What was best thing a friend did for you after the arrival of you babies?

[IwishIwasmoreorganised]

We've just found out that our friends twins have arrived safely and that hopefully they'll be home with one of the 2 very soon.

What was the most helpful thing that friends did for you after your babies had arrived and you were back home?

Was interrupted by my Tesco delivery arriving!

I work every day except Monday, and have 2 primary school aged dc myself.

Apart from that I could cook them some meals, help out on a Monday once the babies dad has returned to work, help evenings to allow more time for our friends to sleep.

I don't want to intrude, just help! What would you have found most helpful?

Early days at home for us, but friends have taken our other children off for play dates, giving us time to sort the babies.

Had lots of food dropped off for us, which has been fab!

If your friends have one baby in hospital still, maybe you can help with logistics of them getting to hospital? And when they finally have both home it will be a new set of challenges, so please offer to help out then too - maybe take the babies for a walk for an hour so they can sleep.

Cross-post! Also wanted to say how nice that you're trying to help your friends in this way :-)

Telling me I was doing a good job looking after her. It gave me confidence.

Dropped off ready assembled cottage pie/lasagna/chilli - meals that could just be heated up and shoveled in

Purchased a monthly load of glossy mags - Vogue/Elle/InStyle for me to read while BF the babies (such a treat, I couldn't afford them on Mat leave)

Prepared meals were by far the most helpful and appreciated. My best friend would bring over a dish of food and a pudding once a week for the first 3 months, was fab! Having some help was nice too, having someone to feed one baby or change nappies.

Batch cooked and stocked my freezer!

Right. Meals it is for starters.

When I drop the first one round, I'll ask about lifts to the hospital (in case DH wants to stay home with the twin who's allowed home), and taking them out for a walk, helping on my day off etc.

Thanks for your ideas.

Definitely taking them for a walk so they can get some sleep. I really appreciated that. I couldn't sleep when they were in the house but being looked after by someone else - I could still hear them!

Food too, yes!

Came round to sit with DD1 whilst I had a shower. I had no idea how I was supposed to have a shower now that there was a baby in the house!

My friend made me a big veggie lasagna.
If she hadn't I would have bloody starved.
OH just kept giving me tea and toast

Listened to me and gave me confidence. I always remember talking to her on the phone (we live a long way apart)in the early days as I struggled with becoming a parent. She helped me to see that there was a light at the end of the tunnel.

Showed up with some chocolate croissants, sympathised with my breastfeeding problems, and told me I was the best possible Mum for my child.

We have twins. The early days are hard.

Best things - called and asked what shopping we needed.

Did laundry/ironing/housework for us.

One lovely (American) friend booked a night a brought us a prepared 3 course meal (hot). So wonderful.

A bit later after my DH had gone back to work a lovely lady came one afternoon and just sat quietly holding whichever baby I wasn't feeding and had a conversation with me about me. I'm welling up just thinking about it.

If she's had a section offers of lifts may be useful.

Make her a cuppa and a sandwich (I found it really hard to get time to eat when the were feeding constantly).

We didn't need or want help with the babies but we really did need and want help with everything else. Welcome visitors were the useful ones that rolled up their sleeves.