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Your Pre-Labor Checklist to Get You Ready for Baby
Expecting a baby is an exciting time, whether you’re expecting your first, second or fifth. A new baby can bring so much joy but preparing for his or her arrival can be overwhelming. Below, I have created a check list of things to do prior to baby’s arrival for a calmer/smoother experience.
1. Document of Your Pregnancy
Pregnancy is a beautiful experience, even when it’s hard. Your body should be celebrated as it brings new life into this world. It’s a time of joy, your life will forever be changed and photographing and journaling your experience will be a great gift to your future self and children.
2. Assemble Your Baby Gear: DO NOT WAIT TIL THE LAST MINUTE!
Yes, you have a due date but guess what? Things don’t always go as planned. Babies can come early for all sorts of reasons. Having your baby gear assembled and tested ahead of time will be much easier while you’re still getting your 8 hours asleep. If you’re worried about the items collecting dust, place a blanket over the items.
3. Stock Up on Food
If you’re into meal prepping, this is your time to shine! Stock up your pantry and freeze some meals. At the very least, keep the fridge and pantry full. If your family is anything like mine, you’ll have plenty of meals being delivered or cooked for you during their visits the first couple of weeks. However, if you have other children, especially picky eaters, it’s great to have frozen pizzas and snacks that they can make themselves or don’t require much effort.
4. Pack your overnight bag!
Let’s face it, the only part we are thinking about when packing our overnight bag is the adorable outfit our little one is going to wear when he or she comes home. However, not having a phone charger for 3 days or your favorite face wash or snacks can taint your experience. Lucky for you I love making lists! Check out my blog post about all the items you need in your bag, I also include items I personally purchased for the arrival of my daughter.
5. Find sitters for your fur babies
Leaving your fur babies with family or friends for a few days is no easy task. Making sure they are fed, walked, and treated with love while your away is absolutely necessary and not planing ahead can cause all sorts of guilt and anxiety which should be the last thing you’re feeling during such a joyous occasion.
6. Stock up on toiletries
If this pandemic has taught us anything, it’s you can never have enough toilet paper!
Having a new baby is enough of a reason to not want to leave your house but in 2021 you can also add covid and crowds to the list. Stocking up on toiletries prior to baby arriving is a great way to minimize stress once baby is here. If don’t have the space to stock up, don’t worry. There are plenty of apps that can deliver these items to your home when the time comes.
7. Baby proofing
Ok, I will admit I enjoy making lists and planning, so this is not entirely necessary right away. However, it does make life easier. Before you know it, this tiny human who can’t even roll over will be crawling away, looking for things to chew on or places to shove their tiny little fingers. Even if you don’t want to add the gates and the wall plug-ins right away, make sure you purchase them in advance for when the day comes.
8. Find a doctor
Finding a doctor that you feel comfortable with is important. Reach out to friends and family and ask for recommendations. My children’s pediatrician has been with us since my children were born, I love her so much that I rather commute an hour for their doctor visits rather than change to a local hospital.
9. Plan your birth announcement
Newborn Photographers book months in advance so make sure to reach out right away. Photographers who specialize in newborn and maternity photos can only take a limited number of clients a month due to the importance of photographing your babies in the first 2 weeks of life. What if your baby doesn’t come on its due date or you experience a c section? Don’t worry, we understand mom and baby both need to be feeling 100% before a session can take place, therefore we don’t book the exact day of your shoot until baby arrives. If you haven’t given any thought to who will be taking your baby pictures, take some time to google or search on Instagram for a style you like and reach out as soon as you can. Many of us offer Maternity and Baby bundles, allowing you to capture both of these special moments ad a discounted rate.
10. Practice Self Love
Whether this if your first pregnancy or last, it’s important to take time to practice self-love. Make sure you’re getting enough rest, taking your vitamins, and treating your body with the appreciation it deserves. Bringing another life into this world is no easy task. Take time to pamper yourself and nap as the next 5 years of your life will revolve around a tiny human who will disrupt your sleep schedule and won’t allow you to even use the bathroom alone. Don’t worry, it’s totally worth it, and the sleep deprivation doesn’t last forever ;-)
Vanessa Keo Photography is located in Merrimack NH and services all of NH and Northern Massachusetts
To take a look at my portfolio or book a session click the links below!
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