New Moms Connect Working Mamas Group  

For Hannah (name has been changed), coming to the New Moms Connect weekly support group has been a life saver. "No one but you really knew how depressed I had become after the birth of my baby,” she told the group at a recent gathering. “It helped so much to have a place to come and be able to share my story."

This story is true for many women: the first few months of their baby's life is one of great transition and for 18%-22% of women, the struggles of postpartum depression can be painful, isolating and troubling. New Moms Connect volunteers and staff provide education, home visits, support and referrals to community services.

Unfortunately, in Hannah’s case, her maternity leave was up, and she needed to return to work, meaning she would soon be missing out on her weekly group meetings. Situations like Hannah’s shed light on a large hole in community support: a place for working moms to bring their babies, share and feel supported. For this reason, in June 2010, New Moms Connect launched its new program, "Working Mamas.”

One Sunday morning a month, working moms can now bring their babies and share stories, swap parenting tips and feel safe knowing they have a place to talk about the added struggle of juggling work and motherhood.

Hannah learned something important when she came. "I always thought I had to be Superwoman. Now I realize that I don't have to do it all myself!”