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Pregnancy might seem like a roller coaster ride for many expectant mums. And it’s rightly so. But it doesn’t come close to life as new parents. Right from healing from the childbirth experience to taking on the duties of a new parent, most new mums might find it hard to do other chores around the house that don’t revolve around their little ones. This includes cooking meals, washing laundry, doing the dishes, or even stepping out for grocery shopping. It’s surprising that a tiny baby can take up so much of a mother’s time when it spends more than half of its day sleeping.
While the pandemic might make it harder for you to help a new mommy, there are still ways that you can contribute. Most new mothers might be hesitant to ask for help, but there are other ways that you can surprise them and lend a helping hand. Scroll down to know how to help a friend right after they’ve given birth.
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Make Mealtime A Breeze
New mums often prioritize their baby’s health over theirs. But getting the right and sufficient nutrients is just as important for the mother as it is for the newborn. The roles and responsibilities of being a new parent might give them very little or no time to prepare a proper meal. Here are a few things you can do to help:
- Deliver Meals
You can prepare breakfast, lunch, or dinner. Enquire if they are allergic to any foods or craving something in particular. You don’t have to make it sumptuous, but try to cook something healthy and filling. If you are thinking of easy and healthy meal options, look up recipes online.
- Set Up A Meal Train
If you know of other family or friends who might be interested to prepare meals, you can create a meal train by setting up a system where each meal of the day is taken care of by someone.
- Grocery Shopping? Check!
If you are planning to do a full-on grocery shopping rather than a quick run to the store to get a couple of things, it’s best to get a grocery list from the parents. This will make it easier for both you and the new parents and there’ll be less chance of you forgetting an item. Though it might seem like a simple thing to do, it will be a real help for the new mom as she won’t have to figure out how to do it with a baby. Or, you might be checking off one chore from the dad’s to-do-list.
Image: IStock
Help With Household Chores
Daily household chores such as sweeping, vacuuming, washing dishes, walking the pets, folding clothes, and doing laundry get put off when a newborn commands all your attention. Doing any one of these will be one thing that new parents don’t have to think about.
- Do The Laundry And Dishes
A sink full of dirty dishes and a huge pile of laundry can be stress-inducing. Between changing diapers, pumping, breastfeeding, and rocking the baby to sleep, whatever little time they can get, they can use it for taking a shower or a peaceful nap without worrying too much about the dishes in the sink or the clothes that have to be folded.
- Dust And Mop
Your friend is most probably exhausted and sleep-deprived. She might not have recovered from childbirth. So, the last thing she needs to do is vacuum, dust, and mop. Being in a messy house might not be ideal and will be a constant reminder of all the things they still need to do. Take it upon yourself to do a bit of cleaning, maybe once a week.
- Hire A House Cleaning Service
Your friend might feel weird about you doing their dirty laundry or folding their underpants. Hiring a house cleaning service will take the awkwardness out of the picture. However, it’s best to check with them first to make sure they are on board with the idea as some couples might not be comfortable with letting strangers into the house with a newborn.
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Emotional Support
Provide them emotional support—be present, talk to them, lend a listening ear, check upon them. Knowing that they have a friend to rely on or someone to call up at 2 am to vent about the challenges of being a new mom can be a huge relief. Sometimes all a new mother needs to hear is that they are not doing everything wrong or someone to validate their feelings.
- Take A Break From Baby Conversations
A new mom could be craving adult conversations. Your friend might be dying to talk about something other than diapers, formula milk, and lactation. Talk about your shared interests; it could be world politics, K-pop, or even about your new job or relationship.
- Some ‘Me Time’
Emotional support can come in the form of self-care. Walk the dog, babysit her kids, or hold the baby for a while so that the new mom can get some time alone. You can also indulge your friend with a gift certificate for a relaxing spa or a nice pedicure.
Unless you are planning to barge into their home at 2 in the morning or hire a cleaning service, it’s better to just dive in and help in any way you can rather than waiting for them to ask or give you permission. Remember, every little help goes a long way.
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