Oftentimes new moms are told having the “baby blues” is normal and it will pass, but if you are having a hard time coping with the adjustment of having a new baby and feel you need extra support, please seek it. You don’t have to do this alone. 

This feeling of isolation is why we started our Postpartum Adjustment Support Group at New Mom School. 

Here are 5 reasons why we believe you should seek out postpartum support: 

1 – It’s the best thing you can do for yourself and your baby. 

Having a baby is stressful! No matter how many books and blogs you’ve read, how prepared you felt or how excited you were, babies are challenging. Throw in sleep deprivation, hormones and a juggling of new responsibilities and you probably find yourself riding an emotional rollercoaster! There is huge relief that can come from realising there’s other people having the same experience as you—at the same time! A support group of fellow moms with similar-aged babies can give you the confidence and reassurance you need.

2 – Symptoms of postpartum mood or anxiety disorder are often overlooked.

If a well-meaning friend or family member downplays your feelings as being the “baby blues” and tells you “it will go away”, it’s okay to not believe them and want more support. While hormonal changes are very common shortly after childbirth, if you find the mood swings, periods of sadness and crying, insomnia and negative thoughts continue to consume you, you might be experiencing a Postpartum Mood or Anxiety Disorder. The good news is that these conditions are VERY treatable. A support group is a great place to start. 

3 – Positive social contact relieves stress.

Historically, new mothers received an abundance of help from those around them when it came to caring for themselves and their children. But in modern society, many new mothers find themselves alone without any support or adult contact. It was not supposed to be that way! Positive social contact has been shown to relieve stress and a support group can often help eliminate some of the social anxiety that comes with meeting new people. The group is guided by an experienced leader whose role it is to facilitate a discussion. All you have to do is register and arrive—we’ll take care of the rest. 

4 – There’s power in shared experiences. 

Even if you have girlfriends with children, they may not be in the same phase of motherhood as you. Their children might be slightly older, or they could be onto their second baby while you are still navigating your first. When we seek out women who are in the same period of motherhood as us, we can experience reassurance in hearing them also discuss their worries and insecurities. We’re all in this together!

5 – You will be supported by the expertise of a licensed clinical social worker.

Our weekly Postpartum Adjustment Support Group is led by LCSW Shira Kfir. Shira’s passion is working with women and couples on their journey to becoming parents and in the transition into being a family, and she specializes in women’s mental health and the postpartum period. You’ll always find Shira leading our groups with an abundance of care, support, nurture and with zero judgement, so come along and have all of your questions answered and challenges addressed.

6 – Okay, we said 5 reasons… but here’s a bonus one. IT’S FREE. 

Our Postpartum Adjustment Support Group meets in person every Wednesday at 2pm and it is free to attend. Absolutely no strings attached, we promise. All you have to do is pre-register here so we know how many people will be in attendance.