3. Establish Party Hours
Yes, this event is called a party, but unlike others, this is one party in which you will not be doing the entertaining. All too often, new parents spend their first few weeks hosting well-intentioned visitors who actually cause more exhaustion than the whirlwind of having a new baby. Obviously people are going to want to come visit, but having specific hours and time slots for people to do so, will be SO healing for you during this time.
Make a Google calendar or spreadsheet to send with your invitation, and allow people to sign up for visiting hours. This will help you regulate how many people visit at once, and for how LONG. Newborns draw people in, and unfortunately, make it hard for them to leave. But boundaries are important. Set them before the baby comes so that your postpartum party is a breeze.
4. Organize a Food Schedule
There’s a lot of change happening in your schedule as new parents, and one of them will be how and when you eat. Organize a meal train where people can sign up to bring you dinner. It takes one more thing off of your plate, while ensuring you’ve got the fuel you need to keep going.
5. Register for Mothersitting
Just another service people can sign up for—coming to care for the new mama.
Babysitting is just around the corner. But in these first few weeks at home, you’re going to need someone who can be YOUR caretaker. Chances are, dad’s going to be back at work pretty quickly after the birth, which leaves you home alone with the baby all day long.
Add a mothersitting schedule to your registry! Having another adult with you—even just for a short time—can make all the difference. Whether they hold the baby and take over mommy duties while you nap, or simply just be there for conversation, community in these first six weeks is crucial for your mental health. Again, you can easily create a volunteer form at SignUpGenius for free.
6. Let People Help You
Asking for help is never easy, and accepting help that’s being freely offered to you can be even more uncomfortable. To this I say, get over yourself.
It takes a village to raise a child, and that village is not limited to just pouring into your kid. In fact, it starts with you—surrounding yourself with people who love you and in turn, love your children.
People WANT to help. We naturally desire to serve others, which means that those who love us have an innate desire to serve us.
It can be uncomfortable, thinking about sitting on the couch or taking a nap while your best friend does loads of YOUR laundry and YOUR dishes. But that’s because we live in a society that is ashamed of asking for help.
Don’t be. Let people help you because they can, and they want to.
Hopefully these tips help you in planning the postpartum party of the century! Take care of yourself, and your baby. Others will do the rest.
