After having her daughter, Caroline, Heather Meininger went from working on her master's degree, a part time job and an active social life to staying home all day with a beautiful baby with whom she was unable to communicate.

"The adult conversation in my life had taken a sharp decline," recalls Meininger. "I remember days when I would meet my husband at the door, baby in arms saying, 'Here ya go, she's been fed and changed. I'll be back in an hour,' and then I'd run out the door to a store or the mall – anywhere that I could do something adult-like. I loved staying home, but it was lonely."

Meininger isn't the only one who's gone through bouts of isolation and loneliness after having children. Hundreds of playgroups and support groups are sprouting up across the country to offer women (and their babies!) support and friendship.

"My world revolved around diaper changes and baby food," says Meininger. "My childless friends weren't interested. I decided I needed to make some mommy friends and turned to the Internet."

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