If you are expecting, or have a new baby, and need extra support, here are some options are for you, organized by area of the metro! It may be good to check a couple of different areas, to find the closest location(s) to you. For resources specific to parents of color, click here, and for parents in Rural MN, look here or check out our virtual options!
Blooma
FREE New Mom Group offers moms the opportunity to connect with each other, ask questions, share advice, laugh, cry, and talk about life with a new baby. Occasionally, we bring in a guest speaker to offer insight into popular parenting topics. Babies are always welcome, and groups are lead to accommodate all parenting styles. Start anytime, and come as many times as you would like! Help ease the transition into life with your new baby in a supportive, open environment. Minneapolis: 612-223-8064 (Currently live streaming! Register online); Wednesdays, 12:30-1:30 PM.
LGBTQ New & Prospective Parent Group
Social support and community group for new (0-3y) or prospective queer+ identifying individuals and families! Children welcome! Second Saturday of each month 10-11:30 am. (currently online) Walker Community United Methodist Church, 3104 16th Ave S, Minneapolis, MN. Check out upcoming events and topics on facebook, or email queerbirthproject@gmail.com
Minnesota Visiting Nurses Association/MVNA (Hennepin County residents)
FREE for all residents of Hennepin County; Support during pregnancy and postpartum, newborn home visits, up to age 3. Public Health Nurses (PHNs) work with families in their homes and other community settings. Assistance with finding community services. We serve families in the City of Minneapolis and suburban Hennepin County with the exception of Bloomington, Richfield and Edina. Call for intake: 612/617-4600 ext. 2.
Tubman Parenting Group
Tubman’s parenting group is a trauma-informed group that provides women with a safe space to process the complexities of parenting through various traumatic life challenges, including substance abuse recovery, recovery from trauma caused by domestic violence, involvement with Child Protective Services, and child-parent separation and reconciliation.
Blooma
FREE New Mom Group offers moms the opportunity to connect with each other, ask questions, share advice, laugh, cry, and talk about life with a new baby. Occasionally, we bring in a guest speaker to offer insight into popular parenting topics. Babies are always welcome, and groups are lead to accommodate all parenting styles. Start anytime, and come as many times as you would like! Help ease the transition into life with your new baby in a supportive, open environment. Minneapolis: 612-223-8064 (Currently live streaming! Register online); Wednesdays, 12:30-1:30 PM.
Club Mom
Club Mom is a community health gathering for African-American women, ages 19 and up who are pregnant and/or parenting children, 0-5 years. The group is led by Saint Paul – Ramsey County Public Health staff. As a member of the group, you will have the opportunity to connect with one another, enjoy dinner, and participate in helpful guest speaker presentations. Childcare is provided during the presentation hour so that you can focus on learning information such as: stress management, child-safety practices, and resources such as health insurance and healthy child development. Currently, all meetings are held virtually until further notice. More information and to get the meeting link: 651-266-1545
Minnesota Visiting Nurses Association/MVNA (Hennepin County residents)
FREE for all residents of Hennepin County; Support during pregnancy and postpartum, newborn home visits, up to age 3. Public Health Nurses (PHNs) work with families in their homes and other community settings. Assistance with finding community services. We serve families in the City of Minneapolis and suburban Hennepin County with the exception of Bloomington, Richfield and Edina. Call for intake: 612/617-4600 ext. 2.
Blooma
FREE New Mom Group offers moms the opportunity to connect with each other, ask questions, share advice, laugh, cry, and talk about life with a new baby. Occasionally, we bring in a guest speaker to offer insight into popular parenting topics. Babies are always welcome, and groups are lead to accommodate all parenting styles. Start anytime, and come as many times as you would like! Help ease the transition into life with your new baby in a supportive, open environment. (Currently live streaming! Register online); Wednesdays, 12:30-1:30 PM.
Plymouth location contact: 612-223-8064
AMMA Parenting Center New Mama Class (currently virtual & in person)
You and your newborn will meet other moms virtually, from the comfort of your home and get help on all the topics of concern to new moms. You won’t find a more welcoming place for help and encouragement than the New Mama Class. The New Mama Class supports all new mothers. Whether you’re breastfeeding or bottle feeding, parenting solo, partnered or married, adoptive or biological, have one baby or twins, you are welcome here. This class is fee-based. Offered at multiple days and times- click the link above to register. For in-person class info, click here.
If you are expecting a subsequent child, check out their Second Time Mama class.
Baby Talk – Northfield
Baby Talk is a free class for parents with newborns from birth to 12 weeks that provides support, information and resources related to the exciting job of parenting. Parents can have their questions answered, have their babies weighed, learn about feeding, sleeping, attachment and when to call a medical provider. As of March 1, 2021 Baby Talk is meeting both in-person and virtually. Pre-registration for in-person attendance is required every week to allow for COVID safety protocols and proper physical distancing in the classroom.
A public health nurse, lactation consultant, and parent educator are available for parents of newborns from birth-12 weeks. Every Monday from 10:30am-12:00pm. In person location: Northfield Community Education Center, 700 Lincoln Parkway in Northfield. Free sibling care is available each week.
To connect to class staff and obtain the virtual meeting code, please go to www.bit.ly/nfldnewbaby(link is external) or text @nfldbabies to the number 81010. If you have any questions, you can email Ellen at ehaefner@northfieldschools.org or leave a voicemail at 507.301.7369.
New Mom’s Network- Northfield Early Childhood
This free group meets for six weeks, usually for an hour and a half on a weekday evening. Since the groups are facilitated by new moms, each group arranges its own specific timing. Each week focuses on a different topic that relates to transitions new mothers experience. However, conversations will often diverge from the scheduled topic; the group is designed to focus on what the members want or need that week. New Moms Network groups are facilitated by moms who have recently participated in the program themselves.
For the time being, groups are meeting by online video or outdoors. Contact Elaine Nesbit (507-724-8353 or nmngroups@gmail.com).
Note: Due to COVID-19, many of the location-specific resources are also meeting virtually, so if you are looking for options that you are not seeing here, please check in the location links above.
Amniotic Fluid Embolism (AFE) Foundation: Survivor Support Group
This group is specifically for survivors of amniotic fluid embolism (AFE) and is administered by the AFE Foundation, a non-profit advocacy organization based in the United States.
Birth & Trauma Support Group (private moderated Facebook)
This is a group was created by The Birth & Trauma Support Center for those who experienced a traumatic birth as the birthing person. It is a lay person support group, meant to encourage, share resources and offer peer support.
Fussy Baby Support Group (private moderated Facebook group)
This is a safe place for parents of fussy, colicky, high need or ‘spirited’ babies or kids to come for support, to ask questions, or just to commiserate. Please remember to be respectful of all parenting styles, and to not only ask questions, but to GIVE support to your fellow parents 🙂
High-risk Pregnancy & Bed Rest Support Group
Please join us and other moms who may be on bedrest or who may have received a diagnosis while pregnant, or who are worried about having a baby (or another baby) in the NICU. Join via Zoom to listen or share our experiences and our worries, as well as share ideas for activities and self care. We will meet for 90 minutes. You are welcome to join us each week with video – or just listen in. Wednesdays, 1-2:30 PM. FREE. Register in advance; contact Arielle with questions: arielle@handtohold.org
Maternal Near-Miss Survivors Support Group (private moderated Facebook group)
This support group is specifically for Maternal Near-Miss Survivors: an event where a woman nearly dies due to pregnancy or childbirth related complications. The events are often unexpected and may leave the survivor feeling isolated and alone. This is a safe place where survivors find comfort and offer support as we journey toward healing together.
Mother-Baby Support Group (Virtual, MN-based clinician)
Jeanette McGie runs two virtual Mother-Baby Support groups. One group is Thursday Evenings from 6:30pm-7:30pm, and the other is Tuesday Morning from 9am-10am. Contact Rum River Counseling at 763-482-9895 or contact Jeanette via the form on the website.
Non-Gestational Parent Support Group- Queer Birth Project
PPSM Facebook Support Group
Minnesota residents only. This closed group is for pregnant people, expectant parents, and new parents to offer peer support, ask questions, and connect with others who are struggling. The group is closed to maintain privacy, to ensure a safe space for members of the group.
PPSM Virtual New Mom Peer Support Groups
Sign up through Hey Peers, for our free virtual support groups, facilitated by PPSM Peer Support Volunteers! These are moms who have been there! Minnesota moms only. Thursdays, 7 pm. Join our peer support volunteers for a free weekly live online group providing support and education for expecting and postpartum parents.
New Mama Group- Blooma
FREE New Mama Group, currently live streaming. Bring your baby! This group offers moms the opportunity to connect with each other, ask questions, share advice, laugh, cry, and talk about life with a new baby. Occasionally, we bring in a guest speaker to offer insight into popular parenting topics. Babies are always welcome, and groups are lead to accommodate all parenting styles. Start anytime, and come as many times as you would like! Wed, 12:30-1:30 PM. Register online.
Pregnancy Centering Group- Blooma
Live Stream! Currently expecting? Come together virtually once a week with other expecting parents to connect in a guided group atmosphere. There will be opportunities to share, learn, ask questions, and explore current resources in the birth world. Each session will end with guided breathwork or a short meditation. Tuesdays 5:45-6:45 pm. Free, but registration required.
PSI Chat With an Expert- Wednesday Chat for Moms
During these sessions you can connect with other moms and talk with a PSI expert about resources, symptoms, options and general information about perinatal mood and anxiety disorders from the privacy of your own phone. There is no need to pre-register or give your name. These sessions, facilitated by licensed mental health professionals, are informational only and open to anyone with questions and concerns. Limited to the first 15 callers. See page for schedule and information about how to call in.
PSI Online Support Meetings
PSI has a variety of online support groups for moms in the perinatal (pregnancy & postpartum) period. Our online groups are here to help you connect with other parents, talk about your experience, and learn about helpful tools and resources. Whether you are going through stress, adjustment to parenting, Baby Blues, pregnancy or postpartum depression/anxiety, or a survivor of postpartum psychosis, our groups are here for you. Meetings in Spanish offered! Groups are free of charge, but require pre-registration. Visit the scheduling page to see all of the dates/times, and to sign up.
PSI Postpartum Psychosis Coordinator
Michele Davidson provides support and assistance to women and families of women who are experiencing a postpartum psychosis but who do not need emergency support.
Phone: 703-298-3247 & Email: michelerdavidson@gmail.com
Sidelines
A private Facebook Discussion Group is an informal place to ask questions on coping with a high-risk pregnancy, to learn about others who have been through complications, and a fun way to help pass the time until your baby arrives! Sidelines is a 501 (c)(3) non-profit organization providing international support for women and their families experiencing complicated pregnancies and premature births. We believe that families can cope more successfully with a high-risk pregnancy with appropriate medical intervention, education, and a strong support system.
Traumatic Birth Stories and Support (private moderated Facebook group)
This group is for persons who have physically given birth and experienced birth trauma. (This could be anything that causes you walk away from a birth with shock, fear, depression, etc.) We provide a safe place to talk honestly without judgment about what you have experienced, and to find the support of other moms who understand.
2022 Heath Guide for New & Expecting Moms
My Fourth App
Fourth trimester support and information, virtual doula services and postpartum resources.