Elisha Wildblood & Louise Barton are the founders of Not Another Onesie, an online village connecting new and expecting parents to find the services they need, whether local, national, or online, to support their wellbeing throughout pregnancy, birth, postpartum, and beyond. It was inspired by their own journeys, experiencing the highs and lows of postpartum life and knowing what it feels like to feel lost, overwhelmed and unsure of what we need or where to find it. They understood how crucial it is to have the right support when you need it most.
Those early weeks after the baby arrives are a mix of magic, mess and all the emotions. You’re healing, adjusting, and likely running on very little sleep, so having the right support can make all the difference. Planning for this emotionally, mentally and financially during pregnancy is so often overlooked. It’s easy to focus on the stuff you can see, like cots, prams, and gadgets.
The abstract nature of support services makes them harder to justify during pregnancy, when focus naturally goes to visible preparations. It’s also difficult to imagine needing help for something you haven't experienced yet. However, recognising postpartum support as essential healthcare, rather than an optional luxury, and budgeting for it with the same intentionality as the nursery and pram, allows families to invest in what may be the single most impactful factor in their early parenting experience. For families on a tight budget, including these support services on baby shower wishlists or suggesting them when friends and family offer help could make an enormous difference. Gifting practical services rather than traditional baby items isn't yet a common practice, but we are on a mission to change that!
Identifying what kind of support you need, i.e. knowing you need help feeding, you know you need a lactation consultant. But what if you just feel overwhelmed? Or does the baby always seem unsettled? Feeling overwhelmed or navigating an unsettled baby can leave new parents with that gut feeling that something’s not quite right, but often without the words to ask for help. Knowing how to find the support you need can feel hard. A good starting point is considering the types of support available.
There are five key areas where support can make a real difference:
- Physical recovery – helping your body heal after birth
- Emotional wellbeing – navigating the big feelings that come with new parenthood
- Mental health – recognising anxiety, mood shifts, and burnout
- Practical baby care – from feeding to settling and sleep
- Connection and relationships – feeling seen, supported, and not so alone
When something feels off, whether emotionally, physically, or just that intuitive sense that things aren't quite right, that's a completely valid reason to reach out for help. You don't need to articulate exactly what's wrong or know precisely what kind of support you need. Sometimes the hardest part is simply admitting you could use some help. Not Another Onesie offers a wide range of supportive services, so you can browse different practitioners and approaches to discover what resonates with your specific situation
How to Find Support
Not Another Onesie is your go-to online village for finding the right support in pregnancy, birth, postpartum, and beyond. We’ve brought together a carefully curated village of trusted professionals covering every aspect of support and care. So you don’t have to search endlessly or settle for anything that isn’t quite right.
There are so many incredible services out there doing powerful, life-changing work, but they aren’t always easy to find. That’s where we come in: making it simple to find and connect with the best care, all in one place.
Matrescence, the significant process of transformation that occurs as women become mothers, encompasses complete psychological, physical, and emotional change, so often goes unrecognised and unsupported. Recognising that modern motherhood shouldn't be navigated in isolation, we've intentionally built a comprehensive village of care that honours every aspect of this transformative journey.
Our platform connects mothers with the diverse support they need, from mental health professionals who understand perinatal psychology to lactation consultants, pelvic floor specialists, sleep consultants, and postpartum doulas. We believe that thriving in motherhood requires a web of expertise and compassion, where women can access everything from practical guidance to emotional support, creating the community that naturally surrounded mothers in generations past but has been lost in our increasingly fragmented world.
How to Make the Most of Help
It’s more than just having help; it’s about letting yourself receive it. That means being honest about what you need, asking questions, and saying yes to rest (yes, even napping when the doula arrives).
For many of us, truly accepting support takes a mindset shift. We’ve grown up with stories that say we should do it all independently, being busy and productive is the only way, and to be anything else is lazy. When we question these stories and ideals and begin to let go of them and the guilt associated with them, we create space to show up as our best selves.
Get specific about what’s feeling hard and share it with your support person. When help arrives, resist the urge to stay “on” and allow yourself to rest or be cared for. Each week, choose one supportive action, like booking an appointment or asking for help, to keep your needs a priority.
What to Know About Support Services
It’s a smart idea to connect with key support services before your baby arrives, so you’re not scrambling to find help when you’re already exhausted. Meeting with a postpartum doula, lactation consultant, pelvic floor physio, or perinatal mental health professional during pregnancy can give you a head start, even if you don’t need them straight away. These professionals can walk you through what to expect, answer questions, and help you feel more confident and prepared for the fourth trimester.
The good news is, support doesn’t have to be in person to be powerful. Many services now offer virtual consultations, making it easier than ever to access expert care, regardless of your location. Whether you’re rural, city-based, or somewhere in between, there’s support that fits your life, your location, and your budget.
How to Ask Friends and Family For the Help You Really Need
Start by identifying your specific needs. Before baby arrives, make a list of everything that happens in your daily life during those first two to three months. What tasks absolutely need to get done? Which ones could be handled by someone else? Once you have clarity on your needs, reach out to friends and family who have offered help or whose support you know would be meaningful. Let them choose what they're comfortable contributing.
If asking for help feels uncomfortable and is preventing you from getting support, consider having someone else do the coordinating, whether that's a close friend, family member, or your partner. A trusted friend could organise a meal and support roster covering things like dog walking, school drop-offs, laundry pickup, or grocery runs. Alternatively, friends could pool resources to gift you a postpartum doula, meal delivery service, or regular cleaning help. The key is being specific about what would actually be helpful, then asking directly. People want to support you; they just need to know exactly how they can make a difference.
