Connect Mothers’ Group

Our intention for this 6-week facilitated group program is for you to connect with yourself, your baby and your community. By offering a safe environment for sharing and listening to others, we aim to create a sense of warmth, belonging and connection for the group.

Weekly Topics:

  • Week 1 - Introductions

  • Week 2 - Self-Care & Family Rituals

  • Week 3 - Our Identity as Mothers

  • Week 4 - Physical Changes & Intimacy in Motherhood

  • Week 5 - Birth Story Feelings

  • Week 6 - Connecting with our Babies and our Community

It is important to note that there is no obligation to share in relation to every topic. Joining and listening is just as valuable as sharing.

Throughout the sessions, there will be some simple activities and meditations you will be invited to participate in, but if you’d prefer to have a cup of tea, feed your baby or have a quiet moment to yourself instead, we encourage you to do so. You know what’s best for you and your baby!

Run by Sarah Thijs and Meg Rankin

Sarah is a Midwife and Lactation Consultant (at MAMA) and Meg is a Social Worker and Counsellor. They are both Mums - Sarah has 3 sons (aged 7, 5 and 2) and Meg has 1 daughter (aged 3.)

Both are passionate about supporting women in the transition of matrescence and building strong and supportive communities for parents. In fact, Sarah and Meg met in a similar mother’s group to Connect, so it’s a beautiful full-circle moment for them to be facilitating this group together at MAMA!

They have first-hand experience of the value of sharing experiences in a safe space like Connect and see these groups as an important first step in building the village we all crave in early parenthood.

Book Connect Mothers’ Group

Group: This group is for any parent (new and seasoned) who identifies as a woman and mother with babies up to 4 months of age.

Clinic: MAMA Kensington

Cost: $350 ($250 for MAMA midwifery birth support clients)

Refreshments: Morning tea

October/November 2024 Group:
Fridays, 4 October - 8 November, 10am - 11:30am
BOOK HERE 

November/December 2024 Group:
Fridays, 15 November - 20 December, 10am - 11:30am
BOOK HERE

Sessions in detail

  • After some general introductions, like ‘who’s in your family & where do you live’ we will explore how motherhood has changed us so far. Life after kids can often feel SO different to our life before – in beautiful ways and sometimes in challenging ways too! This session invites us to come together and connect through shared reflections on our journey of matrescence.

  • We’ll discuss what self-care looks like in early motherhood, and how important it is to tend to our own needs as Mums – not only to fill our own cup, but to model healthy self-care to our kids. We’ll also explore family rituals and the beauty of instilling these right from the beginning of our baby’s life.

  • We’ll unpack how our identity as Mums is shaped/influenced by family, friends, culture and society, and discuss “the perfect mother myth” – who society tells us we ‘should’ be in motherhood – and hopefully bust some myths in the process!

  • Women’s Physio Anna will present on common pelvic floor issues/challenges post-baby, and answer questions from the group.

    We’ll then explore how motherhood can bring about big physical and emotional shifts in the way we relate to ourselves and to others, including our partner, friends, family and work colleagues and what we can do to support these changes.

  • We’ll explore feelings around birth experiences as a group (without sharing full birth stories) and honour and acknowledge our experiences through an art activity and/or journaling as well as guided mediation. This session will invite us to hold our birth story with tenderness and love, however it unfolded.

  • Massage Therapist Sonya will present on baby massage – a beautiful way to connect with our babies. Sonya will teach us some baby massage techniques and answer questions from the group.

    Then we’ll dive into all the ways we can maintain ongoing connection to community with a baby in tow, including baby-friendly activities in the community. We’ll identify barriers we face as Mums being out and about, and what we can do to support ourselves and each other to stay connected.

    Given this is our final session, we’ll also mark the occasion with a shared morning tea – everyone will be invited to bring a plate to share as we celebrate the past 6 weeks together.