Get Help
This is no time to be stoic: accept ALL offers of help. That might include a friend who offers to do the laundry, your mother-in-law who brings in a few prepared meals, or your partner who offers to look after your baby while you take a catnap. If no one offers to pitch in during the early days, or if you live far from family, consider hiring a doula (a specially trained mother's helper) or a housekeeper. If hiring help is not an option, simplify and cut down on chores. For example, instead of cooking a meal each night, alternate with take-away's.
