Finding Support (& Friends) Online with Trying to Have a Baby

I remember when I was trying to conceive our first child, Emily, and struggling with miscarriages and the idea that we may not be able to have children I. It was made more difficult because we  didn’t want a whole lot of people to know we were trying to have a baby but I really needed to talk to someone about what I was going through.

I did have my husband, family members and friends who were supporting me but no one actually knew what I was going through and I didn’t want to annoy them every day with my worries.

One day when I was turning to Dr Google for advice I came across a website called Bellybelly.com.au. I found that there were various groups based on where you were at with your trying to conceive (TTC). I initially joined a group called TTC after miscarriage or loss and found I was warmly welcomed by a lovely group of ladies who had also suffered miscarriages and were looking for support as they continued along to rocky path of TTC.

I quickly picked up the lingo referring to my period as AF (Aunt Flo), writing POAS (Pee on a stick = Pregnancy test), calling my hubby DH (Dear Husband) and discussing or CM (Cervial Mucus) during the TWW (Two Week Wait).

With the help of my bellybelly.com.au girls I was able to share my fears, pick up hints on understanding my fertility and develop friendships with people I may not have otherwise met. We laughed with each other, we cried with each other, we cursed evil AF when she arrived and cheered when a second line appeared on a POAS test. It was heart breaking to hear that one of us miscarried again but we would regularly send someone off to the group we all wanted to join..the Belly Buddies group where pregnant mums with bubs due around the same date could chat about their pregnancies.

After Emily was born I kept up with a couple of the girls who are still facebook friends and it has been lovely to see their babies growing up. I didn’t join a group with Claire but with Alicia I decided to join as I had a big bleed and some abnormal scans and just felt that I need the support.

I am so glad that I did join up this time around. My Belly Buddies from my pregnancy with Alicia have been such a great support. With our babies are now nearing seven months old we are still keeping in contact via a facebook group where we can still share struggles, successes, photos, impulse buys and just about anything else that is on our minds. Some of us are mums three times over and others are new mums, but no one claims to know it all we are all battling through.

I was recently able to meet up in person with one of the girls from my group. She lives in Canberra and we were able to meet up for scones and tea. She was so lovely and we are planning to catch up again soon.

I have not been asked by anyone to post this I just wanted to share something that was great for me. If you are pregnant or trying to have a baby it is really worth checking out belly belly to gain support from like minded people.

Have you ever joined an internet forum group? Did you have a positive experience?