About a year and a half ago I moved to a new city for better career opportunities. I knew no one. I started exploring the city and started to make friends. I meet a guy soon after my arrival and became pregnant. He left me about 3 weeks later and I have not heard from him since. I am a single mom and my son is now 5 months old. I am finding it difficult to adjust to my new life. The friends I did start to make have dwindled off and my family is 4 hours away. I am really lonely and it is hard not to have support people nearby to help with my son. Do you have any suggestions of how I can cope and adjust?

It’s not easy being a new Mom even with family close by. It is always a big adjustment and it's natural to feel overwhelmed and lonely. The best thing to do is find a network of new Moms in your area, single Moms especially who will know exactly what you are going through. Make plans, have outings and support each other. You can also make great connections online with other new Moms. Surrounding yourself with a community is the best thing you can do for you and your baby. If you have any religious affiliations, joining a congregation and feeling the sense of connection that can give you can be very supportive.

At a time when you are sleep deprived and doing everything on your own, the thought of networking may feel exhausting, but it will be worth the effort. If you have a close relationship with your family, plan frequent visits. The 4 hour drive may be exactly what you need. If transportation is an issue, use online video calling to increase that feeling of connection.

Remember also that these early months with your baby are often when Moms feel the loneliest and as your little one develops, grows, smiles and begins to talk, you will have the growing sense that the two of you are family. Good luck to you and your baby.