Supporting the New Mom and Baby: What to Bring, What to Do, and How to Help

Welcoming a new baby is an exciting time for everyone, but it’s also a period of adjustment, recovery, and bonding for new parents. If you’re a friend or family member eager to meet the newest addition, knowing how to support the postpartum mom and dad can make all the difference. From thoughtful gifts to helpful actions (and even understanding what not to do), this guide will help you show up in the best way for the new parents in your life. Let’s make those first visits meaningful, supportive, and truly appreciated! There is truly no better feeling than having supportive friends & family who are just as excited as you to meet your new precious bundle of joy. I am forever grateful and lucky for the amazing support we have in our life. I can't even begin to thank them for all they have done. Because of that, I wanted to make this post to help other friends & family show up in the best way possible because truth be told, you really don't know what a new family needs until you become a family of your own. To this day, I feel bad for the support I DIDN'T give to my other Mom friends because I simply did not understand what it entailed. Let me be your guide! Timing your visit. Some Mom's and Dad's want that time alone in the hospital to navigate this new precious life they brought into the world and that's totally normal. For us, we did allow visitors in the hospital. We did not make it a public announcement to come see her, but if they asked we would let them know that it was fine. We mainly just had family visit at the hospital. But, it is totally normal to also say no to visitors! Especially if you are learning to breastfeed, you are basically topless in the hospital from the moment your child is born to the moment you leave. Make sure to call ahead to see if it's okay to come! For at home visits, be sure to call as well. It's an exhausting time bringing a newborn home. They are lacking sleep and honestly mom brain is at an all time high. Mom's are so forgetful and have millions of other things running through their mind trying to create a new routine. With that being said, keep your visits short. I remember all of my friends and family were very respectful of this. It's difficult for a new Mom to feel comfortable breastfeeding or even pumping in front of others, and. we are on a 2-3 hour schedule at this point so time your first visits to be under that amount of time to help keep them comfortable and on schedule. What to bring. This is something I wish I always knew for my other Mom friends. Wondering how I could be helpful during these times. The best gift we could have ever received was meals. We had so many people bring us frozen meals, because the last thing we had time to do was cook in the kitchen. For these premade meals, we were so thankful. Frozen lasagna, egg bake, casseroles, you name it. We also had some people bring us desserts and other baked goods to snack on. Such a blessing. Also, bring a gift for Mom. She is going through so many changes, and receiving her favorite snacks and drinks will probably make her cry. I received a couple pairs of pajamas, snacks, and my favorite alcoholic beverages! (Thanks friends!!) It's truly the thought that counts. Offer to help. Although they may not accept the help, it is so generous to ask. My Mom and Sister in Law were both amazing about this! Changing a poopy diaper, offering to help with bottle feeding, or even just holding baby while you run upstairs to grab something is so generous and will mean a lot. Other things, helping with dishes! So. many. dishes. Between bottles and plates stacked up because you had to rush to eat before next feeding, this was so helpful. Also, ask before coming if they need anything at the grocery store! Sometimes, it may be as simple as water or eggs that they are running low on. Respect their space. Don't show up if you are sick or feeling unwell. Always wash your hands when you arrive. Don't overstay your visit unless asked. Especially in those first couple of weeks. Give emotional support. Hear them out, they are going through so much. Being stuck at home for me when I am such a sociable person was HARD. I loved visitors and talking their ears off. Also offer minimal "parenting" or "mom" advice as everyone is so different in the way they want to do things. Just be supportive of their decisions, goals, and journey. Those are just a few ways that we really appreciated being treated during our postpartum journey. Also, the gifts of flowers, clothing, diapers, fast food, giftcards, and cards all meant so much to us. Just remember that it's such a beautiful and chaotic time in their lives and they are trying to navigate day by day their new life. Be sure to comment below other topics you feel would be beneficial or if you have any other tips for friends and family during this time.