The Simple Postpartum Support Checklist Parents Can't Stop Sharing

Navigating the postpartum period can be overwhelming for new parents—and knowing how to offer meaningful support isn’t always intuitive. From physical recovery to emotional shifts, new moms face countless challenges in the weeks following birth. But sometimes, it’s the simple, consistent acts of care that make all the difference.

There might not be a catch-all for everything your postpartum partner needs, but Utah mom Sabriena Abrre is here to help you get started. “I feel like my husband could teach a master class on how to take care of your wife postpartum, but because he won’t, I’m just going to give you the list of everything he did,” Abrre shares. “We’ve been through it three times together and everything on this list made me feel so loved. I was able to stay in bed for 10 days following birth, and I only got up to use the bathroom.”

Her list is as follows:

1. Fill Up Her Water Bottle

Hydration is essential for postpartum recovery, especially for breastfeeding moms. Abrre highlights how her husband never let her water bottle go empty. “Still to this day, I’m eight weeks postpartum breastfeeding, and he is always like, ‘Do you need your water filled up?’ Every time he’s going to fill his, he makes sure that mine is also filled up,” she shares. It’s a small act, but one that shows attentiveness and care.

2. Wash Pump Parts

Breastfeeding often comes with the added task of pumping—and cleaning pump parts can be a tedious but necessary chore. “I used the Haakaa for 3 weeks following birth. Every time it needed to be washed, he took it downstairs to wash it,” Abrre recalls. “I did pump once in the first couple of weeks, and he also took my pump parts down, no questions asked. Washed them, set them out to dry.” For postpartum moms, having a partner take over these repetitive tasks can be a game-changer.

3. Label and Freeze All Breast Milk

Managing a freezer stash of breast milk is a major task in itself. “Every single bag of breast milk I had, he took downstairs, labeled it with how many ounces were in it, the date, and put it in the freezer,” Abrre says. “I have over 500 ounces of breast milk stored—he handled 99.99% of it.” It’s these behind-the-scenes actions that help streamline a new mom’s daily life.

4. Cook All Meals

Food is fuel, especially for healing postpartum bodies. Abrre didn’t have the luxury of a big support system cooking around the clock. “We don’t have a village. I don’t have a mom who comes and stays with me for a week postpartum, cooking meals around the clock. I’m so envious of people who do,” she admits. But her husband stepped up, managing breakfast, lunch, and dinner—not just for her but also for their three- and five-year-old. “I never had to say, ‘I’m hungry’ because he was always bringing me food.”

5. Tend to the Baby So Mom Has Time for Self-Care

New parents often struggle to find time for themselves, but Abrre’s husband made sure she had moments of peace. “If I wanted to go into the bathroom and do my skincare routine, he’d say, ‘Say less. Give me the baby,’” she says. “He took care of the baby the whole time I was in there. I could have stayed for three hours—though I never did—but he never hesitated.” Having even a short break can make a world of difference for a mom’s mental health.

6. Keep Up on Laundry

While it might seem simple, keeping up with laundry during the postpartum period can be overwhelming. “I know some people will say this is bare minimum, but we both come from families where our dads didn’t change one diaper,” Abrre notes. “Fathers today are stepping up, and that shouldn’t be discounted. Yes, it should be the expectation, but it’s still meaningful.”

7. Handle Nighttime Diaper Changes and Burping

Middle-of-the-night feedings and diaper changes can be grueling, but sharing the load can ease the burden. “I don’t wake my husband up much in the middle of the night because I’m breastfeeding, but on nights when I’m extra tired, I’ll ask him to take the baby, burp him, and put him back to sleep,” Abrre explains. “There’s never a sigh, never a hesitation.” Even small nighttime tasks can help prevent complete burnout.

8. Solo-Parent the Older Kids

Managing older siblings while caring for a newborn can be a balancing act. Abrre’s husband made it a priority. “The best part about a supportive partner is that you can focus on transitioning to being a mom of three—or two, or however many,” she says. “Having kids isn’t an easy adjustment. Some say going from zero to one is the hardest, but what I’ve realized is that it’s not about the number of kids—it’s about the support you have.”

9. Take Out Poopy Diapers and Postpartum Trash

Some chores are less glamorous but no less important. “Taking out the trash might seem small, but when you’re postpartum and using disposable diapers yourself, it fills up fast,” Abrre points out. “My husband made sure it never piled up. Leaving 17 diapers on the coffee table where kids play? That’s neglect on both mom and dad’s part.”

While every family’s postpartum needs are different, Abrre’s list offers a practical guide for partners wondering how they can help. Everyday actions—keeping the water filled, handling laundry and making meals—can make all the difference in during one of life’s most transformative stages.