Five Ways to Serve the Expectant Moms

For a long while now, I’ve felt called to serve to women- especially expectant and new moms. Having been through it, I know that growing a person can be exciting, scary, fun, uncertain (and many other adjectives). Life as you know it is completely changing, and if that is not a time to come alongside someone and reach out either in spirit or in person, I don’t know what is.

New Moms to Be and Reaching Out on an Individual Basis

The church I’m a member of is a growing ministry, and so it goes in churches like ours, we are only able to focus on a handful of areas. Fairly recently, we were able to do an event where we reached out to expecting and new mothers in our community, and that’s definitely a start. But what about the rest of the time? How can you show your care and concern for new moms-to-be on an individual basis?

1. Pray for them! A while back, I started a section in my journal with names of expectant mamas, when they are due and any other information I might know about them. (Like what gender they’re expecting, or any specific concerns they have shared). I pray for them fairly regularly, and update when the new baby comes and jot down their birthday and birth stats. I love going back over old entries and seeing how God has been faithful to answer prayers for a baby to turn (to avoid a C-Section), or how He healed a particular ailment in mom or baby.

2. Bring them food! I know we usually focus on when a new baby is born to bring meals to the family, but those early weeks of pregnancy can be rough on a mom! Maybe plan to bring a casserole a few times soon after the mom announces her pregnancy, and then again after the new baby comes. Round up some other women in your church to help you!

3. Offer to care for her older children. A trip to the park for an hour or so can afford an expectant mama an opportunity to take a nap or a long soak in the tub, or even a chance to get to her prenatal appointment.

4. Take her to lunch. Nourishment is a major theme for mamas-to-be! This also gives her a chance to talk about the pregnancy if she wants to, or share any specific concerns she may have (see point number one).

5. Host a baby shower for her. If her extended family is involved in the church, you might not need to, but if you don’t know her family, you may want to see if she is having one. Even if it is a small get-together with the ladies in the church, it is still a nice gesture. Find out if she needs anything. She may not even need much, everybody appreciates extra diapers, and a mini-celebration of the new baby coming into the world. And food (did I mention that food is important?)

It doesn’t have to be difficult to care for a mom-to-be! A simple, heartfelt, “how are you doing?” can make a woman feel loved and noticed.

How have you ministered to expectant mamas? What was their reaction?

Becky is a wife of eight years and stay at home mom to three young children. She aspires to encourage women in Biblical truth on her blog, Happy Christian Home.