MIDDLEBURY — After Davida Murray’s first child was born, in 2016, she was in so much pain, she couldn’t go back to work. Murray, a physical therapist who lives in Middlebury, had been working at a specialized outpatient clinic focused on chronic pain. “I couldn’t sit, and it even hurt me to stand,” she recalled. “I kept asking my OB, ‘Is this normal?!’”

After months of severe pelvic pain, with no help from her doctors, Murray realized something was wrong. Discomfort was to be expected right after childbirth, but not like this.

She began educating herself about postpartum physical therapy, exercising to strengthen her pelvic floor, and eventually made a full recovery. Last year Murray started her own practice, New Moon Physical Therapy, to help women recover from childbirth. “I have a passion for working with women who want to be active, exercise, get out there again, whatever that means for them.”

And Murray is now offering another way to support and connect local moms: a hiking group. The informal, free series is aimed at giving local mothers an opportunity to be active outdoors, and to connect with one another.

“Let’s be real,” said Murray. “Moms need mom friends. And support. And community. And a good network. And to get out of the house. And to have fun. And we never get enough of any of that. But now we can.”

Mom’s Hiking Group meets one Sunday a month at a different trail in Addison County. The first hike is Dec. 5, at 8 a.m. on the Battell Woods trail off Seminary Street Extension in Middlebury. For more info, contact Davida at 802-851-7707 or [email protected].