My Village Showing Up for Us

Being the first niece and first grandchild on my husband's side, my newborn babygirl was immediately loved and cherished by his family. While me being the only girl in my family with five brothers, my mom was ecstatic to finally have a grandchild from her only daughter, thus she eagerly awaited the arrival of our babygirl.

Thankfully we had our village (you know how they say, “it takes a village to raise a baby”). Our village included our family, our best friends, and our church friends.

My Village

They say it takes a village—and I’m so grateful for mine. 💕Our village really showed us support.

My mom came over and helped take care of me and my needs by cooking me soups and bringing me stuff I did not know I needed for both me and babygirl. For example, baby mittens were one of the baby gear items that did not cross my mind to get. Our babygirl had really long nails and I was nervous to cut the at the beginning so these baby mitts came in handy for keeping her from scratching herself and us.

My best friend and her mom came to the hospital to help watch baby while I took a much needed shower with my husband’s help (I had a c-section). Not only did she watch babygirl but she made sure to take pictures of us as a family which I was told many people forget that and just come to visit the baby.

My cousin and his cousin and tias showed up both at the hospital and at home with food and snacks. Since I was loopy and could not get up from the bed much they helped my husband change our daughter into a cute onesie and swaddle her for some newborn pictures.

Because I was still being monitored and had a blood transfusion, I was not in the postpartum recovery room but still in the labor and delivery section where women wait to go to the delivery rooms if that makes sense. Basically, after the c-section they brought me back to the area where pregnant women arrive and check-in. Since I was still in this area they had not yet offered newborn pictures and I wanted some of her one her first day of life. So both our cousins did us the favor of changing our babygirl and taking those sweet “hello world” sign newborn pictures.

Once we were home our family and friends showed up and showed us so much love and support. As first time parents we did not realize we should have meal prepped and frozen some foods. As a couple we were used to just eating out, especially both being teachers, we were too exhausted on weekdays to cook. Thankfully, our friends and family thought ahead and not only brought us take out meals when they came to visit but one friend even brought me frozen breakfast sandwiches. All these things were so helpful to us both as my husband was still caring for me and babygirl since my c-section pain would be intense some days and that made it difficult to stand or do things.

If you’ve read up to hear and you are one of the people in “our village” that showed up for us and babygirl, I just want to say I am so appreciative of everyone of you.

If you’re a reader tell me in the comments how did people show up for you, or how have you showed up for your postpartum mom friends/family?