Desperate for Support Groups

I joined the Northside Parents Network New Mom's group when I had my son, and it was the best thing I could have done! The kids are all 2 1/2 now, and we still meet every week. I don't know if I just got really lucky with the group I was placed in, or if they are all this cohesive, but I would suggest that in a second! It helps you make friends with babies the same age, and can bounce ideas off of one another, get advice, and commisserate together! :) www.npnparents.org. Good luck!

Hi there-

Try contacting the hospitals in your area. I went to a weekly new mom's group at IL Massonic Hospital after delivering my son a few months ago. I still have the nurse's contact info who runs that program but I realize it's not that close to you. Maybe one of the closer hospitals would have something similar. Good luck, I can certainly see why having a baby in the winter would be challenging.

Try meetup.com. I found a moms group in my neighborhood and it was the best thing for me and my daughter.

You have already gotten some great advice! One other thing I would suggest is to strap your baby on in a baby carrier/bjorn, put your coat on over him and just get out and walk. You live in a great area where you can window shop, go to bookstores, etc. Even just for 45 minutes will be good for both of you. My little guy loved to be in the baby carrier, all close and snuggli to mom. This is a tough time of year weatherwise so I feel for you but babies are resilient. Just take small steps until you are confident to go out longer.

If you go to Meetup.com-there are a lot of new mother playgroups and great discussion boards to keep you in the loop. I would also check the hospital that you had your son at-they may have post partum groups for new moms. I am a mother of two- a 2 year old and a 11 month old. If you get out it is best-a walk in the stroller is great. if you need anything-let me know- I love helping out other mothers. Please email me.

I signed up for the Transitions to Motherhood class at Prentice. You don't have to have delivered there to sign up. It was worth every penny. The group is set up as a discussion. Every week is a different topic: Birth Stories, Development, Postpartum Depression, How Having a Baby Affects Your Marriage, Sleeping/Feeding Issues, etc. There were seven other moms in my group, but there were almost 20 in my friend Jen's group! We'd all go out for lunch afterwards, and we've been meeting ever since. You can find out more information on the Northwestern Memorial Website: www.nmpg.org and look on the right side for class information. Good for you for finding a mom's group. Time with other mamas is invaluable. Congratulations on your new baby! Welcome to motherhood!

When my daughter was 3 months old we joined Northside Parents Network and signed up for the new moms group. My daughter is now 2.5 and we still meet with that same playgroup every week!
NPN matches you up with other moms in the city whose babies are about the same age as yours and who live in the same area. There is a "veteran" host mom who gets things rolling the first few weeks and then the group can decide after that when/where to continue meeting. It was a great support for me as a first-time mom and then morphed into a playgroup as the kids got older.
There is a fee to join - I'm not sure what it is currently - but it was the best thing I ever did for my 'mommy social life' :)
Best of luck to you!

Go to meetup.com and join The Chicago Stay At Home Moms Meetup Group. It is free, and the BEST group (IMO) around. Seriously, its a lifesaver! You are not alone!

Good luck!

I know several women who've really liked the new moms' groups through Prentice hospital but I don't know how pricy they are. Northside Parents Network (www.npn.org i think) organizes new moms' groups based on your location and schedule. When I had a newborn in the winter with no car a few years ago, I also hopped on the bus and went to a Mom & baby yoga class which was great - the place I went to no longer exists, but I'm sure there are other options... Good luck!

Check out Northwestern Memorial Hospital's website. Either the general hospital of Prentiss Women's Hospital should have support groups.

R. Katz, Psy.D.

J.,

I was in your same boat a year ago. New baby, husband has the car, and it's cold outside! Winter is a tough time to have a new baby in Chicago. I did my best to make sure we got out and walked (and I interacted with adults) at least once a day despite the cold. My pediatrician told us getting her out was good for her from the get-go, just beware of all the new-baby gawker strangers in the city and don't let them touch the baby (like you would anyway). I wish I had gotten more active in a play group or some activity from the start. You may want to try Bubbles Academy or something along those lines. Northside Parents Network has a lot of great resources too. Good luck! A year later, I look back and can't believe how far we've come. It's tough, but it gets better and better and better...and easier!

I would highly recommend joining the Stay at Home Moms meetup group posted at meetup.com. It is an online organization that is extremely supportive and has meetups in the city for moms with babies. There is no reason not to take a little one out even with the cold. Wrap him up and I would suggest learning how to use a wrap or some other sort of sling. This way you could carry him next to your body and wrap your coat around if necessary. My daughter was born a year ago at Christmas and I didn't go out for 2 months. I should have. I really needed to meet other moms who knew what they were doing. Check out the group. They are very supportive and there are other moms in the same situation as you. You can find out who lives in your area and attend meetups that interested you. Oh, and it's free (for most things).

Good luck! It really is a wonderful journey