In the beginning, you might experience challenges trying to get pregnant. Or, if you’ve already given birth you may be looking for ways to heal and accept your postpartum body. As your baby grows, there will be joy and delight at all of the “firsts”—your baby’s first step, first laugh, the first day of school. And there will be times when motherhood feels difficult and frustrating, like when your child has a fever or refuses to sleep. Here is a piece of helpful advice: you do not have to go through it alone. One way to find the support you need is by joining a group of parents, who can offer advice and comfort. On days when parenthood seems like the hardest task, having a support group you can lean on and cry to, can feel like a lifeline. “As it is well-known high perinatal morbidity and mortality are seen among women of color," says Kecia Gaither, a double board-certified obstetrician-gynecologist and director of perinatal services at NYC Health + Hospitals, Lincoln. “Many factors preclude these outcomes, however, it’s well documented that racism and bias factor into these poor outcomes across all demographics. It’s important for women of color to have a working knowledge of resources that may be available to them. Often it’s best to consult other pregnant women either within family or friends who can recommend a healthcare provider receptive to them/their concerns.” Here’s a list of online Black pregnancy support and family groups for every stage of parenthood.
Groups for Parents Trying to Get Pregnant
Trying to get pregnant can be equally parts exciting and frustrating. It can feel discouraging when you believe it is not happening quickly enough or if you are undergoing fertility treatments. Lean on your partner, family, and friends for all the support they can give. You can also join online communities to hear from and connect with families who are going through similar experiences. Below are four family support groups that offer great help and guidance to parents who are trying to get pregnant.
Fertility for Colored Girls
Founded in March 2013, the main mission of Fertility for Colored Girls is to provide support, education, and encouragement for African American women and other women of color who might be trying to get pregnant, including those coping with infertility issues. One of its main goals is to educate and empower African American women who are dealing with fertility challenges by providing emotional support and financial assistance. It offers support groups for women in states across the country. You can find out more information about this here.
The Broken Brown Egg
The Broken Brown Egg was founded by Regina Townsend, who spent about a decade on her own fertility journey. Her mission for the Broken Brown Egg is simple: increase information, education, and discussions around the topic of infertility in Black women. By doing this, she aims to provide hope and raise awareness. The brand’s website is chock-full of resources ranging from information on adoption and foster care to content around endometriosis, donor eggs, and fibroids. The Broken Brown Egg offers a private support group, called Shellshocked. You can join it by answering a series of membership requests.
Mocha Moms
Mocha Moms isn’t just a community of Black moms—it’s as they call it—a sisterhood. The group provides support for women of color throughout all stages of pregnancy. It has both online and physical communities throughout the country. In fact, the online community has over 100,000 fans to date. You can join the group here, where you can choose between three memberships that range from $25 to $75. Members can participate in local chapter events and activities, receive information-packed bulletins, and attend regional and national conferences.
Melanin Moms
Melanin Moms is a Facebook support group for Black moms and expecting parents. It’s so active that there are currently over 50,000 people in this group. Melanin Moms is a great group for moms of all ages and at all stages of motherhood, beginning from pregnancy. The group allows you show off your new bundle of joy and allows Although it’s a private group joining in is pretty easy all you need to do is request to join and answer a couple of questions and agree to the group rules.
Groups for Parents Who Are Pregnant
Every parent likely remembers the exact moment, time, and place they got the news that they were going to become a parent. But this is only the start of your journey into parenthood. Sometimes realizing this can feel a little overwhelming. Parenthood comes with its own unique sets of challenges and expectations, and at times, it feels like reading all of the baby books in the world can’t prepare you for it. Talking to people who share the same fear and excitement can make it feel a little easier. We are sharing four online family support groups you can join when you are expecting.
Black Moms Connection
Although Black Moms Connection was founded in Toronto, Canada, in 2015, it has become a global online community for Black moms all over the world. Its mission is to increase the social, emotional, and financial well-being of global Black families. It provides support for members by building childcare facilities and community hubs, creating emergency funds for Black moms in need, and offering a safe space to talk about the unique challenges of the Black motherhood experience.
Black Mamas Matter Alliance
The importance of support for Black women before, during, and after pregnancy can’t be over-emphasized, and the minds behind the Black Mamas Matter Alliance understand that. It has an Instagram community of over 80,000 people and a Facebook community of over 20,000 people. You can connect with the community by filling out this online form. There’s a wealth of resources and articles, especially around the Black woman’s pregnancy experience.
Brown Mamas
Women of the Brown Mamas community live by the saying: “It takes a village to raise a child.” They believe that for Black moms to be the best versions of themselves, they need to lean on other Black moms. The community was founded by Muffy Mendoza, a Black mum who in her own motherhood journey, found herself searching for a community of similar women. Her little community started in her living room with seven women. They organized monthly meetings and local events for moms who are women of color. It now has a Facebook community including over 9,000 Black moms, and it receives over 10,000 visitors to its website every month. This group also organizes an annual show called the Brown Mama Mindset, which helps to amplify the voices of Black mothers. Watch clips of past shows here.
District Motherhued
District Motherhued is a platform formed by Nikki Osei-Barrett and Simona Noce Wright in 2016. The two friends formed the group after observing the glaring lack of representation amongst the local mom groups around them. District Motherhued seeks to bring the Black motherhood experience center stage in a time when Black moms are often denied adequate support and platforms to share their unique motherhood experiences. You can join the District Motherhued Society here. Applications are considered on a seasonal basis, and you can find more information on its website. Joining the society requires a participation fee of $12 a month for a 6-month or 12-month period.
Groups for Postpartum Mothers
For many parents, the day they welcomed their little bundles of joy into the world is often recognized as one of the most rewarding times of their lives. It can also be an emotional period, fueled by many sleepless nights. Some parents experience postpartum depression and anxiety. If you are a parent, who is dealing with postpartum struggles, first talk to your doctor about your concerns and help options. In addition, you can lean on a group to support you. Here are four postpartum support groups to remind you that help is out there if you need it.
Sisters in Loss
There’s a culture of silence around miscarriages and the pain and loss that comes with losing a baby. Sisters in Loss seeks to replace this silence with honest conversations about infertility and pregnancy loss experienced by Black women. If you or someone you know is dealing with the pain and struggles of infertility and pregnancy loss, Sisters in Loss offers a community of Black people who are going through similar scenarios. You can join the community via the organization’s private Facebook group here.
Black Families Do Breastfeed
Breastfeeding your baby can a milestone some mothers look forward to. However, it isn’t always easy to do, especially if the baby won’t latch or it’s painful. Black Families do Breastfeed is a non-profit organization with the main goal of providing support, education, and advocacy for BIPOC moms to breastfeed. It has a large community of over 100,000 moms in a Facebook group called Breastfeeding Support Group for Black Moms. Those in the Facebook community provide encouragement and support for pregnant and nursing people. New members are added to the group every Monday and Thursday.
Perinatal Mental Health Alliance for People of Color
It’s often more difficult for Black moms to access mental health experts and professionals to help them deal with postpartum issues. Perinatal Mental Health Alliance for People of Color seeks to help fill this need. It provides mothers of color with access to support services and communities to cope with perinatal mood and anxiety disorders. New members can join the community for a $20 fee.
Shades of Blue Project
Shades of Blue Project is an organization and online community that’s dedicated to breaking the stigma around women of color seeking help when experiencing postpartum complications. They also provide education and support for women before and during pregnancy. Their motto is “breaking cultural barriers in maternal mental health.” You can join this pregnancy and postpartum support group here, by filling out a short form.
