Lebanon — It’s well-known that having a new baby can be joyous, but also exhausting and overwhelming. However, many new parents don’t talk about the fact that caring for a newborn can be lonely, especially during the first 12 weeks of the baby’s life.

The Fourth Trimester support group — named for the 12-week period after birth — offers resources and connects Upper Valley families with newborns in order to help them succeed during this time. The group meets from 10 a.m.-noon each Thursday at Dartmouth-Hitchcock’s Women’s Health Resource Center, at 9 Hanover St., in Lebanon.

Kate DalPra, manager and health educator at the Women’s Health Resource Center, leads the group, drawing on her experience as a registered nurse and a mom of three. The informal group allows mostly moms (although partners are welcome too) to make new friends, troubleshoot issues and address their questions about breastfeeding and other infant care.

“Fourth Trimester is an invaluable community resource because it is a safe place for families to bring their babies and be among others experiencing the same things,” DalPra said. “Having a new baby can be isolating, and Fourth Trimester is an opportunity for people to come together and create a network of friendship and support. We feed our babies, we laugh, we cry. … Perhaps most importantly we validate our experiences and learn about the variations of normal.”

Because the fourth trimester experience can vary so much with each child, the group is a great resource for anyone with a young baby, not just first-time parents. Having both experienced and first-time parents gives the group a good dynamic, DalPra said.

“New moms have the opportunity to talk about challenges with moms that may have experienced them before, and experienced moms have the opportunity to look at some of the hurdles of early parenthood with fresh eyes,” she said.

During the winter, many parents are reluctant to take new babies out because they’re worried about exposing the newborns to cold and viruses. The support group offers a good compromise for people who want to get out of the house but aren’t entirely ready to brave stores or restaurants.

“The Women’s Health Resource Center is a clean, safe and supportive place for families to bring their babies,” DalPra said. “It’s cool in the summer, and warm in the winter. Families don’t need to worry if baby cries or need to be changed — it’s all normal and accepted here. We hope that participants will feel no pressure and will come as they are.”

Even in wintry weather, families still make the effort to get to the group each week, she added. Although the fourth trimester passes quickly, moms often build lasting connections and continue to meet up as their children grow.

“I still keep in touch with women I met in Fourth Trimester 11 years ago,” DalPra said.

For more information on the Fourth Trimester group, visit www.dartmouth-hitchcock.org or call the Women’s Health Resource Center at 603-650-2600.