Guest Post by Emily Graham

There’s nothing in the world like what you experience as an expectant mom. There are feelings of excitement, love, and awe, along with lots of nervousness too. These are all very normal feelings when you’re expecting a baby, and being in the midst of a pandemic has probably heightened all of these emotions for your friend.

As a mama who has been through the ups and downs of pregnancy and new parenthood, Briana Aea knows just how much it helps to have the support of loved ones. There are countless ways you can provide that support, but these are just a few ideas to get you started.

Give a Special Gift

Tangible gifts are only a fraction of what new moms need, but your friend will really appreciate a thoughtful gift that solves her biggest needs.

 ●     Breastfeeding Support: If your friend plans on breastfeeding, one of the best things you can do is give her items that help make breastfeeding easier. She will love a comfy nursing bra, nursing pads, and a fun nursing necklace.

 ●     Self-Care Essentials: A couple of our favorite self-care gift ideas from USA Today include an e-reader subscription and an easy to use water bottle, which are especially helpful for nursing moms.

 ●     Care Package: If you can’t decide on just one or two things, consider giving a care package. Those who are crafty may want to DIY this project, but it’s also completely fine to order a care package with all the goodies already picked for you.

Give a Special Experience

Another fun way to spoil a mom-to-be right now is with a drive-by baby shower. She may be feeling disappointed about not being able to have a traditional shower, but there are some seriously creative ideas out there for having an event that’s pandemic-friendly. You can still do lots of normal babyshower stuff, including decorations and thank you gifts, just in a way that’s safe and socially distant.

Give Insight (And a Listening Ear)

Giving advice and emotional support can be tricky because you want to provide the help your friend needs without adding to her stress. That’s why The Huffington Post recommends reaching out to her regularly without expecting a response. If nothing else, you can always share simple tips to make everyday life easier, like a favorite crock pot recipe that makes it quick and easy to put yummy food on the table. As long as she’s interested, you could even point her in the direction of online support groups for parents during the pandemic and other online resources.

This is a truly unique time to bring a baby into the world. While you don’t want to overwhelm her, she will likely appreciate you making it easier for her to get connected with a little extra support. They say it takes a village to raise a child, and even when your village is socially distant, that support is as crucial as ever.