OSF HealthCare shared guidance on Mar. 16 for families and partners supporting new mothers during the early weeks after bringing a baby home, emphasizing the importance of teamwork, education, and self-care.
The advice comes as many new parents focus primarily on their newborns, sometimes overlooking the needs of mothers during this transition. Xandra Anderson, an international board-certified lactation consultant at OSF HealthCare, said that partners and family members should also prioritize learning about infant care together to better support mothers.
“It’s important to learn together because you’re going to be a team. This is something you’re doing together. You’re having a baby together. You’re adding a new family member. Family means you are a unit,” Anderson said. She explained that when only the mother attends educational classes, she often has to relay information to others, adding more responsibility during an already challenging time.
Anderson encouraged partners to recognize signs of postpartum loneliness or overstimulation in new mothers and suggested open communication about personal space and emotional needs. “Some people are really good at saying ‘I’m touched out. I need space…’ But not all of us are really good at that because you tend to feel guilty… So be observant of mom’s cues,” Anderson said.
She also advised parents not to feel pressured by outside expectations regarding visitors or sharing time with their newborns: “Even though everyone will want to love and get to know your new baby, it’s very important to remember that you are also getting to know your new baby and learning how to love them.”
Anderson concluded by reminding parents that parenting is difficult and encouraged them not to expect perfection: “Try hard, but cut yourself some slack when things aren’t perfect.”
OSF HealthCare contributes health guidance and expert insights through its newsroom according to the official website. The organization operates 17 hospitals along with urgent-care locations and clinics across Illinois and Michigan according to the official website. OSF HealthCare aims for compassionate care through clinical initiatives while serving both urban and rural communities according to the official website.
The nonprofit system manages hospitals, clinics, urgent-care centers, and physician practices under one ministry dedicated to community service according to the official website. Its services include emergency care, cancer treatment, heart services, neurological support, primary medicine, mental health care and digital health options through OSF OnCall according to the official website.
