Bonding Over Their Babies

By Theresa McManus, Record reporter

Women from diverse backgrounds and occupations have found a common bond in motherhood.

While attending the Baby Talk program at Centennial Community Centre, new moms meet, make friends and share their experiences.

"If I didn't have these moms, I don't know what I'd do," says New Westminster resident Marlene Domingos. "We are all first-time moms."

Baby Talk is a free drop-in group for parents and babies, from newborns to nine months. Led by public health nurses with New Westminster Preventive Services, Baby Talk provides an opportunity for parents to weigh and measure their babies, learn about growth and development and meet other parents.

Domingos, whose daughter Viena was born in August 2003, says the Baby Talk program is "fantastic" for moms. It's so good, in fact, that she's attending her third session.

"We keep going to different things," she says. "I am looking forward to the infant development session. I am at that stage where I want to understand my child's development."

While Domingos attended the infant development session previously, Viena is now at an age where the subject is more relevant. Each Baby Talk session includes an informal presentation on a particular topic.

"It was a lifesaver for me," Domingos says. "I was going through a situation where my baby was very colicky. I didn't have anyone to talk to."

Baby Talk topics include sleep/crying/colic, language development, cold and flu prevention, breast and bottle feeding, safety, infant development, planning for day care, dental health, introduction to solids and 'babies love books.'

"The reason I went was a chance to get out of the house and to meet some new moms," says New Westminster resident Andrea Fontaine. "The topics interested me as well. I wanted to learn. Everything was very new to me."

Fontaine "highly recommends" Baby Talk to new moms looking for support and friendship.

With no family nearby and no friends with babies, Domingos turned to moms at Baby Talk for advice and support. The women bonded and now meet outside Baby Talk, alternating homes each week.

Domingos, who hosts the moms and babies at her home every five weeks, likes to make a social event of the get-togethers, by providing pizza or snacks and offering extra coupons for baby goods.

"The youngest is about four months old. The oldest is about 10 months old," she says. "The younger moms learn from the older moms, the older moms reminisce."

The get-togethers continue to provide friendship and support. While many of the moms are preparing to return to work in the next few months, they intend to stay in touch.

Domingos says the moms in her group come from a variety of ethnic backgrounds and have a variety of beliefs. Their occupations include a dental hygienist, social worker, police officer and massage therapist.

"Everyone has their field," says Domingos, noting they all provide a valuable contributions to the group. "It's a nice variety."

It's not unusual for Baby Talk groups to act as a springboard to forming friendships. Other groups of moms and babies have continued to meet - all the while, watching each other's children grow and develop.

Ronnie Bahia, a public health nurse who coordinates Baby Talk, said the program attracts an average of 30 to 40 moms and babies each week.

"I have noticed outside of this there are a lot of women who make a connection and start meeting outside Baby Talk," she says. "Going through that similar experience is so powerful, knowing other women are going through the same emotional changes and learning to be a parent. It's very important you know there are other people in the same situation as you. Some of these women have made great friendships."

The spring session of Baby Talk begins April 14 (today), but new parents can start attending the drop-in at any time.

"It's a revolving door," Bahia says. "Moms just don't start on April 14. Whenever you feel comfortable coming out, you are welcome to."

Baby Talk sessions are offered at Centennial Community Centre in the fall, winter and spring. For more information, call 604-777-5100.