How Family Connects Offers Support to New and Expecting Mothers
Pregnancy and having a new baby in the home can be an exciting time, but it can also be very stressful, which is why Family Connects is excited to offer a new support group for expecting and new mothers in our community that focus on learning practical tools and strategies that will help you get off to a great start in motherhood.
The group is a way to connect with other new moms and focus on three essential elements in motherhood–healthy behaviors, healthy thoughts, and healthy connections. These all add up to a positive impact on both you and your family for a long time to come!
Take care of yourself
First, we want to focus on you! When you have a new baby, it is easy to focus on the baby most of the time but being sure to take time for yourself is key. This is easier said than done, of course. As a new mom, it is important to remember to focus on activities you enjoyed doing before you were pregnant and learn new activities you enjoy as you adjust to your new role as a mother. Whether these activities are by yourself, with others, or with your children—doing these activities can boost your mood! They don’t have to be expensive or time consuming but focusing on building them into your day helps will help keep you centered and grounded for life’s tasks at hand.
Create healthy thoughts
We also focus on framing healthy thoughts. We know that different ways of thinking can impact our mood and learning how to have healthy thoughts is important for both you and your baby. Being a new mom doesn’t come with an instruction manual and it is common to worry, have questions about how to parent, or compare yourself to someone else. How we frame those thoughts impacts our mood and we will help you learn healthy tools to manage these thoughts.
It takes a village
The old saying holds true, it takes a village to raise a child – having a positive social support is essential! We want you to know you have a community of peers and professionals that care about you and your growing family. Kelly Gibler, one of our group facilitators says, “My ultimate goal for the group is for moms to find a community that will allow them to keep practicing mindfulness and stay connected to their peers long after the group is over. I hope the skills learned in the group will help them stay aware of their own healing and growth as a new mom and allow them to parent confidently.”
Our goal here at Family Connects is simple — healthy moms, healthy babies, and a healthy community. If you are interested in learning more about our Mothers and Babies group, you can reach out to our Family Connects group facilitator, Kelly Gibler at 309-253-4502 or email [email protected].
