a friend indeed

Filed Under Pregnancy and Birthing, Tips & Tricks | July 23, 2009

Are you the first in your crowd to get pregnant or one of the last?  Perhaps you’re blessed to be surrounded by close friends who are pregnant, due close together, and live nearby?   While that dream scenario is possible, most of us are not so fortunate.  For many, pregnancy is a unique opportunity to discover a new community of peers and begin building a community of support around you.

But how does one go about finding all these wonderful pregnant women?

“You don’t find a friend, you make one.” ~Peggy O’Mara, Mothering Magazine

Reach Out: If you see a pregnant woman on the street, reach out and say hello.  Bellies can serve as a wonderful ice breaker, and other pregnant women will help connect you with community resources.

Join a Prenatal Yoga or Fitness Class: While you could modify your regular routine, fitness classes are a healthy way to extend your community of friends.   Melanie Osmack of Fit 4 Two shares, “The friendships that you form in a prenatal fitness class often last for years to come.  Weekly workouts become playdates, mom’s nights out, and eventually annual family camping trips.”

Attend a prenatal class: As you consider your options for childbirth education, seek a healthy group size of 6 – 8 couples and with a learning format that encourages community building rather than lectures.

The sense of community only extends and deepens postpartum.  As shared by Mama Renew, motherhood introduces us to “friends that laugh, support, challenge, accompany, tease, cook, and somehow know just what we need. “   We wish you a deep and lasting circle of friends new and old to accompany you through the changes to come.