Grateful for Jersey Mom Support Groups

April 30, 2018

I’ve spent April visiting several of the mom support groups & gatherings in Hoboken and in Jersey City, speaking to women about pelvic physical therapy – what it is, why it’s important, and what to expect when you work with a pelvic PT. The insightful questions and honest, open discussion has been both inspiring and exciting — especially at a time when many turn to YouTube because they don’t want to risk “looking silly” for not knowing, or because, hey, where else would one learn how to deliver a baby and take care of it?

What has been wonderful to see is how many women benefit from the sisterhood of support they find in these prenatal and postpartum groups, both online and in person. Urban living shoves strangers together to live shoulder-to-shoulder in anonymity, avoiding eye contact and turning up the volume on our headphones in place of connection and interaction. As a place to share concerns and crowdsource ideas about parenting, to vent frustrations, to get referrals to local resources, and to explore feelings around what is both a radical role change (being a parent), and simply learning something new (how to parent) — mom groups have taken the place of the aunties and mothers and cousins and sisters who might have otherwise aided us in navigating new territory. It still does take a village, after all, just not the one we might have expected.

What I especially loved about visiting the JC Bump New Moms Group and the Working Moms Group in particular is that, as the women go around the room and introduce themselves, founder and moderator Michelle Goitia makes a point of having each mother say what they’ve done for self-care since the last meeting. This emphasis on self-care is *SO IMPORTANT* and yet so easily pushed aside with all the other demands of daily life. But what is it they say on airplanes? Put on your own oxygen mask first before helping others: you can’t take care of your family if you don’t take care of yourself first.

…And it made me extremely happy to hear one attendee report that her self-care activity was starting pelvic physical therapy  🙂 ?  That’s what I like to hear!

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Could The Pelvic PT add some pizazz to your next meeting or seminar? Oh, you better believe it! Contact connect@thepelvicpt.com for more information on speaking engagements and educational presentations.

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