Partner support postpartum

My husband works 16 hours a day so he couldn't help me much around the house and with the baby but I didn't mind, I had plenty of help from my mum and family. My husband however supported me emotionally, postpartum is a really hard time, he made me feel really loved, was extra affectionate, even more understanding with my mood swings. Said all the right things to make feel better, kept letting me know how much he appreciated what I was doing for our family, gave me shoulder to cry on, no matter how many times I would cry over the same issue, and was extremely attentive. So even though he wasn't really helping with the baby, he was taking care of me, filling my cup so I could fill our baby's. Hope this helps x

Good things: My husband took three weeks off of work and did everything for me. Brought me food and drinks, walked the dogs, did all the laundry and cleaning. He helped me get up when I needed and changed my bandages every day. He would bring me things when I was nurse or nap trapped, always made sure I had my phone or the TV on whilst doing so. He was up with every night feed with me. Even if he couldn’t feed our baby, he would help burp, change his diaper if needed, rock him to sleep, make sure I had food/drink. When he went back to work, he continued to do all of those things when he was home. He would leave work early to support me in the first couple weeks back. I was struggling figuring life out with a baby. After I got better I told him “sometimes I wouldn’t mind cooking if you can be with the baby, to give me a break”. So he’ll ask me if I wanna switch roles. He packs the car with stroller, seat, bags, etc for me.

Frustrating moments: he no longer wakes with every night feed. If he does wake, he will just pass the baby off to me and fall back to sleep. He forgets to ask if I rather cook or walk the dogs instead of being with the baby. And I have to ask “can I do this?” When I need a break. When I’m trying to distance myself and let him parent more - He will let the baby cry instead of immediately running to him. I had to teach him step by step how to use the bottle warmer and sterilize bottles at like 9 weeks postpartum. It hadn’t occurred to me that he didn’t know how to do it. So now he helps out a little more. He doesn’t fully understand my feelings - I get almost jealous that he gets to leave to go to work and gets a break from the baby. But i can’t. And whenever I am away from the baby I worry and feel incomplete. Or the feelings that come with breastfeeding. Needing to pump or wanting to give bottle but wanting that connection still, the pain of sore nipples etc etc.

Tried to help with night feeds, breast fed baby. But, that didn’t work well, so I fed and he did diaper change. He helped me shower those first couple days (well, into and out of). He also brought me food made sure i was eating. He comforted me/listened to me cry in frustration at the end of the day. While I did night time, he always washed my pump parts and any bottles. Up until I stopped breast feeding at 16 months. I do/did majority of the parenting, but he pulls his weight. He works full time and comes home and cooks us dinner (this pregnant mama couldn’t handle it 🤢) and spend some time with our son. I do have to ask sometimes for help and I 100% had to speak up at the beginning. What he thought was helpful wasn’t at all (I can’t remember specifics, but I do remember having a conversation).

My husband was amazing!! He helped shower and dressed me after an emergency c section. He helped dress and clean the wound and made sure my pain was under control. He even went as far as supporting me while using the toilet!! He took me to special care to be with our little one. Once home, he took care of my every need. Food, drinks cuddles and played off the crazy hormonal outbursts as normal! We formula feed out little man, so my husband took the night feeds while I was recovering and then helped out with taking turns for feeds so we both got good quality sleep. He changed nappies, washed bottles, cooked, and cleaned. He was my greatest supporter, encouraged me when i was unsure, and had my back when people overstepped. Honestly amazing!! He is the greatest father to our boy, they have sure a great bond.

My husband is amazing. He works full time, he comes home and straight away takes the baby off me (she’s a handful at the moment) then he cooks for me to make sure I’ve eaten. He’s also leaving stuff pre-prepared in the fridge to make sure I eat during the day. He finishes early on a Friday (works longer in the week) and he takes our little one out so I can have an hour to myself. I normally end up cleaning 😂 He shares the responsibility of washing with me. I do the night feeds during the week (Sunday-Thursday) as he works and he takes over on the weekends. I really do have a good one

He has also supported me mentally postpartum

I am nealry 6 months post partum. For the first month her did everything that wasn't feeding or night feeds. All housework, cooking, some nappy changes. However, my baby was very me focused so he couldnt do much baby care overall. Then since then he is back at work. I do most baby care and all night wakes and all feeds but he still does more cooking, takes the baby more on evenings after he works from home (2x week) and on weekends. I've started to do more cooking and i do 85% of the housework. Overall, i feel he does everything he can to support and looks for more opportunities. However, he could do more housework now but he is also tired.

I split with my partner after birth because of the lack of support I got actually

My partner works 40 hours a week (he had 3 weeks of at the start) and which he helped with everything he went to the shop every day to buy me treats/ products, he done all the night feeds when I was recovering. Then when going back to work he comes home helps with dinner, bath and bed does our dinner! Weekends one day he’ll get up with her so I have a lay in then the next he gets one and he’ll help do housework on weekends. He does the night feed till 2am if she needs one (but if I need help after he’ll help) I’m so lucky he does everything for us!! And he’s the best daddy!!

Yes and no. My husband is great. He works long hours (gone a minimum of 12 a day) I am home with our son. We are almost 8 months pp and the last month and a half has been hard on me. I am working with my dr now because I may have ppd or ptsd. This is where the no part comes in. He doesn’t understand what I’m going through at all. And because he doesn’t understand, it’s hard for him to support me properly. Overall, he’s an amazing husband and father. We just need to work through this tough time. And we are working on it.

Great emotional cheerleading, my biggest supporter, he learned a lot about breastfeeding and helped me with checking latches and supporting me. Stayed up with baby so I could have a sleep. Changed nappies. Warmed up food and fed me