Building your support circle before baby arrives
Specific offers of help are easier to accept.
Think beyond visitors
Support can mean a meal, an errand, a lift or someone taking care of an older child. Make a list of practical tasks that could be handed over. Not every person who helps needs to visit the baby.
Ask for something specific
A clear request gives another person a way to say yes or suggest an alternative. Try asking for a grocery pickup on a particular day instead of general help sometime soon.
Set visiting expectations
Discuss what makes a visit manageable: timing, length and whether you would like help with a task. It is reasonable to change a plan when you need rest or privacy. Agree on how you will communicate changes.
Keep the list flexible
Your needs may be different after the baby arrives. Review the list and let people know what would now be useful. Your care team can advise on health questions; friends and relatives can often help with the everyday tasks around them.
Try this, at your own pace.
- List three tasks someone else can own.
- Choose one person to coordinate offers.
- Write down your visiting preferences.
