Your friends and family will know that due to your current circumstances, you’re going to need a lot of help. And they’re going to offer it, so please – no matter how hard it is for you to ask for help – take advantage! It’s hard (well, for some of us, anyway) to sit back and let everybody else do your chores, especially if you’re a person who sticks to a rigorous schedule and has her own, precise way of doing things. Think of it this way, though: even if things aren’t getting done the way you would do them, at least they’re getting done. It’s a whole lot better than everything piling up until you can take care of it again, isn’t it?
During a visit from a friend, ask them if they’ll toss in a load of laundry. You can even separate it yourself if they’ll bring you the basket or hamper! Then have a chat until it’s time to fold it, and again, you can even help as long as it’s from the bed.
Ask someone to bring in your mail for you.
You don’t have to heap all your responsibilities on one person: designate a friend as your library runner, your husband or sister to get groceries, etc.
If someone offers to cook for you, great! Get together beforehand and make a menu of things that can easily be made in large batches and are easy to reheat.
Remember, little things such as tending to your own needs aren’t as important as the needs and overall health of your baby at this moment. If there were ever a time to be selfish, it’s now.