Mums Take Online Coffee Group To The Next Level

Mums Take Online Coffee Group To The Next Level

Mums from all over the North Island converged on Wellington at Labour Weekend for the first ever OHbaby! Mega Meet Up.

OHbaby!, New Zealand's leading independent pregnancy and parenting website, currently has more than 10,000 members, many of whom make use of the site's message boards to communicate with other parents and parents-to-be.

The main event was a lunch at Te Papa attended by around 40 mothers with their children, and even a few brave dads. Children ranging in age from newborn to school age were entertained by a clown and a team of face painters, and goodie bags were supplied for all attendees by the event's sponsors Johnson's Baby, Stayfree and Purell.

Wellington local Keli Livingston, who attended the Mega Meet Up with her children Lesieli (11), Mercedes (6) and Alize (11 months), describes OHbaby! as her online coffee group.

"I'm not very computer literate," she says, "but I discovered OHbaby! when I was pregnant with Alize and it's been a real lifeline for me."

Other events organised included dessert at Strawberry Fare, a mums-only dinner and a day trip to Wellington Zoo.

Deborah Watson flew to Wellington from Auckland for the Mega Meet Up and says she enjoyed the chance to get to know some of the other OHbaby! members from around the country.

"We have regular Auckland meet ups," she says, "but it was great to have the opportunity to put faces and personalities to the screen-names of people who live further away."

OHbaby! Managing Director, Angela Pedersen, describes the event as a huge success, and says they are expecting an even better turnout for the next Mega Meet Up, scheduled to be held in Auckland in 2008.

ENDS

Emma Fahy

http://www.ohbaby.co.nz

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