7 Ways You Can Support a New Mom
Having a baby is physically and mentally exhausting for new moms.
However, having a village makes things so much easier and I was so grateful for my family’s help.
If someone you love just gave birth, you might be wondering what you can do to help. Here are some tips that can point you in the right direction.
- Wait till mom and baby get settled before you visit.
- Do not go to the hospital unless you are personally invited. Mom and baby just went through a physically draining and possibly traumatic event, give them space to heal and bond before paying a visit.
- If the mom has mentioned wanting to wait a certain amount of time before accepting visitors, wait that out before asking to visit.
- Everyone in our family waited till they were invited either to the hospital or the house and we were so grateful to have time to bond and rest before other people held the baby.
- Bring meals that can be reheated, like those readymade burritos or rice bowls that you can get in the refrigerator section of Costco or Smith’s.
- My mother-in-law brought tons of food the day after we got home. Since some of it was ready-made meals, we just had to heat them up when we were hungry.
- When my mom came a week later, she brought lunch whenever she visited.
- Food helped me stay nourished and heal from pregnancy and birth and helped me stay strong while nursing.
- Bring snacks for the new mom and dad.
- It’s hard for new parents to cook or go out and grab food, so bring them snacks.
- When I gave birth, my brother went to Trader Joe’s and brought us cookies, chips, popcorn, and a ton of other snacks. This came in clutch when we were up in the middle of the night with the baby.
- Ask if they need anything from the store before heading over for a visit.
- My sister-in-law would always ask if we needed anything from the store, which was so nice and there were times when we needed diapers or anything else for the baby.
- Consider bringing gifts for mom that aren’t for the baby.
- My sister-in-law brought adult diapers, hemorrhoid pads, and nursing pads for me when she came to the hospital.
- The adult diapers were for the bleeding that happens in the days after giving birth, the hemorrhoid pads to put in the adult diapers to ease the pain, and the nursing pads are put in the bra to catch any leaking milk.
- I didn’t even know I needed these things, but they were very helpful, especially during the first two weeks postpartum.
- Offer to hold the baby while mom takes care of herself.
- Most moms are sleep deprived, hungry, and sometimes just needing to clean up a little.
- When my family visited, they held the baby while I ate, took a nap, or showered.
- This helped me feel more like myself after giving birth.
- Clean the house when you’re visiting if you guys are close.
- Don’t feel pressured to do this if you’re not close, but this was a huge help for us.
- Both my mom and mother in law loaded the dishwasher and did a load of laundry when they visited. This was super helpful because we were always going through clothes and dishes so quickly.
I hope this list helps if you’re looking for ways to support a new mom. Just know that us new moms are so grateful for you being part of our village.
