Creating a Support System: Building Your Village Before Baby Arrives
You Weren’t Meant to Do This Alone—Here’s How to Get the Help You Need 🤍
Picture this: You’re home with your newborn, running on maybe two hours of sleep, trying to figure out if that diaper rash is normal, and realizing you haven’t eaten a real meal in… how long? Sound familiar? If you’re nodding, know this: You are not supposed to do this alone.
Somewhere along the way, we’ve been told that new motherhood is something we should just figure out on our own. But in reality? Postpartum is a season that requires a village.
So let’s talk about how to set up real, effective postpartum support—the kind that actually makes your transition into motherhood smoother, not more overwhelming. Whether you're weeks away from meeting your baby or already deep in the newborn haze, here’s how to make sure you have the help you need.
Why Postpartum Support is Non-Negotiable
The first twelve weeks postpartum—often called the fourth trimester—are beautiful, raw, and deeply transformative. But they can also feel isolating, exhausting, and overwhelming if you don’t have the right support in place. Here’s why asking for help matters:
🗸 Your body needs time to heal – Whether you had a vaginal birth or a C-section, your body is in recovery mode. More rest = better healing.
🗸 Your emotions need space – The hormonal shift after birth is real. Baby blues, weepy days, and big emotions are common, and you deserve support as you navigate them.
🗸 You need fuel and nourishment – Skipping meals because you’re too busy caring for baby? Not on our watch! You need warm, healing meals just as much as baby needs milk.
🗸 A well-supported mama = a well-supported baby – When you feel calm, rested, and cared for, your baby benefits too.
Now, let’s break down exactly how to ask for and set up postpartum support that works for you.
Step 1: Get Comfortable Asking for Help
Asking for help doesn’t make you weak, it makes you wise. You are not burdening anyone by needing support—if anything, your loved ones want to help, they just need to know how.
🔹 Try this: Instead of saying, “Let me know if you need anything” (which is vague and easy to brush off), tell your partner, family, or friends:
➡️ “I’d love help with laundry once a week so I can focus on feeding and resting.”
➡️ “Can you bring over dinner on Wednesday? Something easy to reheat would be amazing.”
➡️ “Would you mind holding baby for 30 minutes so I can shower?”
Make the ask specific and actionable—people want to help, and this makes it easier for them to step in.
Pro Tip: Write out a list of things you feel comfortable asking others to do like sort your mail, load/unload your dishwasher, or take your trash out. Keep that list handy so when a friend “pops by” you have some ideas ready to go!
Step 2: Build Your Postpartum Support Team
Your village doesn’t have to be big, but it should include the right people. Think about who can offer support in different ways:
👶 For Baby Care – Partner, postpartum doula, family members, trusted friends. 🍲 For Meals & Household Help – Meal train setup, grocery delivery, someone to load the dishwasher. 💛 For Emotional & Mental Health – Therapist, support groups, friends who “get it.” 👩⚕️ For Postpartum Recovery – Lactation consultant, pelvic floor specialist, postpartum doula.
🔹 Pro Tip: Set up a meal train before baby arrives! Websites like MealTrain.com make it easy for friends and family to sign up to deliver meals so you don’t have to think about cooking.
If you don’t have family nearby, consider hiring a postpartum doula. They help with newborn care, feeding support, meal prep, and emotional check-ins. (And yes, they’re worth it!).
Step 3: Set Up a Postpartum Plan (Before Baby Arrives!)
We make birth preferences for labor—why not a postpartum plan for recovery? Before baby arrives, sit down with your partner and ask:
Who will handle meals and grocery runs? (Pro tip: Freezer meals are a lifesaver!)
How will household chores get done? (Can you hire a cleaner? Accept help from friends? Remember, it is temporary!)
Who can come over for support—and when? (Set visiting hours if needed!)
What self-care practices do I want to prioritize? (Walks? Naps? A shower every day?)
Write it down. Share it with your partner and anyone involved so you’re all on the same page.
Step 4: Find Community & Emotional Support
Motherhood can feel lonely—but it doesn’t have to. Finding a community makes a huge difference in how supported you feel.
👭 Join a postpartum group – Connecting with other new moms gives you a space to vent, learn, and feel seen.
🍼 Take a newborn care or postpartum class – Knowledge = confidence. (Our Fourth Trimester Success class is perfect for this!)
💬 Reach out to your support network – Even a quick check-in with a friend can lift your spirits.
Let’s Set You Up for a Supported, Restful Postpartum
Here’s the truth: You are worthy of support, rest, and care. You don’t have to do this alone, and asking for help is one of the best things you can do for both yourself and your baby.
✨ Want to feel even more prepared? Join our Fourth Trimester Success Workshop or Parenting 101 Class to learn everything you need about newborn care, healing, and building your postpartum support system.
🤍 Click here to reserve your spot! 🤍
What’s One Thing You’d Love Help With Postpartum?
Drop a comment below! Let’s normalize asking for help and sharing the load. 🤍✨
