When Your Loved One is Overdue: 23 Ways to REALLY Help

When Your Loved One is Overdue: 23 Ways to REALLY Help! by Sara Skiles

You're so excited for your pregnant loved one to give birth. You have the due date marked on the calendar.

You're a savvy grandma, auntie, uncle, or godparent (or coworker who really, really, really loves babies),

so you already know not to pester her with endless “have you had the baby yet?” calls or to tell her your cousin's scary birthing horror story.

So what ARE some awesome things to do and say to support your loved one? Well, here are a few ideas - 23, to be exact!

Ask kind, specific questions that show how truly interested you are. “Are you excited or nervous for the big day?” “How are you enjoying spending more time with Dr. _____ over these last weeks?” “What are you most looking forward to when the baby gets here?”
Offer to coordinate a meal train where friends and relatives can sign up to bring meals after the baby arrives.
Remind her that the length of a full term pregnancy can vary by up to five weeks and baby will come when he or she is ready!
Take her out to lunch or a movie to keep her mind off of waiting.
If there are older siblings, offer to watch them so the parents can have one last romantic date before the new baby arrives (or heck, even just take a long nap).
If she's planning to breastfeed, help gather a basket of the essentials she'll need.
Offer to accompany her to her hospital tour or one of her prenatal appointments.
Remind her of what she's going through pregnancy and birth for – get her talking about her hopes and dreams for her child.
Ask for a tour of the nursery.
Offer to help write thank you notes from the baby shower.
Bring over a hot meal – pregnancy is exhausting before the baby even arrives!
Gift her a relaxing 1-hour prenatal massage.
Pamper her with a pedicure.
Or, if you've got steady hands, just help her paint those toes she can't reach any more.
Take care of the pregnancy-unfriendly tasks for her nesting urges – get up on the chair to clean the ceiling fan, rearrange the living room, take boxes to the thrift store.
Tell her how beautiful and glowing she looks.
Ask if there are any baby items she still needs to be prepared before the birth.
Ask her what food she's craving right now, then bring it to her.
Tell her what an amazing parent she's going to be.
Drop off a care package with some pregnancy tea, stretch mark cream, chocolate, and a good movie.
Take her out for a delicious virgin daiquiri.
Text her some positive birth affirmations, like “I am strong and powerful”, or “I stay peaceful and relaxed”, or “There is nothing I can't do”, or “I trust myself and my baby”.
Make an after-baby hospital bag just for her, with some lip gloss, treats, cozy socks, or maybe a fluffy bathrobe.