Baby Calendar ChecklistThe following checklist is designed with the (ideal) timetable of twelve months. If you’re planning your baby on a shorter schedule, just start at the beginning of the list and try to catch up as quickly as possible. Use the boxes to the left of the items to check off tasks as you complete them.

9 TO 12 MONTHS PRIOR TO BABYS BIRTHDAY:

☐ Research, research, research different Hospitals, Doulas, Midwives, Physicians, and Birthing Centers in your area.

☐ Determine budget and how expenses will be allocated for Mommy and Baby during and after the pregnancy. (I.E Prenatals, Doula, Natural products, Healthier Diet, Gender Reveal Party.. etc)

☐ Discuss and jot down a ‘rough draft’ of your birthing plan, which includes weather or not you want to find out the gender of the baby, instructions for dad and the doula, who you want in the delivery room with you. ETC. (remember this is your birth and it is important that is goes as smoothly as possible for you.)

☐ Call. Call. Call Make calls into prospective hospitals, physicians, doulas, and massage therapists you would like to work with.

☐ Create a binder to store and organize ideas, keep track of the birthing plan, pamphlets and information on the facilities and physicians you would consider working with etc.

☐ Visit different hospitals and birthing centers to see exactly what the potential is for the facility to meet your expectations for your birth. (once you are pregnant you might not want to do so much running around)

☐ Meet with your Doula, Massage Therapist, Physician, this is especially important if you are having issues with fertility. We want to keep checked in and active in our own birthing conversations.

☐ Start considering who you want in your birthing room with you. Remember this isn’t something we want to worry about while we are trying to balance keeping both mommy and baby happy and healthy throughout our pregnancy.

☐ Begin setting up baby registries, so your friends and family can support you and baby early. Be proactive.

4 TO 9 MONTHS PRIOR:

☐ Celebrate. Breathe. and Enjoy these first few months of your pregnancy as much as possible mama.

☐ Lean on your support system (weather its your partner, your parents, a good friend, or your doula)

☐ Look into photographers for babys first pictures/ Maternity pictures.

☐ Take prenatals, drink lots of water, and get lots of rest. (Throughout your entire pregnancy)

☐ Schedule your first Prenatal Massage. (read benefits of prenatal massage)

☐ Announce your pregnancy to family and friends. (Weather its through Facebook, Cards, Text Message let others celebrate you and baby)

☐ Start making a playlist of music that you would like played during your birth and send it over to your doula or keep it on your phone so its ready and out the way. (out of sight out of mind)

☐ Look into hotel rooms for out-of-town guests. (Aka you and your partners parents, you don’t want too many people in the house with you and your newborn. We are trying to keep stress levels low.)

☐ Start thinking about the baby shower (if you are throwing your own theres nothing wrong with that) Who do you want to attend, What theme do you want to have, etc)

2 TO 4 MONTHS PRIOR:

☐ Research Pediatricians and Medical centers for baby’s care.

☐ Enjoy Maternity photoshoot

☐ If any plans have changed about the birthing plan, be sure to update Doula.

☐ If you haven’t already go shopping for your little one.

☐ Set up baby’s nursery.

☐ Enjoy baby shower.

☐ Keep family up to date on who is attending the birth of baby.

2 TO 8 WEEKS PRIOR:

☐ Make sure you are attending weekly/bi-weekly Prenatal appointments.

☐ Meal prep for after baby arrives. (you can find some great crock pot meals and simple meal planning tips on my blog) PoSakaCare.wordpress.com

☐ Pack birthing bag since sometimes baby can come earlier than expected.

☐ If having a home birth make sure everything on home birth checklist is checked off and all the supplies are attained.

If you have other children make sure the arrangements for them at the time of baby’s birth is taken care of.

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☐ Keep birth bag by the door or close to it.

☐ Meet with Doula to go over birthing plan in detail.

☐ Breathe. Momma you are doing it.

2 WEEK PRIOR TO AND BABY’S BIRTHDAY:

☐ Breathe. RELAX.

☐ Let your partner help out as much as they can.

☐ Meet with Prenatal massage therapist, Doula, and anyone else active in your pregnancy for encouragement.

Take your little bundle of joy home and start this new journey!!!!

☐ Enjoy this time because baby will be here soon!

☐ Any safety precautions for baby around the house can begin to be taken care of now.

☐ Include the idea of baby through out the house. (Maybe put a swing in the living room as well as rocking chair)