A woman's body undergoes immense physical and emotional adjustments in the early weeks after giving birth and just as each woman's physical and emotional recovery will vary, so too will her support needs. You may find she needs more emotional support than physical help (or versa visa), or she may need a combination of both, at different times. Your support of her will depend on how she is feeling, what the baby is doing and what needs to be done at the time. If she is feeling unsure, or seems like she needs some help, but is reluctant to ask for it, ask her how you can best support her, to enable you to meet her needs during this time.
Some women will willingly rest and accept support from their partner, family and friends. Others may find it hard to 'let go' of household chores, to receive the support they need, both physically and emotionally. If your partner finds it hard to ask for support, you may need to instigate discussion about appropriate support strategies that may work for both of you (possibly even before the baby is born). If your families live a long way away, or they are no longer living (or you do not want them to be involved), then you may be her only support, and she will probably rely on you heavily.
After the birth, the woman's body starts to physically recuperate and heal. She may be recovering from the hours of physical exertion that she underwent during the labour and birth, or from a Caesarean, which is a major operation, requiring at least 6 weeks to fully recover from. Even though the birth has finally come and gone, her body will remain working hard to adjust and heal, as well as produce breast milk (if breast feeding). It is not uncommon for a new mother to require the same level of physical and emotional support as she did during the labour and birth (or even more).
You may like to discuss with your partner how you can both enjoy your new baby, and relax and recover.