - An hour with an IBCLC consultant, offering technical infant feeding support and a LMHC, perinatal mental health therapist and yoga teacher. We are here to help with breath, movement, relaxation, milk expression, breast and/or bottle feeding, with understanding and support. Held on Mondays at 10am at Be In Union yoga studio - reach out to Betty (elizabethbarattalmhc@gmail.com) with question
Mindful Birthing group - not just a birth education class; it is a mindfulness course in the context of giving birth and parenting. Next group starts in September and will last for about 9 weeks - reach out to Betty (elizabethbarattalmhc@gmail.com) with questions
Salem Hospital Parent Support Groups - Salem, MA
Virtual options
Postpartum Support International - virtual support groups
Charlie Health Family Support Groups - virtual, clinician lead
Nurture by Naps - Parenting Support - virtual, nurse lead
North Suburban Parents of Multiples - virtual, Facebook group
Single Moms By Choice - virtual, Facebook group
IVF Support Group and Pregnancy and Parenthood - After IVF Support Group - virtual, Facebook group
