How To Keep And Make Friends During Pregnancy

New mamas understand how important it is for their children to have a thriving friend group, but many women find that throughout their pregnancy they lose contact with some of their own social circle.

But why does this happen so often? During pregnancy, your priorities naturally evolve, and it is harder to be spontaneous with a child on the way. On top of all of this change, research shows that social relationships typically begin to decline as we age. 

The thing is, it’s proven that having a solid community of friends to lean on is essential for optimal health and to avoid the negative effects of loneliness. We like to think of friendships and socializing as an act of self-care – one that everyone deserves to experience.

We surveyed our Baby2Body community, and 73% said that they noticed their friendships change during pregnancy and 67% noted that they struggled to stay in contact with their friends during pregnancy. So, if you are experiencing this, know that it’s not your fault, you’re not alone, and the first step to changing the situation is becoming aware of it. Although keeping and making friends while you are pregnant may seem overwhelming at times, in this post we are going to explore how to do just that in order to be our best selves. Let’s get into it…

Why is having friends important?

The first thing to think about and understand is why friends are important in the first place — not just during pregnancy, but throughout our lives. Here are a couple of reasons to think about:

Friendships improve short and long-term mental and physical health 

Quality social relationships are associated with greater happiness, health, and longer lifespan and a Harvard study found that friends can help lower stress levels and even keep your brain sharp and healthy for longer as you age.

Although more research needs to be done focusing on women as a whole and specifically women of color, the importance of solid friendships for better health has been proven in several studies including one that found that supportive relationships can help lower your blood pressure which can have a great impact on your overall health. 

Friends are a huge source of support

Your body is changing, mama. Being pregnant and growing a little baby is exciting, but it’s scary too. You might be far from family or worried about finances and your job as you start to think about the months ahead. It is impossible to expect your partner to fulfill all the social needs that you have, so having the consistency of friends as someone to lean on for support – or just to continue making fun memories with – is an essential part of feeling comfortable during your pregnancy journey. 

How can you keep old friends during pregnancy and motherhood?

As we mentioned, it is normal for friendships to evolve over time. There are many reasons why this may happen, and it’s important to not blame yourself for these changes. However, maintaining old friendships during pregnancy and into motherhood is definitely possible, and here’s some advice to help you stay connected:

1. Talk openly with your friends 

Sometimes friends don’t mean to become distant. They also have busy lives and they may be going through their own life changes. Make it clear that although having a child will be a big transition, you value this friendship and want to remain close. Clear communication can help guarantee that you both understand each other's needs and wants as the friendship evolves.

2. Spend quality time with them when possible 

Whether that’s on a phone call or in person, devoting time to your old friendships is a great way to stay connected. Here are some examples of activities to do with your friends that can easily fit into a busy schedule: 

• Workout together

• Go grocery shopping together

• Read the same audiobook while you’re on the go and discuss it together 

How can you make new friends as an adult?

Whilst keeping older friendships is amazing and definitely possible, pregnancy can also be a time in your life when you want to make new friends, particularly women who are pregnant or mothers. Here are some things to consider when you’re looking for new friendships:

1. Be open-minded

Becoming mentally and emotionally ready to build your social circle may seem like an intimidating task because of the vulnerability required, but there are friendly people everywhere, and you will find them when you step out of your comfort zone. 

A significant step towards growing your social ties is developing the willingness to put yourself in a position to make these new connections. And remember, it takes time to build close friendships, so be patient and consistent – you’ve got this!

2. Join a new club that you are interested in

To find like-minded people, volunteer, take a class, enroll in a workout group – find a club that piques your interest and join it! Meeting people that you already have something in common with will ease the process of finding people you’d want to befriend. You could seek out other people who are also pregnant or have already had a child by joining prenatal classes or mother-and-baby groups. 

Other mamas can be invaluable resources to lean on for support and advice during the beginning months of parenthood and beyond – they know what you’re going through! There are also several online groups that might fit your situation better (follow our social media to find a community of women in all stages of pregnancy!). The key here is to consistently attend this new club so that you have time to connect with people because, as mentioned earlier, connections grow over time! 

3. Follow up with new people you meet

Research shows that although going to one social club often is a terrific start to building new friendships, the best way to develop deeper connections with people is to spend time with them outside of where you met them. Interacting with them in a variety of situations will make it easier to truly get to know the individual on more than just the surface level. So, invite them to lunch, go to the park, to the museum, to a coffee shop to chat, or ask to join them the next time they go to the farmer’s market – these interactions can be an excellent method of moving from acquaintances to close friends.

Pregnancy is an exciting time and should be celebrated with a thriving social community. Friendships are a crucial source of support that lead to a healthier and happier life – partly because they help reduce stress during substantial life changes like bringing a child into the world. While old relationships can flourish during this period, you are entering a new stage of life which means you will find even more people you can relate to and befriend. So wherever you are in your pregnancy journey, show yourself some love by nurturing your friendships.

Did your friendships change as you got older or started a family? Share your journey with us in the comments! 

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