Pinterest and pregnancy books are full of pre-baby checklists and must-haves. Everything from what to buy for the nursery, what to pack in the hospital bag, and postpartum must-haves. And while all of that’s important and good to have, there are other things I’ve found to have a bigger impact pre-baby and then in those early postpartum days.

These aren’t the things you can order on Amazon and get the next day. It will require a little planning on your part, but Momma, trust me when I say it’s all worth it.

Take Some Time for Yourself

This may sound obvious, but it can be really hard to prioritize yourself when you feel like you have a million things you need to be doing to prepare for baby.

• Prenatal massage if you are low risk and cleared by your provider.
• Hair appointment (and if you’re doing newborn photos, schedule one for your husband and children too).
• Get your nails done…there’s nothing better than a pedicure at the end of pregnancy! 
• Go shopping and purchase a few things you love for those early postpartum days. Also, be sure to have undergarments and/shapewear for your newborn session.

Spend Time With Your People

Once the baby comes, life is all about them for a bit and that’s perfectly okay! However, if you have a partner and older children, finding that balance can be hard. I’ve found the way to curb that mom-guilt is to really spend quality time with those closest to me before the baby comes.

• Have a date night with your husband. 
• Arrange to have 1 on 1 time with your older children (if applicable).
• Have a girl’s night and turn off mom-mode. 

Prepare House + Car

While not an absolute necessity, if you’re anything like me, having the things I can control (the car and the house) in order, makes me feel better.

• Clean out the car and get it detailed. Trust me, you’ll thank me later! 
• Wash the car seat and make sure you know how to install it. 
• Schedule a house cleaner and make sure your master bedroom is clean and ready for you and baby. 

Prepare Food + Snacks

The last thing you want to be doing is stressing over what to eat or trying to prepare a meal. If your friends or family want to bring you food or set up a meal train, let them. You can also prepare some stuff ahead of time.

• Make a few of your favorite meals and freeze them. Save these for when you really need something quick and easy.
• Stock up on your favorite drinks, water, and easy-to-grab snacks. I suggest having a basket by your bed you can grab from when feeding baby.

Prepare for your Newborn Session

It’s not uncommon for me to get text messages that say, “shhhh….don’t tell anyone.” I absolutely love getting to share in the secret and know what a privilege it is. Expecting parents often book me a soon as they enter their second trimester, which means our schedule fills up 4-6 months out. If you’re considering a newborn session, contact me early. Your newborn session is not something to stress over. In fact, all you have to do is text me and let me know when your baby has arrived.

That’s it. Seriously…that’s all you have to do! When you hire Brittany Elise Photography, all of the logistics are taken care of for you. We will coordinate hair and makeup and wardrobe for your entire family. All you have to do is show up and snuggle your precious baby!