Us 90’s babies are looking around and noticing that all of our friends are birthing beautiful babies! Some are even on their 2nd & 3rd. It’s truly beautiful. As loving friends and relatives we are always asking ourselves what we can do to show love and support to those new moms. Here are a few amazing ways to help out new moms postpartum.
1. Don’t visit mom and newborn right away
My feelings about having visitors in the hospital and at home during the first week greatly changed from baby one to baby two. Prior to having my first baby, I wanted the visitors, cards, balloons, and flowers but after the exhaustion of labor, dealing with my new baby and postpartum body I had a change of heart. It’s really hard getting rest in the hospital between all of the nurses and doctor checking in on you often, filling out new baby paperwork and feedings every two hours. New moms might not realize this but adding a bunch of guests on top of that can be overwhelming. This is not to mention all of the germs we are worried about. Keep them away from the brand new baby and their weak immune system! I would suggest waiting 3 weeks to visit, mainly if you are not in the inner circle. The pressure of being presentable for guests can be a bit much for new moms and if you’re visiting while the baby is asleep all the mom will be thinking about is napping or cleaning before the baby wakes up again.
2. Bring food when visiting families with a newborn
For obvious reasons, new moms are a bit preoccupied so cooking quality meals is the last thing on their minds. If you are coming over bring some food. It doesn’t even have to be homecooked, take out works too! No one will turn you away with hot Chik-fil-a in your hands. One of the most awesome things I got was a Grub Hub gift card from my boss. It really came in handy when I was too exhausted to cook for my family in those first weeks.
3. While visiting the new baby, clean something! Anything!
After I had my second baby, my best friend and godmother to my girls came over and helped in a big way. She cooked breakfast and cleaned my kitchen while I caught up on rest. This was almost like getting a new car for my birthday. Trust me, if you visit, take out the trash or wash up the dishes while you’re there or before you leave. These little things really help us feel like our lives aren’t imploding.
4. Give older sibling some attention while visiting the new baby
This is a really big deal for moms of multiples but especially if the family is going from one to two children. The older sibling, especially if they are still in the toddler phase, will need more attention than the new mother and working father may be able to give consistently. Coming over to sit with them and give them really engaging play for a while or even taking them out of the house for a few hours can help the parents get rest and make that child feel special.
**Bonus Tip!**
5. Be mindful of Postpartum Mental Health.
Everyone’s mental health is important but we need to pay close attention to the mothers of newborns. Pay attention to your close friends after they deliver their babies and in the months to come. Get familiar with the signs of postpartum depression and speak up if you are concerned. PPD can show up after birth and last for months or even up to the first year. Do your research so that you can offer the help that is needed to the mom and family of the newborn.
Sometimes though, PPD might not be an issue. It could be other things that are making the moms life harder and you should try to fix any problem you can, even if only temporarily. She might need batteries for the remote, she may need your Netflix password to binge watch TV during late night feeds or for you to stop the toilet from running. Any act of service you provide, big or small will be appreciated.
Any more ideas? Let me know in the comment section!
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