Isolated mothers' club provides a lifeline for postnatal women

Welcoming her second son was meant to be one of the happiest times of Stacey Wurfel's life, but instead it made her feel at her most vulnerable.

The 40-year-old's second son, Oakley, was born seven months ago, nine years after she had welcomed her first child.

She said it raised unexpected feelings of isolation because many of her friends of a similar age were moving into a different stage in their lives.

"My partner works away, my family's an hour away or more, and it was extremely lonely and the walls were closing in on me. [It was] very isolating," Ms Wurfel said.

The South Australian government facilitates short-term early parenting groups through its Child and Family Health Service (CaFHS).

Ms Wurfel said while it was a start, she had been looking for other sources of connection, especially while experiencing signs of postnatal depression.

She soon realised she was not alone.

"I was just going to coffees every day, sometimes by myself. I was looking around and noticing that there was a lot of other mums on their own," Ms Wurfel said.

Bonding through shared experiences

The solo coffees and feelings of loneliness sparked an idea for Ms Wurfel to create a mothers' group of her own in her home community in South Australia's Riverland.

Within weeks of launching River Mamas Co on social media, Ms Wurfel said she was overwhelmed by the response from hundreds of women.

"[Something] we all crave is connection, and that's what I started this for."

While the group has an online presence, it also hosts weekly walking groups and coffee catch-ups that rotate between the Riverland's four major town centres.

Sunnefa "Sunny" Yeatman is one of the mums who has found important connection within the group.

The 37-year-old moved to the region while still pregnant with her now six-month-old son and said she feared being lonely in early motherhood.

"[Isolation] was my biggest concern moving up here and I felt it quite acutely until this group," Ms Yeatman said.

"I was struggling and was not that pleased to, necessarily, live here and be part of this community.

"But now I feel like there's some possibilities and a way forward."

Renmark mother Kosanna Sinc has also enjoyed making new, like-minded connections after going through what she described as a traumatic birth.

"[I had] postpartum depression, anxiety, the whole lot," the 34-year-old said.

"[It] definitely helped so much making those connections and just having other mums to talk to who have been through similar [experiences]."

Regional mothers struggle with mental health

A national charity's latest report found 42 per cent of its survey respondents did not have access to a local mothers' group.

Motherland's survey of more than 1,000 mothers also showed 68 per cent of respondents had experienced postnatal depression or anxiety.

Riverland clinical psychologist Elise Thompson said getting support for postnatal depression or similar mental health conditions was more difficult in regional areas.

She said it made groups like River Mamas Co crucial.

"We have less services here in the country so if you're particularly wanting face-to-face mental health support, that often comes with a really lengthy wait," Ms Thompson said.

For Ms Wurfel, who feels immense pride about what her group has already achieved for many mums in her community, there are still plans to do more.

"I would really like to touch base on postnatal depression and support networks that are around and maybe collaborating stories of other local mums and their journeys," she said.