How To Offer Socially-Distanced Support To A Mom To Be
The pandemic has been frightening for everyone, but especially so for those awaiting a special delivery. Although the coronavirus hasn’t hit pregnant women any harder than the rest of the population, the uncertainty that remains is scary. Because of this, many of your pregnant friends have likely put themselves on lockdown. You can still offer support. Here’s how.
Help them help themselves.
Babies don’t need much, mostly love, milk, and sleep. But providing these is a full-time job when you have a newborn. Lend a hand to your pregnant friends by helping them prepare for this journey as much as possible. You might, for example, gift them a membership to Costco. With this, they can order their groceries in bulk online and pick up curbside without the need to expose themselves to the general public. Similarly, you could also sign them up and pre-pay for meal delivery or a few months’ worth of house cleaning services.
Give the gift of comfort.
A membership to a wholesale club or food service provider is a great gift of convenience. But comfort is something else that new moms often forget to give themselves. You can shop online for hospital bag staples like stylish maternity tops or labor and delivery gowns, which you can have delivered straight to their door.
For active and stylish moms, a comfortable dress from their favorite store will help them feel more like themselves once the baby arrives. And if you are on a budget, Old Navy coupons will help you save on your gift-giving endeavors.
Pick up the phone.
Lots of new moms are scared of childbirth. First-time mothers may be uncertain of the process, and giving birth during the middle of a global pandemic is an extraordinarily alarming prospect. If you can’t visit, give your fearful friends a call. An hour on the phone may be just the time they need to express their concerns and come to terms with the fact that they have to face their fears. Turn on your video calling, prop up the phone, and enjoy a cup of coffee together while you chat. Make a point to text on the days you do not speak just to let them know they are on your mind.
Host a drive-by baby shower.
Since the start of the pandemic, many pregnant women have chosen to shelter themselves away from the general population. Unfortunately, this makes it more difficult to enjoy the festivities meant to welcome their little one. One way you can support your friend during these uncertain times is to host a drive-by baby shower, an event, Southern Living asserts, that takes a bit of creativity. You will need to set up a table and decorations at the mom-to-be’s home. The guest of honor can sit outside — socially distanced from the gift-giving area, of course — to greet her well-wishers.
Having a baby is always nerve-racking, and being pregnant in a pandemic is exponentially so. If you want to support a friend in this position, the above ideas can help you do just that without putting them or their precious cargo at risk.
The Arizona Safe Baby Haven Foundation is committed to preventing the illegal abandonment of infants in Arizona. Learn how you can help.
