Mom community in the Philippines!
Being a mom sure is a tough job. But having other moms to confide with and share your successes and failures with makes life easier. Who else gets moms but co-moms right?
Let’s talk about mommy communities and how this can help you in going through your mommy journey especially if you’re a new mom! Does it really take a village to raise a child? Here’s what motherhood and communities say.
What can you read in this article?
- Motherhood and mom community in the Philippines
- Importance of mom community
- How to find mom groups community Philippines 2022
Motherhood and communities
The University of Washington's five researchers wanted to investigate how community support affects a parent's bond with their children and their ability to raise them. They studied new mothers who experienced varying levels of stress and community support.
The researchers revealed a clear answer: mothers who lacked good community support were more stressed, and more stressed mothers were more worn down and negative about parenting. It was also discovered that mothers who had a lot of community support were less stressed and more optimistic about starting a family.
Having a community's support offers a plethora of skills and tools to help you navigate the obstacles of parenthood. This helps you approach your obligations with more optimism and a sense of intimacy with people, giving your efforts even more purpose.
What's a mom community for?
Parents, especially moms, can get two types of support from support networks like a mom community: practical assistance, emotional or personal assistance, and information or counsel.
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Emotional
This is personal support, such as having someone listen to your troubles and disappointments or having fun with.
The most important personal support comes from those who are willing to listen and offer opinions and suggestions, speak things out in a constructive and nonjudgmental manner, and keep what you say to themselves.
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Information or counsel
You may also learn a lot about various things such as parenting and family services, breastfeeding, child protection, education, healthcare, and all other things that concern your child. While this may be a good source of additional resource, always keep in mind to consult your doctor or physician for medical concerns.
Importance of mom community
Here are a few benefits of having moms support each other.
1. Having a support network
It may look like it’s all fun and laughter when you see a moms' group in action, but this is not the reality. Social isolation is connected to postpartum depression and anxiety. As a result, a mom community helps moms by reducing maternal stress and increasing social bonds.
2. Helps you set up a routine
Being a home-based mom is a major adjustment for parents who are used to working full-time. Having set dates in your social calendar, such as a weekly mothers' group, might assist you and your baby in establishing a routine.
Apart from joining a mothers' group, parents can participate in a variety of activities such as lunch dates, parenting workshops, and others. You can even join a playgroup for your child where babies can interact and play with each other.
3. Observe (but not compare!) milestones
While each child is unique and will hit milestones at their own pace, keeping track of their progress in a group of children their age is a smart way to do so. If there's something your baby isn't doing or is doing in a different method, it's a good idea to let your doctor know.
For breastfeeding mothers
Women need one-on-one breastfeeding help and information from the health-care system, which they rarely get. Many experienced breastfeeding mothers have formed mothers' support groups to satisfy this need. These organizations must educate and enlighten their members about scientific and other information related to infant health and breastfeeding.
For single moms
A single mother's family is more prone to suffer from psychosocial poverty, social isolation, and mental health morbidity. Eight single mothers participated in a larger randomized controlled trial (RCT) of a community-based education/support group program from mothers using mixed methods.
The RCT and qualitative study participants confronted a variety of obstacles, including financial and mood issues. Before entering the group, these parents indicated they had common experiences of social isolation, stigma, a sense of failure, poor relationships with their children, and money management concerns.
As a result of the mom group, moms reported increased self-esteem, support from other moms, enhanced parenting ability, and improved communication with their children.
For first-time moms
In 2018, Nutrition International, in partnership with the Department of Health and Helen Keller International, launched a mom community support group. One of the participants was Camila Konia.
When Camila became pregnant with her first child, she acknowledged that she felt unprepared for parenting. She was especially worried about how to hold her baby and breastfeed comfortably. A local health worker introduced Konia to this local mother-to-mother support group and encouraged her to join. She did, and she hasn't looked back since.
Her confidence and knowledge have grown as a result of her involvement in the group. She says that the group was a big help to moms, especially to first-time moms like herself.
How to find a mom groups or community Philippines?
There are several options for finding local mother groups, including:
- Inquiring about your birth at the hospital where you gave birth.
- Consult your child's pediatrician for more information.
- Contacting the government, community centers, and religious organizations in your area.
- For further information, go to your local library.
- Inquire at a daycare center in your area.
Here are the best mom groups on Facebook:
You can also download theAsianparent community app! Our community app contains different features that will help you to raise your child. There's also a community of parents from whom you can seek advice too and share the things you've learned in motherhood.
Besides that, you can also earn money by joining our campaigns and our VIP Content Creators programs, in which you can share your own stories about parenting, pregnancy, relationship experience, and more. Learn more about it in our community app. Download it here for free.
- Usapang Nanay - Official (Buntis, expecting moms, anything about motherhood)
- Moms Support Moms PH
- First Time Moms PH
- Breastfeeding Moms' PH
- Super Wo-Mom
It's okay to ask for help!
It's good to inform others about what they can do to help you. At times, you may also need to state what won't help. Here are a few recommendations:
- Simply mention that you require someone to listen rather than advise or solutions. Friends and family members will usually understand.
- Collaborate on tasks with other parents. If you don't drive, a trusted parent might agree to drive your child and their child to sports every week. In compensation, you could offer to walk the kids home from school.
- Inviting another mom to exercise with you or offering to exercise with someone is a great way to start. For example, taking your kids to the park or for a walk.
There will be occasions when you require more formal assistance. If you're having any of the following issues, it's always a good idea to get professional medical help:
- Anxious about any changes in your child's health, growth, or behavior?
- Sad, angry, or resentful of your child regularly?
- Is your connection with your partner harmed whenever you're concerned, irritated, or frustrated?
- Do you frequently experience fights with your partner and have difficulty resolving these?
Riskology, Medibank, What’s on 4 Kids, Science Direct, Nutrition International, BMC Public Health, Raising Children