How To Support Your Postpartum Colleagues: Meals, Gifts and Must Haves

Congratulations! Your colleague just had a baby and now you're wondering how to show your support. Being a new parent is a big adjustment and can be overwhelming at times. As a Millennial or Gen Z professional, you may be wondering how you can help. Luckily, there are many ways to offer support, from providing meals to giving thoughtful gifts. In this post, we'll explore some tips on how to support your postpartum colleagues.

1. Meals: Fueling Up for the New Parenting Journey

One of the best ways to support your postpartum colleague is to provide them with postpartum meals. New parents often struggle to find time to cook or even eat, especially during those first few weeks after their baby is born. Here are a few tips on how to offer meals to your colleague:

Sign up for a meal train: This is a great way to coordinate with other colleagues and make sure that your colleague is receiving meals regularly. Sites like MealTrain.com can help you organize the logistics.
Cook a meal and drop it off: If you're comfortable cooking, make a simple and nutritious meal and drop it off at your colleague's doorstep.
Order takeout or delivery: If you're short on time, consider ordering takeout or delivery from your colleague's favorite restaurant.

2. Gifts: Something for the Baby and Something for the Parents

Gifts are always appreciated, but it can be tough to decide what to get a new parent. Here are a few postpartum gift ideas: For the baby: Diapers, wipes, and onesies are always useful. You can also consider getting a baby carrier or a swaddle blanket. For the parents: Consider getting a gift certificate for a massage or a meal delivery service. You can also offer to babysit so the parents can have some time to themselves to, you know, sleep, shower and maybe brush their hair!

3. Must-Haves: Practical and Useful Items for New Parents

New parents often find that there are certain items that they can't live without. Here are a few must-haves that you can consider giving as a gift:

A baby monitor: This will give your colleague peace of mind while their baby is sleeping.
A breastfeeding pillow: If your colleague plans on breastfeeding, this can be a game-changer.
A portable changing pad: This will make changing diapers on-the-go much easier.
If the above seems too personal, just ASK the parent what they might need. Especially a weeks into having the baby, they’ll probably have a better idea what’s a must-have vs. a nice to have now :)

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4. Acts of Services

New parents often have a long to-do list, from picking up groceries to getting the car serviced. Offering to run errands for your colleague so they can focus on taking care of their new baby is a great way to show you care and lighten their load a bit. If you are besties with your colleagues, consider offering help with household chores. Between taking care of a newborn and recovering from childbirth, new parents often have little energy to spare for household chores.

Offer to help with laundry, dishes, or cleaning so your colleague can focus on rest and recovery. And lastly, if you are a parent yourself, consider sharing helpful resources that actually worked for you. There are many resources available for new parents, from parenting classes to support groups but it can be hard to know what is of value. So share helpful resources with your colleague that worked for you and how you can support them in their postpartum transition.

5. Words of Affirmation

At the end of the day, all new parents would appreciate a few positive affirmations they are doing a good job. That and perhaps some sleep and coffee! So bring your colleague their favorite Starbucks order and just sit with them. Being a new parent can be stressful, so it's important to offer emotional support by asking your colleague how they're doing and listen without judgment. Offer words of encouragement and let them know that you're there for them.

Lastly, supporting your postpartum colleague can be a fun and rewarding experience but it’s important to respect their boundaries, privacy and ways they want help. So be sure to ask if what you want to offer is of value to them and don’t be offended if they say no! Try asking what would be helpful for them and if you can offer it, do it. Remember, every little bit counts, and your colleagues will appreciate your efforts to make their new journey a little bit easier.

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Meet The Writer!

Hi! My name is Nadia Ibrahim-Taney and I help people design happy and fulfilling careers through authentic career coaching. My expertise includes career exploration guidance, resume writing, interview prep and LinkedIn profile optimization. My pronouns are She/ Her/ Hers and as a member of the LGBTQ+ community, I focus on how diverse identities impact and influence folks holistically and professionally. Please connect with me on LinkedIn or at Nadia@beyonddiscoverycoaching.com