5 Reasons To Join A Pregnancy Group
Written by Jana Angeles
When you’re pregnant for the first time, there will be moments where you’ll feel alone and wonder why there are some challenging times during this journey. From the morning sickness to the hormonal mood swings, pregnancy gets the best of all of us sometimes. It’s not an easy task to take care of your body, especially when you have another human growing inside of you.
Even with the support of our family and friends, it can be difficult trying to get through the pregnancy journey, especially if you don’t have somebody that you can relate to. If you’ve ever considered joining a pregnancy group, why not start now? There are so many great reasons to join one, especially if you are about to be a mother for the first time. Here are some reasons why you should join one:
You can learn from other mothers
Joining a pregnancy group can be a good way to learn from other mothers and their experiences with pregnancy. If you’re a first-time mum, it can be difficult trying to explain to people how pregnancy works and why you can’t control your emotions or new habits you’ve adapted. On the days where you feel deflated, it’s good to talk to other mothers and just vent about your frustrations – whether it’s something to do emotionally or physically. You can learn from their journey, especially if they’ve been pregnant before, making you feel less isolated and confused.
You will feel supported
There are a lot of weird things that happen during pregnancy, besides eating a lot and crying for no reason. You can feel alienated at times, especially when you can’t explain how you feel to someone who hasn’t been pregnant before. When you join a pregnancy group, you can share your thoughts and concerns without feeling judged and it feels good! This in return makes you feel supported and loved. Not only that, being in a pregnancy group gives you the opportunity to establish great long-term friendships, even after you’ve given birth to your child.
You can connect with other mothers and their experiences
Pregnancy isn’t about just the baby itself but it’s also about understanding the physical changes that are happening in the body and how it all shapes you as a person. Before you even thought of having children, how surreal is it that the human body is able to carry another human?
When you’re part of a pregnancy group, you can talk about how much the experience has changed you and you will hear other mothers talking similar experiences and emotions. There’s a lot you need to take in but at least you can breathe easier knowing you can connect with other mothers on a deeper level throughout your pregnancy.
You can relate to each other
It helps to have a sense of humour when you’re growing another human inside of you, so being part of a pregnancy group can allow you and others to share the journey while cherishing the good and complaining about the ugly parts to pregnancy. When hearing the first heartbeat of your baby or feeling them kick for the first time, these are the moments you can share that will make you feel connected to each other.
Being in one will ease your fears and concerns
Pregnancy can be a scary journey for all of us. If this is your first time being pregnant, you can feel the pressure sometimes, wanting to do right by you and your child. There will be a lot of criticism when it comes to the choices you make and this can lead to fears and concerns that can cloud your mind. Being part of a pregnancy group can help you make sense of these fears and concerns. Since you have that extra support from other mothers, you feel calm and less stressed, even if something unusual happens during the term of your pregnancy.
Overall, being in a pregnancy group is about being part of a community of mothers sharing the same journey as you. It can make you feel less isolated and help you be supported throughout your pregnancy. Though it is a hard journey, the end result will help you see why it was worth it all in the end!