Hey, Pumping friend!
Let’s be real—the monumental task of feeding your baby can be overwhelming, especially when it feels like it all falls on you. But here’s the good news: your partner (or support system) can play a HUGE role in making things easier, starting before baby even arrives!
Many partners genuinely want to help but aren’t sure how. And while they can’t be the ones to produce milk, there’s plenty they can do to support you.
They can:
✅ Learn your pump!
Staring at a pile of pump parts, while running on a couple of hours of sleep is daunting. But if your partner already knows how it all works, you’ll feel unimaginably supported.
Partners can:
🍼 Read the manual and watch the tutorials! YouTube is your friend. You can hear from moms and other experts on how to use your pump.
🍼 Sterilize and assemble the pump. Having everything clean and ready is a life-saver.
🍼 Know how to adjust settings. Every pump has different speeds and suction modes. Having a partner who already understands how these work can save a lot of frustration!
✅ Make a Postpartum Game Plan!
Bringing your baby home changes your world overnight. Having a plan in place can make those first weeks (and months) a lot more manageable.
Before baby arrives, consider making a couple of lists:
📋Daily Household Tasks. These are the non-negotiables like pet care, dishes, laundry, meal prep, and caring for other children. Pre-planning how you’ll manage all of life’s other responsibilities can save a lot of stress.
📋Self-Care List. It may feel silly at first, but it’s easy to lose sight of self care when there’s a tiny human in the mix, dominating your attention. So think through a few things that make you feel like yourself. Maybe it’s a hot shower, a cup of coffee alone, or 15 minutes outside. Having these in writing helps you both prioritize each other’s well-being during the postpartum chaos.
✅ Stock Up on Essentials!
The last thing you’ll want to be doing in the early postpartum days is making last-minute store runs. Check out this list for some things to consider stocking up on in advance:
💡 Pro-tip: Having a freezer full of meals prepped can be a lifesaver in the moments when no one has the energy to cook.
✅ Communicate & Set Expectations!
One of the most powerful things a partner can do is advocate for your needs—especially when it comes to setting boundaries with visitors and family.
If you’re not comfortable with drop-ins or long visits in the early days, talk about it before baby arrives to avoid some frustrations.
🗣️ Create a “Code Word” for when you’re ready for guests to leave. Your partner can step in and politely usher people out without making it awkward.
🗣️ Use “The Doctor Said” early and often. If setting boundaries is hard, blame the doctor! “The doctor said we need to limit visitors so Mom can rest.” (No one argues with the doctor 😉)
Partners, You’ve Got This!
Pregnancy and postpartum are team efforts. Preparing ahead of time, learning the pump, and stepping up in small, meaningful ways, can make all the difference in your partner’s experience.
✨ Want more expert tips on making pumping easier? Follow our Pumpologist series for weekly advice from our resident Pumpologist!
