Expecting Mothers: Join a Due Date Club for Fun and Support

During pregnancy, we sometimes get tired of sharing what we're going through with those who aren't in the same boat as us. Either because they've never been there themselves and just don't get it or because they've been there done that and "it's no big deal." That's where a due date club comes into play.

A due date club is a club for women due usually during the same month or time frame. It's an opportunity to find support from women going through what we are going through as we go through it. It's a chance for us to share worries, fears, concerns, funny stories, advice, comfort, and best of all the TMI we can't share with anyone else. Due date clubs are also a great way to find encouragement, strength, and empowerment through other women. Knowing that we are not alone on this journey to motherhood, whether it's our first or 20^th time and that we can do this, makes a huge difference in our pregnancy, labour, delivery, and post partum stages.

Due date clubs are also a great place to get information and to learn about many different aspects of pregnancy, birth, and the post partum period that pertain to us as we are experiencing them or preparing to. We can learn a lot about what others are doing, planning, and preparing for at different stages as we reach them. Giving us new ideas and opening new doors for us that we may never have considered before.

There are plenty of ways to get involved in a due date club. Looking online at communities set up for mothers or pregnancy is a good start. For example, Mothering.com has a great online due date club community. Of course, net access isn't always readily available for some of us. In that case we could consider looking around our area for a local group or even starting one ourselves.

How? First and foremost we would need to figure out what we want from the group and for the group. Then we'd need to figure out how we'd like the group to get together. Lastly, we'd need to spread the word! Put up fliers around town, in the perinatal center at the hospital, at the chiropractic office, and anywhere else we know a pregnant woman might see it.

When starting a club, we should also think of fun ideas to really bring the members together. Showing up is great, but getting involved is even better. One way to get the members involved would be to set up a swap. Whether swapping beads for a bracelet or necklace to remind us that we aren't alone in labor or swapping gifts with each other, like a secret Santa thing. Swaps are fun and it's always nice to get a little something special. If the club is local, setting up special get togethers is also a great idea. Get a local beauty consultant to come do manicures/pedicures, and such. Or see if a local massage therapist would be willing to come and give out massages. Anything to make us feel good!

One more great thing about due date clubs are the friendships that can be built within them. Ones that might never have occurred had it not been for our common situation. Pregnancy. And who knows, at least if the club is local, our kids may group up together and become really close friends.

Due date clubs are a chance for moms-to-be to really get into our pregnancy and to surround ourselves with others who truly know what we are going through. Those who have never been there really don't. And those who have been there, done that, bought the t-shirt, often times forget all that comes with being pregnant. That's why we should join in the fun of a due date club.