Tips to make friends and meet with other mums

[Jj93x]

Helloo, I’m currently 10 weeks 4 days pregnant, im the first out of my (very small) group of friends to have a baby so I’m feeling a little bit alone.

I do struggle with social anxiety so I find it quite hard to meet new people, but I’d quite like to try and meet some other mums so I’ve got people to talk to about what’s happening & who I can relate to.

Did anyone join any groups or classes or anything and were they worth doing? Bonus if there’s any that my partner could tag along to as well as he really helps with my anxiety ☺️

Thank you x

Try the Peanut and Mush apps for people in the same situation as you. They match you up with other mums and mums to be in your area.

I was in a similar boat to you lovely, I would guess from your username we are of the same age too.... my DS is 12 month now but as you said, I was eh e first of my friends to have a baby and well.... let’s just say you realise which are your true friends! Anyway, have a look on fb maybe at your local community group (that’s what I did) and I was recommended so many places to take DS. I was really nervous at first but after forcing myself to attend a couple of times I love it now and I feel so much more confident going out alone with DS (again like you, I felt better with DP around) we attend a regular class on a Tuesday and go swimming once a week too. I have met some lovely ladies at the group and meet up with some of them now on different days for soft play etc. Took a few weeks to get friendly with others but you’ll get there!

I have a wonderful group of baby mum friends.

We met at baby sensory, it started out with small questions about baby (everyone wants to talk baby!) then at Christmas I asked if anyone wanted to pop to the pub next door after the session.
Once it was the last session, I asked a couple if they wouldn't mind swapping WhatsApp details in case we wanted to get together.

I feel everyone wants the same thing, we're just all too scared to take that leap but be the brave one! They'll all be grateful that you did.

It's been truly wonderful, there are 5 of us in all and in the 3 years since we met we've welcomed an additional 4 babies, I've been to two of their weddings and we've had beautiful birthday parties for our babies. It's special ❤️

I joined an aqua-natal swimming class to meet other pregnant ladies which has been really good. Try something like that or pregnancy yoga? x

NCT class initially for me. I met 4 mums there and together we went to a baby massage class. We met several more mums there and formed ourselves a fairly large gang.

I’m quite shy in group social situations until I feel comfortable so going to NCT was good as the expectation was to make friends. And having those mums to go to a class with meant I kinda buffered off the more confident ones and was included in the friend making! Otherwise I’d have probably felt quite awkward & not made any friends!

Definitely download Peanut - I’ve met some lovely mum friends from there. I found most of the time I did have to message first/ suggest meeting up though.
I second NCT classes (can go with your DP) and pregnancy swimming classes too.
Once baby comes I would just say get yourself out and about. Baby sensory, swimming, massage etc. Plus your family centre might run some free classes.
I too had a small friend group before my baby came 3 months ago but since doing all the above I have met loads of friends!
I’m quite shy and have found I did have to put myself out there a bit but it’s worth it!