What to Expect at Postpartum Support Circle
Bringing your new baby out on your way (maybe even for the first time!) can feel so scary. What if I forget something they need? What if they cry the whole time? What if someone sneezes directly into their face? What if I can’t get them to latch and I’m in front of a bunch of people with my boobs out and a crying baby?!
As an experienced mom, I can truly attest to having these same anxieties with my first baby, and I can assure you that the best thing to ease them is practice! Taking your new baby out solo is like ripping off a Band-Aid, once you do it you are SO glad you did and most likely will be thinking, “Wait, that really wasn’t that bad!”
Many Kansas City moms have come to our postpartum support circle as their first, or one of their early, solo postpartum outings. Our bi-weekly, free, postpartum support circles are set up to be an accepting and low-stakes place to not only get out of the house; but get advice, meet other new and experienced moms, and vent about the hardships of the first year of parenting.
To ease any lingering reservations about attending one, this post will walk you through everything that happens at our circles, and the precautions we take to keep our littlest community members safe.
Who can attend?
Any mom, birthing parent, or primary adoptive caregiver who has a baby under one year of age. Even if you just had your baby a few days ago, you are welcome to attend! We kindly ask that dads or other male partners do not attend, as we want to make it a comfortable place for new moms who may be working on breastfeeding. You DO NOT need to be a previous client of The Birth Bloc to attend — any community member who fits the above criteria is allowed to sign up for our free postpartum circle.
We also kindly ask that you do not attend if you, or anyone in your household, is showing signs of illness. We also ask that you only bring your child under one year of age with you, and do not bring siblings. We are aware this can create a roadblock to some being able to attend, but we prioritize these things to help keep our littlest ones safe from germ spreading, and to make sure other parents are comfortable bringing their newborns.
We also ask that everyone signs up using the link HERE before attending; as we keep attendance to eight parent/newborns a gathering, to ensure adequate social distancing between couplings.
Where and when are they located?
Our postpartum support circles are located at a central, Kansas City location, inside of Full Circle Yoga Studio —right on the state line between Waldo and Prairie Village.
Address for Full Circle Yoga Studio: 7830 State Line Rd, Unit 100, Prairie Village, KS 66208
You can park in the front, side, or back of building; and enter the East facing door (facing State Line Rd.). Once you enter the building, the yoga studio is the first door on the left.
Classes are biweekly (dates are labelled on the sign-up link), on Wednesday mornings from 9-9:45am.
Note: Full Circle Yoga Studio hosts Bring Your Own Baby (BYOB) Yoga Class at 10am on Wednesdays, and some moms from the group do stay to take yoga class after postpartum support circle. This would be a separate sign-up on Full Circle’s Website.What can I expect when I get there?
When moms arrive, they are greeted by a birth doula and experienced mom (usually me — Heidi!). Then we ask that you take off your shoes at the door and enter the studio. Your host will have set up spots for each mom signed up, marked by yoga mats, blankets, and bolsters on the floor, with chairs available for anyone who would need or like a place to sit. We also have yoga balls available to sit and bounce a baby on if needed. Many parents also like to bring their own baby mat or blanket to set their baby down on top of their padded area.
Once everyone arrives, we go around the circle and introduce our name and baby’s name and age. After that, the host will have a discussion question prepared for anyone who would like to answer. Examples of these are, “What was your high and low of the week?” “What is something that has been more difficult or more joyful than you expected during this season?” After our discussion question, we leave the floor open for any additional questions any parent has for the host and the group, or we get off topic at some point during the discussion question and just vent and enjoy our time together with fellow moms!
It is very important to us that our space stays a judgement free zone, and we pride ourselves on all of our work as doulas at The Bloc being inclusive and accepting to all safe parenting beliefs.
Once circle is finished, some mothers pack up to leave, and others stay in the studio to attend yoga class at 10am.
Diapers changes, baby feeds (bottle, breast, or pumping), and other newborn care is welcome and accepted in the studio space! There is also a private bathroom located inside of the studio for your comfort.
If you have any questions about our doula group’s Free Postpartum Support Group in Kansas City, don’t hesitate to reach out to me, the owner of The Bloc, at heidi@blocbirths.com
