5 Ways to Support a New Mom

The homecoming of a new baby can be exciting, overwhelming, and scary for many new parents. Mothers, especially, can experience and incredible number of emotions on top of realizing the duties of their new job as a parent. After birth, an entire team is ready to help the new parents get ready to bring baby home. The pediatrician arrives to check on the baby, the lactation consultant appears to assist in feeding the baby, the nurse on rotation is in and out, diaper changing begins, and for a lot of new moms their extended family is anxiously waiting to visit. 
 
Upon arriving home, however, all that help seems to disappear and it’s up to the parents to start this new journey together. What seems like endless sleepless nights, non-stop crying or fussiness, and lack of emotional support can leave moms feeling exhausted and helpless (not to mention the surge of hormones new mothers experience). If this sounds familiar, and you’re wondering how to support a new mom in your life, keep reading.  
 
The new mom in your life may not even know where to begin when it comes to asking for help. So, we’ve got a few ideas to get you started and make her feel supported. 
 
Set Up a Group Chat
 
This is a great tool for when mom wants to share photos or videos, vent, or for someone to pick up a box of diapers to drop off if they’re in the area. This group chat can be a little supportive tribe new mom can confide in for anything and everything. FaceTime and Marco Polo are great apps to utilize when in need of some connection with friends.  
 
Ask to Help
 
Better yet, instead of asking, just start helping wherever help is needed. Feel inclined to hold the baby so mom can nap? Get to holding! Is her laundry piling up? Start folding. Are dishes in the sink? Put them in the dishwasher and run it. It's very likely the new mom in your life has decided between completing those tasks and taking care of baby multiple times throughout the day. A clean kitchen or bathroom can really be so refreshing to walk into in the mornings and your help will most definitely be appreciated. 
 
Listen and Let Her Cry
 
Postpartum moms experience a huge surge in hormones which may lead to their own bouts of crying and feelings of exhaustion and hopelessness. Be ready to listen with a kind heart and let the new mom in your life cry it out if she needs to. Let her know she is not alone and that what she is experiencing is completely normal. If you can relate to her on some level, let her know, but refrain from sharing too much of your own experience where it may overshadow what she’s going through. Remember why you’re there: to listen and support.  
 
 
Self-Care Time 
Moms rarely put themselves first and as a new mom, self-care seems like a wild idea. A shower alone can feel like the biggest act of self-care in months. An incredibly sweet gift idea for a new mom would be to gift her with a nail salon card or massage. Help her pick a day when she can get away for an hour or two while either you or a family member take care of baby. Giving a gift card is a great way to get started and helping her plan time to herself will make self-care more of a reality. 
 
 
Stay In Touch
 
Moms discover who their true friends are after the novelty of a new baby has seemingly worn off and everyone goes back to their daily lives. Reach out. Stay in touch. Keep inviting her out to lunch. Remember, she's the one with the child. Don’t expect her to reach out, she has her hands full.  The invitation to get out of the house alone is typically much appreciated!  
 
We hope these tips provide some inspiration on supporting the new mom in your life. Do you have any tips to share? Drop a comment below!