Piko Pals connects new moms, dads with other parents

Every parent knows having a baby can be overwhelming. There are so many decisions and options, it can help to have some guidance and some parent peers facing the same challenges. This is where Piko Pals comes in.

Piko Pals, a program for parents of babies up to 4 months old offered by the Healthy Mothers Healthy Babies Coalition of Hawaii, started out as a support group for moms and has evolved to include dads, too.

“It’s a unique opportunity to make friends who are going through the same things,” said Lisa Kimura, executive director of Healthy Mothers Healthy Babies. “It becomes a safe place for emotional vulnerability.”

During the 12-week session, up to 30 topics are covered, including postpartum recovery, newborn care and sleep, child development and age-appropriate activities, juggling career and parenting, changes to lifestyle, the partner relationship and friendships. Each group determines the topics they are most interested in.

Group facilitators arrange for guest speakers to share information on topics like baby massage, relationships and breast-feeding at the weekly meetings, which take place in the homes of members or at parks or community centers.

The program started in January, and the name was chosen because “piko” means bellybutton in Hawaiian and symbolizes the life connection to family and a sense of being centered.

Melissa Weinheimer, a 36-year-old Waikiki resident, participated in a group from January to April with her son, Bastian, now 8 months old.

“Our group was comprised of working mothers, so we also spent time exploring topics that centered on how to balance work, raising a child, caring for ourselves and our family,” Weinheimer said.

“The most beneficial part of the Piko Pals program is knowing that you are not alone as a mother. You can feel so isolated in your thoughts and feelings those first few months of having a baby,” she added. “Having this group of women to support me through all of my inadequacies made me feel empowered and capable.”

The cost is $120 for 12 weeks ($150 after the early registration period). New sessions start every couple of months. Register at hmhb-hawaii.org. Financial aid is available. Email pikopals@hmhb-hawaii.org for more information.