Finding Community for Moms in Early Motherhood

By Alex May, Social Work Intern at New Neighbors Partnership | April 2026

In January, NNP hosted a New Moms Group, creating space for newcomer moms to connect, learn, and feel supported. In this reflection, Alex May, our social work intern, shares her perspective as a new mom and highlights the importance of community in early motherhood.

When I joined New Neighbors Partnership (NNP) as a social work intern in September, I was also a new mom to a 9-month-old. I was right in the thick of it, the rollercoaster that is the first year of motherhood. So when Executive Director, Shoshana, mentioned the New Moms Program as an area I could get involved in, I jumped at the chance.

To a far lesser extent than what many of our newcomer moms are experiencing, I am raising my daughter away from my family. There’s a particular kind of loneliness that can come with not being around the people who raised you while you’re raising your own child. In those moments, friends, chosen family, and community become everything.

That’s exactly what NNP is helping newcomer moms build—a sense of community that is so essential, especially in one of the largest cities in the world.

NNP’s New Moms programming is designed to complement the clothing partnership program by offering additional support to families with newborns. It meets moms where they are, providing  information, resources, and meaningful connection through community. Our New Moms Information Sessions include five sessions covering child development, sleep, lactation and feeding, safety and health, community resources, and mental health and self-care. These sessions are led by trusted expert volunteers and NNP board members—including a parenting educator, a lactation specialist, and a pediatrician—bringing accessible, reliable information directly to moms who might otherwise face barriers to this kind of support.

From a social work lens, access to this kind of knowledge matters deeply. We know from a wide body of research that parental education is closely tied to positive outcomes in a child’s life.

But beyond the research, it’s about confidence. It’s about a mom feeling like she has the tools and information she needs to care for her child.

That support extends beyond information sessions. Our postpartum care packages provide moms with the essential supplies they need in those first few months—items that can make a real difference during a time that can feel both joyful and overwhelming.

Connection is equally important. Through WhatsApp groups, moms are able to stay in touch, share experiences, and exchange resources in real time. These groups create a space where moms can ask questions, offer support, and simply feel less alone.

And when we’re able to gather in person, that sense of connection deepens even more. Next month, we’re looking forward to celebrating our families with a baby shower that helps new moms access essential supplies and connections in a way that feels community-based and celebratory.

One of the most meaningful parts of this work for me is the focus on mental health and self-care. We talk openly about the emotional challenges that can come with early motherhood, including postpartum depression ,and share information and referrals for additional support when needed. Just as importantly, we normalize how hard this stage of life can be. The exhaustion, the emotional ups and downs, the constant adjustment—it’s real. And no one should have to navigate it alone.

Being able to sit in a room (or a group chat) with other moms and say, “This is hard,” and hear, “Me too,” is powerful. It reminds us that we’re not alone in what we’re feeling.

It has been incredibly meaningful to be part of this work, not just as a social work intern, but as a mom myself. NNP’s New Moms programming is about more than resources.

It’s about building community, sharing knowledge, and creating spaces where moms feel supported, seen, and connected.

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