Mommy's Group...

My first weekend home with Olivia, a lactation consultant who was helping me with breastfeeding suggested I attend the weekly mommy's group that she leads for Baltimore moms.

Now my pre-pregnancy self would have been turned off to a mom's group or support group or anything ending in "group" for that matter. However its funny how the whole pregnancy and motherhood experience rocks your world so much that you can hardly fathom the miracle of life or how to take care of a newly forming one. I have never had so many questions everyday, but at the same time been so turned off to UNsolicited advice (which comes from every direction). By the way, do you ever notice that UNsolicited advice is always about stuff you ALREADY KNOW!

Anyway, I must Google something baby or motherhood related at least 3-4 times a day. So this week I finally succumbed to my curiousity and desire to be around others that understood where I was coming from and went to this highly regarded mom's group. Our au pair wanted to come along--which turned out to be a good idea.

There are so many great things about this group. It's conveniently held at the hospital where I had Charm City Baby--Miss Olivia. It's runs Fridays from 10am to 2pm and you can show up at anytime (beautiful when it takes half an hour to get out of the house the w/out forgetting anything). It's run by a funny, no nonsense lactation specialist/nurse/mom who flat out knows her stuff. It's FREEEEE!!

When I walked in, there were about 10-12 moms formed in a circle (some in chairs, some on the floor with babies) just asking questions and sharing tips. No less than 5 of the mom's were nursing, one baby was getting his diaper changed (right out in the open), some were having tummy time, getting swaddled,chatting, fussing--whatever, but the mommy discussion continued. Any outsider would have called it chaos--but I immediately felt relaxed and at home. In fact, I jumped right in and changed Olivia's diaper.

As time passed 3 sets of twins (and their moms) came in and more mothers trickled in and out. It was great. New found respect for those twin moms by the way.

I got all kinds of questions answered about baby acne, pumping and traveling without baby (more on that later), tummy time, getting baby on a schedule/routine. Plus I got to see mom gear, toys, snacks, and all of the bells and whistles that other mom's use which was very helpful.

In fact, Charm City Daddy and I met a random pregnant lady while out at dinner tonight (baby carriers and preggos have a strange magnetism) and I found myself inviting her to the mom's group! ha!

So--if you are a mom or a mom-to-be I highly recommend that you find a mom's group to attend while you are home on maternity leave. It will give you something to look forward to every week and good practice of getting mobile with baby. Plus it will give you some contact with the outside world and great advice you can use.