A woman from SA's Riverland has created a social group for mothers experiencing isolation post-birth.
Participants said the River Mamas group had helped them connect with community and manage mental health struggles.
A local psychologist said more support systems were needed for rural mothers experiencing postnatal depression.
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.
"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,"
