Joining the Mom and Baby Group with Babies Naturally was truly one of the best things I did after having my first baby. This group provided a safe, welcoming environment for me and my daughter to go every week. Not only did it help get us out of the house and give us an activity to do together but it allowed me to meet and learn from and share with some amazing Moms. The women I met in this group have laughed with me, cried with me, supported me, listened to me, comforted me, reassured me and educated me! I can honestly say we’ve formed bonds that I hope will last a life time. Over the time we spend together we got to watch our little babies become more and more aware of each other – by the end they were all crawling and playing and interacting – a total baby party! Karen is just the perfect person to run a group like this. She is honest and funny and knows just when to contribute and just when to let the group go in it’s own direction. I really can’t say enough about this group. If you’re looking for a way to reach out and meet other moms, or if you feel nervous about getting out with your new baby but are feeling kind of isolated this is the group for you!!

Heather

To be honest, I originally saw the post on the Babies Naturally site to join a mum and baby group and totally dismissed it. I had gone to a drop in at a local mum and baby group and left feeling inadequate and totally judged as a mother. I vowed I would never be a part of that again. However, I had been going to the breastfeeding clinic every week that Babies Naturally had been offering. To be honest, I started going more for the social and comfort and talking to the other mammas than anything else (after I got the breastfeeding thing down). So, when I got a call from Karen asking me if I would like to be a part of this group, naturally there was some hesitation from my previous experience. However, two things sold me. One, that Karen thought of me personally and called me to invite me… which really meant a lot to me. Two, that I knew some of the girls from the breastfeeding clinic that I had been talking to every week were going to be there. I was starting to know these girls and truly valued their experiences and their conversation. I was sold. This group has really shown me how important it is as a new mother to have a solid support system outside of your family. We have laughed, cried, shared and built lifelong friendships for our children and ourselves. It has far exceeded my expectations and has given me such a sense of calm and peace raising my daughter. I find I turn to these women for advice or concerns rather than my family… sometimes it is nice to get advice from family, but can also be alot when people offer advice by saying they “did it this way” or who tell you that you should be “doing this or that”. The women in this baby group are going through the same thing at the same time and can totally relate. It has been amazing getting to know them over the past 6 months. I think every first time mom would benefit from such a group.

Dana

When Karen first suggested that I join her Mom and Baby group, I was so excited:)  I knew a couple of the mamas who planned to also join however the majority of them I had never met.  I was a little curious about what the dynamic of the group was going to be like…as we all know having your first child is an overwhelming experience, and all us mamas have strong opinions on what is best for our babes.  I can honestly say that I could not have joined a more wonderful group of women.  At no point in our several months together was anyone ever anything but supportive, helpful, kind and understanding.  Karen was great at providing a very safe and welcoming environment, and she always had great group discussion topics….not that we were ever at a loss for things to talk about!  I am so thankful that I joined the group.  We’ve all become great friends, and we continue to get together on a weekly basis.  It’s so fabulous to have nine other women a text or email away who “get it”.  It’s also fascinating to watch all the babes grow and develop and to see how they interact with one another as they get older and more mobile.  I highly recommend this group to any Mom, especially a first-time Mom.  Chances are you will consider it one of the best things you ever did with your new babe:)

Andrea