Supporting a New Mom
Once she gets home with her baby, a new mother is likely to be both excited and exhausted. So many things go on in the hospital that it is often hard to fully recover before being discharged. That is one reason why it is important for mom to rest as much as she can while she is in the hospital and make sure she is ready when she does go home.
During those first few days after you bring your baby home from the hospital, it is going to be especially important for you to help out. What you actually do to help is going to vary depending on your situation. If your partner had a long or tough delivery or a C-section and is still recovering, then you may have to do a lot more than you ever expected.
Even with a quick recovery, you should still help, although that doesn't always mean taking care of the baby. It can sometimes be even more helpful to let the baby's mother spend most of her time bonding with the baby and just take over other household chores yourself. You might care for your other children, do the shopping, clean the house, etc. Helping doesn't always have to mean helping with the baby, unless that is what mom needs.
How much is a new dad going to have to help?
You should want to help out as much as you can, but how much you have to do is also going to depend on how many kids you have. If you already have two or three kids at home or you have just had twins or triplets, you can expect to have to help out more than you ever imagined you would have to.
If you are still overwhelmed with all that is going on, try to arrange for extra help in the house from other family members or friends. You can ask friends to baby sit your other kids, or maybe bring over ready-to-eat meals at least a few times each week. (Just remember to return the favor when they have a new baby!)
