Meeting other moms

[scsarah]

Hi All,

I'm really struggling right now with how to meet other moms, and having some adults to talk with.  Did any of you have luck doing this while on maternity leave?  I've got 8 more weeks before I go back to work, and I'll go absolutely crazy if I don't start having something to do!

I've checked MeetUp for groups in my area, but there didn't seem to be many active ones (a few that had once a month things), and I've put out a general facebook call to see who of my friends are free for lunch/coffee/whatever during the day.  Any other suggestions?

I'm in Los Angeles, so I know there must be groups and people out there, but I seem to be falling short in finding them!

[brooklyn]

My hospital has a new moms group, my apartment building has a parents group and my neighborhood has a yahoo group.

[brooklyn]

My hospital has a new moms group, my apartment building has a parents group and my neighborhood has a yahoo group.

[vmars]

Check your local library for any events. Mine has a free baby music class 2x per month. Gymboree has classes for babies. If you are BFing you can go to Le Leche League Meetings. You can ask if your local hospital has a moms group.

[osulori]

Hospital new moms group, or baby storytime at the library?

[winemaker06]

See if your hospital has any support sessions. I met some new friends at my hospital breastfeeding drop in hour.

[redpenmama]

We have a place that does mom-baby pilates and yoga. I met several mom friends through that.

[waterchurch]

Where in LA are you? Depending on where you are I might have recs.

[redheadk]

Try the library for infant lapsit.

We joined classes but I SAH so it was a different situation (though I was desperate to meet people and find some SAHM friends so I get where you are coming from).

Are you bfing? There are lots of bfing and baby wearing groups in my area.

[bronxgirl]

the best thing I did was join a new moms' support group. Initially it was a great place to talk about issues and et support, but our group really clicked and stayed friends for almost 4 years afterwards. I also met a few people at storytime, neighborhood playgroups and hanging out in the park

[littlemisschatty]

momsclub. org
def check the hospital or your OB for a new mom support group

and don't be shy about chatting up a new moms at parks, storytime etc. they are as eager for adult company as you are, i promise!!!

[SpartanGirl]

I met my closest mom friends at a Kindermusik class when my oldest was just a few months old. We chatted during class and then one day I invited them out to lunch after class...that led to play dates and then girls nights out. It's like dating all over again.

[AlpineSlide]

LLL and local babywearing groups (from FB) were my attempts at meeting moms. I only made it to one LLL meeting and loved it but meetings are at 7 pm and that's DS's bedtime so I don't go anymore.

[imojoebunny]

It is a lot like dating again :-). I invited every new mom I met who lived nearby, and my friends knew over, SAH, working and otherwise. We ended up with about 25 moms and babies. I only had them over a few times, and the big group ended up down to about 6 moms and 2 dads by about a year, which stayed together for four years, until pre-k and was a great group, the working moms formed their own little group that hung out on weekends, and occasionally we would run into each other at the park or out and about. It was great to meet the moms who lived near me, and that is how we got the two SAH dads, it was also good for sharing information, and I if we hadn't moved, the kids would all know each other starting school, since we ran into each other often enough at events and just walking by to say hello and let the kids play a bit. Even though we moved, it was worth the investment. I became friends with some of the ladies who went back to work too, and we are still friends 5 years later. All it was was collecting emails and asking friends if they new anyone local who had a baby born in the time frame I set (within 4 months of DS).

[scsarah]

Thanks for all the tips! It's been a while since I've had to do all this, so I appreciate it. I'll look into local libraries for sure.

@kirkette and waterchurch, I'm in Culver City-ish area, but am willing to venture out.

I had my 6 week check up with my OB yesterday, and thought about asking her, but the appointment was quite rushed as she was running behind. Given everything you all have mentioned, I may call the office and see if they have any suggestions as well.

I also went to a breastfeeding support group early on, when I was having more issues, but I have to say, I felt like I knew more from lurking here than the woman running the group! So I'm really glad to have this place as a great resource.

[gogadgetgo]

There are also a couple of babywearing groups around town that have frequent meet ups. I haven't been but they look like fun. BabywearingLA is one group. Look them up on FB.

I'm on the other side of town but I met most of my friends through the local hospital bf support group. The LC was fine but we really bonded through meeting up each week.

[scsarah]

Apr 18, 2014 23:26:48 GMT -5 @kirkette said:

I'll also go against the flow because I'm local.
Baby boutiques, like The Pump Station and Bright Beginnings and Beyond (before it closed), have been my best source for breastfeeding groups and resources. 
I was afraid LLL on this side of town would be far too crunchy for my liking. 

That's one of my fears too!  But I definitely found the Pump Station to be a great resource.  I met with one of their LCs - they were actually the ones who spotted DS' tongue and lip ties, which made such a difference once we got them fixed.  Overnight nursing changed, and he actually started sticking his tongue out, which was pretty awesome to see!

Their support group was the one I went to - and maybe I just was there on an off day, but the woman who led that (different LC than I'd met with) really didn't click with me.  She spent the whole hour and a half lecturing at us, with no time for us to talk and ask questions.  I also got a strong vibe that she felt like she had all the answers, and didn't really want to hear other things that had worked for other people.  But that may have just been me.

Thanks so much for the other links, and I'll definitely start checking some of those things out!

[waterchurch]

We're not close enough for me to have a ton of suggestions, but it looks like Outside The Box has some field classes that might be close-ish to you. otbee.com/ I haven't personally taken any of the classes, but I've heard good things. I don't know if it is exactly what you're looking for, but I'll throw it out there anyway.
Good luck!

[kangaroo11]

I liked the one Outside the Box class I did (I'm in the Valley) and I did a Mommy and Me at Mother's Haven (also in the Valley). I did the drop in groups at Pump Station Westlake Village and they were great for me to really get comfortable BFing in "public" and just talk about general mom things.

[Deleted]

Throwing out another suggestion in the South Bay area. South Bay Breastfeeding Support and Education Center also has Mommy and Me classes. I started a class with DD when she was 8 weeks old and have met a lot of my mom friends there.