Support Group for Mothers

Community Subscriber
Oakland

Parent Reviews

Parents, please Sign in to post a review on this page.

https://www.supportgroupformothers.com/

Jennifer, who runs it is wonderful.

Can’t recommend Jennifer Subasic Marks (support group for mothers) enough. I did it for both of my kids and have met people I regularly stay in touch with five years on. Jennifer is supportive and knowledgeable! 

I highly recommend "Support Group for Mothers" convened by Jennifer Subasic-Marks. The group meets twice weekly for about six weeks: once at East Bay Lactation Associates in Emeryville and once on an outing (to a park, restaurant with outdoor seating, etc.) that the moms plan. You will gain an instant community of new East Bay moms with whom you can freely share your current challenges and anxieties as well as offer tips and recommendations and just generally be each other's cheerleaders during the stressful/crazy/incredible moments of being a new parent. It's also a great way to get more comfortable taking your baby out and about. The outings were always the highlight of my week! 

Hi Alexis,

No particular help with your first question unfortunately BUT there’s a great support group network based on Emeryville (next to Pixar!) that you can sign up for here: https://www.supportgroupformothers.com/

I just started at my friend’s recommendation and it’s great so far!

Hi!  Congratulations on becoming a parent.  It can be both beautiful and difficult all at the same time.  I would highly recommend Support Group for Mothers in Albany CA (not too far).  Jennifer is the facilitator, I felt super supported and met some amazing moms through her group, who I am still in touch with 8 years later.  

Support Group For Mothers – w/ Jennifer Subasic-Marks

Hello! Congratulations on your baby. I’m sorry you don’t have family support around- it can be so helpful. I joined a support group my second time around and was so glad I did. 
https://www.supportgroupformothers.com

she is based in emeryville. 
 

good luck! 

Hire all the help you can afford!  A housecleaner every 2 weeks is great (and easier to schedule than twice a month) (140/visit for 1300 sq ft).  I'm not sure about someone to come help with regular things like loading the dishwasher, but it's all I wanted when I had a newborn and I hope you actually do it.  You can also think about a night doula, day doula, or just a babysitter to come hold your baby while you sleep.  Or you could probably hire one to clean the kitchen while you hold the baby.  Urbansitter and care.com are both great places to look

This mom's support group saved me:  https://www.supportgroupformothers.com I recommend it so highly.  

And remember that it'll only get easier from here.  You're nearly through the insanity of the acute newborn phase.  

RE:
Expecting Moms Group (Aug 1, 2022)

Highly recommend Jennifer Subasic-Marks groups! She has groups for first time and second time moms. It has been a really nice way for us to connect with local families. 
 

https://www.supportgroupformothers.com

RE:
Expecting Moms Group (Aug 1, 2022)

I just finished participating in this support group (link below) as a first time mom, and it was excellent. Although the facilitated sessions are over, my group still meets! There are groups for second time moms as well. 
 

http://www.supportgroupformothers.com/

RE:
Expecting Moms Group (Aug 1, 2022)

Jennifer Subasic Marks is a wonderful educator who runs a second time mom group. It was so nice to meet a group of moms who already had another child since the issues are different than the first time around. I can’t recommend this enough! They also meet in person 😊 https://www.supportgroupformothers.com

RE:
Expecting Moms Group (Aug 1, 2022)

I loved this one! Great facilitating, great advice, great outings.  www.supportgroupformothers.com

RE:
Expecting Moms Group (Aug 1, 2022)

I loved the second time moms group run by Jennifer Subasic-Marks. Totally different than a first time moms group and that was essential  

https://www.supportgroupformothers.com

I was part of both a first and second time mothers group through the link you provided. Jennifer is a great facilitator and very much created a safe space. My first time group still meets monthly - second time has sort of fizzled out but we had to meet virtually due to the earlier days of the pandemic. I would still highly recommend! 

I joined the second time moms group this summer and loved it! It was such a different experience than my first time moms group and that was really important. The space is comfortable and felt very COVID safe while still being in person. Our group is still getting together after the group ended which Jennifer (the facilitator) greatly encouraged. I highly recommend the group!

It's a great group!  I went recently, highly recommended.  Jennifer facilitates outings and communication outside of the meetings that builds you some fun and also a social group to rely on even once the class is over.  

Joining a moms group through Support Group for Mothers (http://www.supportgroupformothers.com/) was the best thing I did as a new mom! Jennifer Subasic-Marks is an incredible facilitator -- she provides just the right mix of emotional support and gentle advice. Jennifer has seen and heard it all and she knows right down to the micro stage what you and your baby are going through. She is also good at steering discussions that can spiral downward (like about sleep, or lack thereof) in a productive direction. I had trouble breastfeeding and she was so supportive about that in a non-judgmental way. I knew Jennifer from classes and drop in support groups at Alta Bates but the experience of having six dedicated group sessions, plus additional social activities, was more helpful and has resulted in long-lasting friendships for us and our kids. Two years later, we still get together every month, and I have no doubt we will see each other for years to come!

This has been an incredible resource for me! http://www.supportgroupformothers.com/groups/

RE:

I went to this one in Albany which was great and I met some lovely Mums. I have a 3yo and 7 month old and am also SAHM in Albany if you ever want to hang out message me! 

http://www.supportgroupformothers.com/index.php

Archived Q&A and Reviews


May 2013

RE: I'm looking for a new mom's support group.

I did Support Group for Mothers: http://www.supportgroupformothers.com/index.php It's been almost two years and we are still in regular contact with each other (we started a Google group and that helped). I'm sure that some of it is luck, but my group is full of wonderful, smart women. We are always asking advice, sharing tips, and keeping updated on all the kiddos. Good luck!


I've attended new moms groups at Bananas, Support Group for Mothers, and Kaiser Oakland. I really liked the Bananas group and we continued to meet afterwards, but things sort of fizzled out when everyone went back to work. The Kaiser Oakland group was pretty good, and people kept in touch afterwards, but it's large and sometimes a little chaotic (but it's free). I wouldn't recommend Support Group for Mothers -- it was really expensive, and we didn't keep in touch afterwards (the facilitator had said she would help with this and then we never heard from her again). I suggest checking out the free groups before you pay for one. anonymous


Nov 2012

RE: 2nd time mom's group

I recently did a second-time moms group with Support Group for Mothers, and it was a big disappointment. I felt the facilitator was ineffective and unreliable (not to mention that she changed the start date for the group and didn't let us know until the day it was supposed to start, and she was pretty bad about responding to emails in a timely manner, if she even responded at all). That was the only second-time moms group I could find. I hope you have better luck than I did. Anon


July 2012

RE: Mom's group for a first time Mom

If your baby is younger than about 5 months, I'd recommend Support Group for Mothers: http://www.supportgroupformothers.com/index.php One baby in our group was 10 days old at the first meeting, and mine was almost 5 months; 2 months old was about average. It's a fantastic support group for new moms. There is a fee, but for me it was totally worth it to really connect with other moms, and the facilitation helped with that. Our group is still in frequent contact and we often plan group outings. Congratulations!


April 2008

RE: New born parents group in El Sobrante, Albany?

Congratulations on the anticipated arrival of your baby girl! My daughter was born in May of 2005 and when she was five weeks old, I joined a new mom's group through ''Support Group for Mothers''--an East Bay tradition of facilitated groups for local moms. Three years later...we are still meeting (this is not uncommon, as the SGFM groups have a strong tradition of longevity, which I love). To be completely transparent, I now facilitate these first-time groups for moms and their newborns in Oakland for Support Group for Mothers, and can share with you, that joining a support group is a wonderful thing to do...for your whole family. You can learn more about how the groups work here: http://www.supportgroupformothers.com/.

I'll just give you some quick info. There are groups forming in May, June and July very close to you in Albany - right by San Pablo & Solano Avenues. Groups are put together based on baby's birthdate and where you live, which makes for amazing connection. The women who facilitate the groups near you (Jennifer, Molly and Miracle) are incredible - all mothers with lots of professional and personal newborn care experience--you can read about them here: http://www.supportgroupformothers.com/group_facilitators.htm

I just ended a group yesterday, and all of the moms shared how much they have valued our group, sharing ideas and experiences, and getting out in the world together with their babies. I have no doubt they will continue to help each other out and have fun parenting with new support. If you have questions or want to talk with Jennifer or B about the groups, call 868-2617 or send an email via the website. Good luck to you during this last month of pregnancy - such a time of anticipation and growth as you await meeting your daughter. Best wishes for a wonderful birth, Elisa (mom and group facilitator)

 


[Editor Note:  Sadly, Sherry Reinhardt passed away in 2007, but a group of facilitators purchased the business and it has been in continuous operation since its founding.] 


July 1999

Re: New mom with old baggage to sort through

I realize that you are perhaps looking for a one-on-one situation, but thought I'd also recommend that you find a local Mother's Group mediated by a therapist. The groups are usually arranged by the birthday of the babies. I attended one in Albany run by Sherry Reinhardt . It was great because: 1. It was a huge relief to hear that other first time moms were experiencing the same struggles that I was... and that our babies (and husbands) had similar habits. 2. Sherry has a very encouraging, relaxing aura. 3. Five years later, I'm still very close to several of the moms I met from the group and my child has been friends with the other kids since he was a newborn. So, try Neighborhood Moms or Bananas for a recommendation near your home.


There are so many fine therapists in this area and I am sure others will post here. I will note a few of the many reliable people who I think might be of help. I would also like to encourage you to join a Support Group for Mothers. I think individual and couple therapy is absolutely helpful during this powerful life transition, but it is also so helpful to hear that others are experiencing similar journeys. We talk about infant care, but the larger transformational issues such as identity, being the kind of parent we want to be and the enormous challenges to the couple relationship are always discussed. Groups also help fight the isolation that so many new parents feel and support friendships for the parents as well as the babies. Most groups continue for years after I launch them and become playgroups for the children as well as support -discussion groups. Please call me for any additional referrals . 524-0821 or email me at sherryr at there.net Warmly, Sherry Reinhardt, RN,MPH,MOM Support Services for Parents


Sept 1998
There is a woman whose chosen profession it is to organize Bay Area mothers' groups; her name is Sherry Reinhardt, she's a registered nurse who lives in North Berkeley, and her number is 524-0821. She organized my Oakland area mothers' group, which is still meeting independently of her. As to the emphasis on single mothers, if she doesn't have such a mothers' group, she may at least be able to give you some information. I should mention that, although she does charge a fee for her services, she will discuss lower fees for the financially-strapped. Web page for Sherry's Mothers' Groups: http://www.supportgroupformothers.com
Wendy