Our last blog was A Partner’s Guide to Postpartum, and the one before that was all about how to support your partner as they are laboring and birthing. This month, we want to focus on you, the partner and what you need through the process.

It can feel a little tough for partners to know what they need and take up space getting it. We hope that these ideas are helpful to you and your family, as you all navigate the big transition of welcoming baby.

5 Things Partners Need During Pregnancy and Postpartum

1. Time and space for YOUR experiences. As we said above, your experience, questions, curiosity, etc. should all be a part of the pregnancy and postpartum journey. Any good birth class, book, doula, and other birth professionals will make space for you and your experiences. As you are interviewing folks, notice who makes you feel most at ease and willing to share or participate. Let your partner know that this is important to you, so you can be on the same page while growing your support team.
2. A strong support network. As the partner, you are likely helping the the other parent hold a lot. This is an important role that you are playing! That said, it is crucial that you are bolstered and supported by your own support network. This can include your partner, as well as therapists, coaches, support groups, friends, family, and a birth and/or postpartum doula. We often suggest making a short list of 3-5 people that you know you can turn to on the rough days, as well as share wins or happy moments with. 
3. Brief daily/weekly rituals. What are the activities or rituals that make you feel like yourself? Is it making your morning coffee? Playing fetch with the dog? A walk with a friend? A trip to the grocery store? Listening to a record? Watching a show before bed? While you may not be able to spend a whole night out with friends like you did before baby, maintaining some brief daily and/or weekly rituals will help you maintain your sense of self, as you develop your new identity as a parent. Brainstorm with your partner how you can make some of these possible. (They will have some of their own rituals to maintain, too! So there will be some give and take for both of you.)
4. Shortcuts to daily household tasks. Food (shopping and prep), laundry, and dishes are 3 tasks that can build up quickly for any family. In order for partners to get as much time resting and bonding with baby as possible, we want to ensure that you aren’t always on your feet doing chores. Ideas of shortcuts include: using paper plates and utensils for the first few weeks, utilizing a MealTrain, having a favorites list on your local grocery store app for easy ordering, keeping baby laundry separate so you can do a quick wash of their essentials as needed, starting laundry in the morning when you know you have visitors than can flip it.
5. Connection with your partner. In the midst of caring for baby and your partner who may be recovering from birth, it can be easy to feel a little lost, especially relationally. We often suggest that couples make small, intentional moments to be together, both prenatally and postpartum. This blog gets into some great ideas for how to make it possible!

ABG is Here for You

As always, we are here to support your growing family. Join us in class or reach out about postpartum support in Austin or birth and postpartum support in Asheville! It’s an honor to support your growing family.

*Photo credit: Taylor Kopel on Unsplash