Maybe you’re in a season of motherhood where you’re stretched thin yourself. Maybe cooking feels overwhelming. Maybe you don’t live close enough to drop by with a meal.
And that’s okay.
Because support doesn’t have to be big or all-consuming. It doesn’t have to be daily visits, hours of babysitting, or homemade meals from scratch.
Whilst nourishing meals are our love language, as a busy mum of three I know that we don’t always have capacity and that’s okay.
A village can be one or two people, showing up in small but meaningful ways.
Here are 8 ways to help a new mum—without cooking, without taking the baby, and even when your own cup is running low.
Cooking might not be your thing—but ordering a meal for a new mum is just as helpful.
There are more and more postpartum meal services designed specifically to nourish new mums, or you could simply send a family meal delivery for easy, stress-free dinners.
Find postpartum meal delivery options on our Village for Postpartum Directory.
“I’m at the shops—do you need anything?”
A simple text like this can feel like the biggest lifeline in those early weeks.
Even with Click & Collect, it’s not always easy for a new mum to get out of the house. Offering to swing by and grab her order (or even just pick up milk, bread, or nappies) can lighten her load in a big way.
If she has older children, getting them in and out of the car every day—on top of healing and caring for a newborn—can be overwhelming.
Offering to help with daycare or school runs (even just once or twice a week) can give her one less thing to manage.
Bonus: It can be a fun novelty for the sibling too!
One of the biggest struggles in postpartum is mum guilt—especially when older children are bouncing off the walls, craving attention.
A quick trip to the park, a walk, or a playdate with your own kids can be a huge relief for a mum trying to rest and settle into newborn life.
Even just an hour of distraction for the big sibling can make a difference.
New mums often won’t ask for help, even when they’re drowning in mess.
Next time you visit, don’t ask—just do something.
✔ Wipe down the kitchen while you chat
✔ Throw on a load of washing
✔ Tidy up the toys scattered across the floor
Sometimes the best support is simply taking things off her plate—without making her feel like she has to delegate.
Postpartum mums still need to get to GP check-ups, lactation consultant visits, and physio appointments—but getting out of the house can feel like a logistical nightmare.
If you have the capacity, offer to:
✔ Drive her to appointments (especially if she’s had a caesarean and can’t drive yet)
✔ Be an extra set of hands while she gets bub in and out of the car
✔ Help settle the baby while she’s at an appointment
Even if she doesn’t take you up on the offer, just knowing she has backup can make leaving the house feel less daunting.
Not everyone has the capacity to be physically present—but a simple check-in message can still make a huge difference.
✔ “How are you today?” (not just “how’s the baby?”)
✔ “Thinking of you—do you feel like a chat?”
✔ “No pressure to reply, just here if you need.”
Postpartum can feel lonely, overwhelming, and isolating. Sometimes, a single message can be the highlight of her day.
Yes, you can offer to hold the baby—but make sure mum actually gets to use that time for herself.
Encourage her to:
✔ Take a long shower or bath (not a rushed one while listening for baby cries)
✔ Lie down for a proper rest
✔ Eat an actual meal with both hands
The Best Support? Showing Up at all.
Not everyone has the capacity to drop everything and help a new mum full-time.
Sometimes we have so much going on and we feel like we can’t offer support so we don’t do anything at all. These are simple ways you can show up for mums in your village without adding to your own overwhelm.
Small, thoughtful acts add up—a meal order, a school pickup, a text message, a clean kitchen.
And if she does need more hands-on support? Find trusted postpartum professionals near her on the Village for Postpartum Directory.
Because a village isn’t about doing everything—it’s about showing up in the ways we can.
We acknowledge the maternal wisdom passed down through matrilineal lines across all cultures, embracing the knowledge and traditions shared between women for millennia. From Crone to Maga, Mother to Maiden.
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