Well, hello to you, my reader chums! Pregnancy is a magical time, but also a challenging journey for expectant mothers. For those around them, whether you’re a partner, family, friends, or colleagues, sometimes you may wonder what the best way is to offer support.
If a loved one is pregnant and struggling, here are my tips on how to support someone going through pregnancy.
Be a listening ear
Pregnancy comes with a lot of changes, physically and mentally, including absolutely everything in a woman's life, such as how people view her and how she views herself. It's a lot to process emotionally, but also with the ever-changing hormones as the baby grows. This heftiness of mental weight can be relieved through talking, and as a loved one, being a listening ear may be all someone needs. One where you listen and validate their feelings, without advice, unless they ask for your help.
Ask what they need from you
Everyone struggles with different things in pregnancy, especially if they have a demanding life, other children, or aren't used to asking for support. Flip the switch and ask them what they need, as that way you can offer your help and support in exactly how they want it, whether it's helping with life admin, childcare, or joining them for a coffee out and a chat.
Offer to do things in the house/errands
Pregnancy can be a massive mental weight and physically uncomfortable, especially as it progresses. Offering to help out with life tasks, like house cleaning, doing a food shop, cooking dinner, or errands like collecting an order, can really take the weight off life.
Plan fun days out or quality time together
Pregnancy is a wonderful thing, and expectant mothers don't always want to be treated like someone else but the person they were before they were pregnant. They deserve to have fun and enjoy daily life! Plan something fun for them to do or some quality time together, whether it's a day at the beach, afternoon tea, or going book shopping.
Remind them of how well they're doing
Expectant mothers deserve all the compliments, as what they're going through is absolutely incredible, growing a human being and an additional organ in their body, whilst expected to function normally. Praise them, share how well they're doing, how not being productive is okay, and that they look incredible, too, especially if they're struggling with body changes.
Remind them that they deserve to rest and take it easy
As I said, when pregnant women are doing a lot of work, functioning in life on top, it's a lot. Remind them that it's okay to rest, they should slow down, take it easy, and prioritise themselves. It comes with a lot of guilt doing those things, so a reminder and reassurance can do the world of good.
Check in on them, especially if they've been quiet
Check in as regularly as you can, whether it's a text, a call, or popping along to their house with a treat. Sometimes, people are too nervous to admit when they're struggling, and having someone ask does the world of good.
Get them a little treat
We all deserve a treat. Do just that, being their favourite snack or a little pamper gift - it'll mean the world.
I hope you enjoyed this post. What else would you add?
Thank you for reading <3
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Thank you for reading my blog! I hope you enjoyed this post and found it helpful in anyway. I'd love to hear any feedback you may have.