https://boards.hellobee.com/ Pregnancy, Baby and Parenting blog, by Hellobee en Mon, 25 May 2026 06:21:24 +0000 https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/did-people-check-on-youoffer-to-help-out-during-your-first-week-home#post-920908 Wed, 10 Jul 2013 21:21:51 +0000 meredithNYC 920908@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>We live pretty far away from both families and are the first of our friends to have new babies, so no, we didn't really get much support. But, I did have one super thoughtful friend who would offer to come sit with LO for an hour while I got out to do errands or whatever (my husband worked very long hours and didn't take a paternity leave) and she even baked me some lactation cookies. Unfortunately, they didn't do the trick, but I was floored by how sweet she was to do that - particularly given what a busy schedule she had. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/did-people-check-on-youoffer-to-help-out-during-your-first-week-home#post-920881 Wed, 10 Jul 2013 21:08:16 +0000 Weagle 920881@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>We had lots of help from my parents. Friends came and checked on us, but they all went through DH in order to not bother me. I wouldn't have been bothered, but it was nice that I didn't have to coordinate anything. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/did-people-check-on-youoffer-to-help-out-during-your-first-week-home#post-920841 Wed, 10 Jul 2013 20:30:56 +0000 mediagirl 920841@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>It is as pretty sparse. We had friends come over but only one brought food. Most came over to see the baby, then left. It was hard because I was in pain and still wanted to be a good host but was too exhausted to offer food, drinks, etc. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/did-people-check-on-youoffer-to-help-out-during-your-first-week-home#post-920825 Wed, 10 Jul 2013 20:26:52 +0000 Smurfette 920825@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>We had people come over and visit, some brought meals. But no one offered to clean or anything. I had told my parents we wanted to figure things out on our own. So they just came to visit a couple times and brought us food. ILs came up and stayed for the night but they were more in the way then helped. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/did-people-check-on-youoffer-to-help-out-during-your-first-week-home#post-920806 Wed, 10 Jul 2013 20:15:14 +0000 bisous 920806@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>We got help from some family. Most of our friends do not have kids, so they all visited in the first two weeks (and some brought takeout), but most didn't offer to help...I just assumed they didn't know what kind of help we needed. That said, I also don't feel really comfortable coming right out and asking for help. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/did-people-check-on-youoffer-to-help-out-during-your-first-week-home#post-920803 Wed, 10 Jul 2013 20:14:48 +0000 Andrea 920803@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>My parents came to stay. Or else I don't think we would've had any offers of help. I think people mostly assume that you want to be left alone? </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/did-people-check-on-youoffer-to-help-out-during-your-first-week-home#post-920761 Wed, 10 Jul 2013 19:49:22 +0000 doodlepoodle 920761@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>We had a few people help but it was pretty quiet (the way we wanted it). We came home to a meal in the crock pot and the house clean, which was awesome! Other than that our visitors were super quick and they just dropped off meals or gifts but didn't stay. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/did-people-check-on-youoffer-to-help-out-during-your-first-week-home#post-920754 Wed, 10 Jul 2013 19:46:38 +0000 Mrs. Jacks 920754@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>I think it's pretty normal. If it wasn't for one friend who set up a meal schedule for me, we would have had nothing. I can still tear up when I think of how thoughtful she was in wrangling all our friends to help us! </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/did-people-check-on-youoffer-to-help-out-during-your-first-week-home#post-920746 Wed, 10 Jul 2013 19:43:34 +0000 yin 920746@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>Most family and friends wanted to visit and see LO either at the hospital of when we came home. My MIL made us one meal, and my parents would drop off soup every other day. No one asked if we needed help, and I was okay with that because I needed that time alone to figure out the whole l caring for a newborn thing. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/did-people-check-on-youoffer-to-help-out-during-your-first-week-home#post-920712 Wed, 10 Jul 2013 19:30:08 +0000 Bookish 920712@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@Foodnerd81: @rawrasaur: @googly-eyes: @Ellie: thank you! Y'all have no idea how much better that makes me feel. I'm very lucky to have DH that is taking care of pretty much everything, so I think I might just be having a less crazy than normal first week. I need to keep in mind that people assume we are up to our elbows in poop and tears! </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/did-people-check-on-youoffer-to-help-out-during-your-first-week-home#post-920696 Wed, 10 Jul 2013 19:25:47 +0000 pinkb 920696@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>We had a couple visitors but no one really offered any help except my mom. And she lives 3 hours away so it meant her staying with us, so we waiting until DH went back to work for her to come help. And my parents gave us some restaurant gift cards which were a HUGE help the first couple weeks. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/did-people-check-on-youoffer-to-help-out-during-your-first-week-home#post-920694 Wed, 10 Jul 2013 19:25:22 +0000 Ellie 920694@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>As a friend/relative of someone who has recently had a new baby I generally hold off of visits or bugging the new parents (other than a congratulatory phone call or visit) for the first week or so. I generally assume that they're trying to adjust and deal with other family or friends that may be hanging around or visiting them. Unless it's for someone really close, like my sister, who I'd call daily and offer help, etc.</p> <p>But that being said, if the new parents were to reach out and request help, a visit, a distraction, etc, I would gladly do what I could to help out. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/did-people-check-on-youoffer-to-help-out-during-your-first-week-home#post-920686 Wed, 10 Jul 2013 19:22:42 +0000 googly-eyes 920686@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>I think nobody wanted to bother us. We didn't get any visitors besides MIL and BIL for the first couple weeks. Next baby hopefully we'll be living by MY side of the family and we'll have a little more moral support! </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/did-people-check-on-youoffer-to-help-out-during-your-first-week-home#post-920685 Wed, 10 Jul 2013 19:22:36 +0000 MamaBehr 920685@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>My mom helped a LOT with DD. She brought over dinner frequently, but that was about it.<br /> With DS she actually stayed with us for a month and helped with dinner and taking care of DD. It was awesome. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/did-people-check-on-youoffer-to-help-out-during-your-first-week-home#post-920681 Wed, 10 Jul 2013 19:20:53 +0000 rawrasaur 920681@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>We didn't really get any. Everyone didn't want to bother us. My mom was the only one who made us food to freeze and helped out. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/did-people-check-on-youoffer-to-help-out-during-your-first-week-home#post-920680 Wed, 10 Jul 2013 19:20:42 +0000 Foodnerd81 920680@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>I can't speak from the side of the new mom, but as a friend of new moms, I do generally try to back off early on since I think the new parents are busy/crazy/overwhelmed with family visiting. This has prompted me to text my friend who had a baby last week-- I did visit once but I'll just let her know I'm thinking of her!</p> <p>But my point is it really could be people being considerate and trying not to overwhelm you, not that they don't care. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/did-people-check-on-youoffer-to-help-out-during-your-first-week-home#post-920675 Wed, 10 Jul 2013 19:17:40 +0000 autumnlove 920675@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>We had a lot of help the first month with our first LO! </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/did-people-check-on-youoffer-to-help-out-during-your-first-week-home#post-920672 Wed, 10 Jul 2013 19:16:44 +0000 Bookish 920672@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>DH and I brought home our LO on Monday. I think we've been incredibly lucky in our baby- she only cries if she is hungry or gassy, and sleeps for a few hours at a time.</p> <p>Even so, we, like most first time parents, could use some help, whether it be food brought or just a text asking how we are doing. So far, the only help we've really gotten is from my sister, who brought us lunch and texts me every day. My dad, mom, Grandma, and other sister have only checked in like once, and none of my coworkers or friends have reached out in any way (except for my one "good" friend who texted me about how she wasn't feeling well and then about her new job)</p> <p>Is this normal for the first week? Did people assume you wanted your space or were having too crazy of a time to connect? I'm trying not to get my feelings hurt, and really, I consider us extremely lucky in our baby's current temperament and feedings. </p> <p>How much assistance came your way? We're you surprised at how much/little help was offered? </p>