Moms Share: The Nicest Things People Did for Me After My Baby's Birth

By Charlotte Hilton Andersen, REDBOOK

new mom
new mom

Vacuuming the stairs.

That's the sort of thing you don't normally think about doing for someone, and yet right after my third child was born, I found myself weeping with gratitude when a good friend came over and did exactly that. As new moms, we hear "Let me know if you need anything" often from friends and family, but while it's well-intended, most moms won't call. Meals are always welcome, but here are other ideas from new moms about the nicest things people did for them after their babies were born:

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1. "My mom spent a few nights here and took care of Ella at night so that I could sleep." -Kristen

2. "A friend who lives in another city had several frozen pizzas delivered. We just had to pop them in the oven for a tasty meal." -Thea

3. "One day while I was at the pediatrician, my friend went to my home and cleaned the ENTIRE house while we were gone, without me knowing. We came home to a clean home, fresh bed sheets, and a wonderful dinner ready to eat... and she had already left." -Heather

4. "Coming over to visit with me. As a new mom it's hard to get adult interaction, so anytime a friend would come over and sit and gab with me I was always grateful." -Lizzy

5. "A friend got me a gift card for a post-baby massage." -Brandy

6. "I always really appreciate it when someone takes the time to listen for the answer when they ask, 'How are you?'" -Laura

7. "Take my older son to do something fun while I rested and recovered with the new baby." -Colleen

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8. "Help is much easier to accept when it's 'forced' upon me, like the friend who says, 'I'm bringing you dinner on Tuesday, let me know when is a good time,' vs. The friend who says, 'Let me know if there's anything you need,' putting the responsibility (and hormone-laced guilt) on me." -Michelle

9. "Just smiling and telling me that everything was gonna be alright was good enough for me." -Audrey

10. "I had a friend that made spa appointments for the two of us for just weeks after my son's arrival. The date arrived; I tried to bow out with all the typical excuses: too much to do, need to wash my hair, etc. She refused to take 'no' for an answer and kidnapped me for the afternoon. Best. Day. Ever." -Bekki

11. "I appreciated when people didn't bat an eyelash at the fact that I was still in my pajamas and that the older kids were eating chocolate milk powder in the middle of the afternoon." -Laura

12. "My mom and sister would come over and I would be sent to bed. Knowing that someone would be holding my little one while I slept was really reassuring and I was able to sleep for an hour or so!" -Natalie

13. "Our bishop [clergy person] brought by flowers the day we miscarried. I don't even think we had told him about it." -Mark

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14. "My mom weeded the garden outside the kitchen window. I had been in the hospital and on bed rest for several months and couldn't do any gardening. Just having something beautiful to look at was a blessing!" -Allison

15. "Babysitting early on when the baby is very small. I so enjoyed the reprieve of just going to the grocery store alone, or running some errands!" -Jeni

What was the nicest thing someone did for you after your baby was born?

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