What can Partners do for Mums??
By: Nursing Tips
Tags: Family, Motherhood, Parenting, Fatherhood, Baby

Partner helps baby care? Or they need to support more mothers mental care?

Photo by Ana Francisconi on Unsplash

Partners can support mothers-Physically, emotionally and mentally.

The postnatal and first year is a very challenging year for parents new and seasoned. The Fathers role is teaming with Mum with care of new baby and older children supporting her through her postnatal period.

Physically- hear are a few things that can make life postnatally a bit easier. Take time after work to care of new baby and/or older children, bath time, changing diapers, feeding baby and other kids, laundry, preparing dinner or a meal for Mum. Rotating night shifts and or feeding and burping baby in middle of night.

Mentally- Watch for signs of distress with Mum and baby. Encourage Mum to call her doctor if she’s feeling pain, difficulty recovering after delivery. Be aware of the Baby Blues and postnatal depression read up on the difference and signs. Have patience, be kind and sensitive with your words.

Emotionally- Communicate with Mum on her experience of birth, postnatal recovery, breastfeeding or bottle feeding, being supportive emotionally of her postnatal body and pressure to bounce back straightaway. Encourage her with positive words of love and support. Ensuring her she’s doing a great job and support her goals to come during this challenging period.

If possible, Partner can take paternity leave for a few weeks. Or if in budget hire a day/night nurse to help family for a few nights. And if those options aren’t available for you. The most important is you as Dad being present and offering Love, Support and Care to Mum and Baby.

Photo by Claudia on Unsplash

In addition,

Postpartum is challenging for Mom especially. But, also for dad and family as well. With Mom healing, exhausted and severely sleep deprived it’s not always easy for mom to express her needs…sometimes she doesn’t know exactly what she needs. And although partner wants to help, he often doesn’t know how, where, what or when. This is especially true for first time dads.

So how can partner help postnatally without annoying mum…?

Often mums are breastfeeding, and baby is exclusively breast fed. Until baby is weaned to bottle-dad can’t yet feed baby via bottle….however!

Wash and take care of breast pump equipment. This is a great help!

Bring baby to mum for feeds and settle baby back to sleep.

If baby is bottle fed. Prepare bottles, FedEx and burp baby.

Prepare meals or order take out.

Give baby a bath

Care for baby whilst Mum is showering

Change a diaper or two…! 😉

Order needed baby supplies and pop out to store for things Mum needs.

Help with care of household and your other children. Including laundry and nursery!

Be her support and buffer with visitors, friends and family

Take mum to doctors’ appointments especially in the first months after delivering.

Encourage her with kind sincere words. Be an ear to listen when she needs to have a chat or vent and frustration and concerns.

Be a team player and parent together.

Don’t pressure mom with postnatal weight loss or any other judge mental words.

SUPPORT, COMMUNICATE, LISTEN AND BE PRESENT.

These are just a few things that partner can help with making Mum feel positive and beautiful.