12 things to do before baby comes – Dallas newborn photographer Mod L Photography

What are some things I should do before baby arrives?

My clients ask me this question all the time. I guess it’s because I have four kids of my own. Or maybe it’s because I am a newborn photographer here in Dallas. Either way, I’ve heard so many suggestions over the years and tried a few things out myself while waiting for baby. It is such a joyous time waiting for your little one to arrive. And everyone is full of advice for you, both positive and negative. Well since this question of what to do before baby comes up more often than not, I decided to make a little list to refer to.

1. Go on a date with your spouse / significant other

No matter what you think might happen, you are likely to not get a chance to go out alone together for quite a while. And you likely won’t want to! But it’s so important to spend time together. Don’t forget each other in the whirlwind of nesting and getting your house ready. I still remember that 12 years ago on the weekend before our son and first child was born my husband and I went to see a movie and had dinner together. Not that exciting, right? Wrong. We still remember the movie we saw and talk about it fondly from time to time. And we have always been grateful that we took the time to acknowledge our relationship before starting this exciting journey as parents together.

2. Get your hair done and a mani pedi

This is pretty self-explanatory and I don’t mean to go negative but… You won’t have as much time for self-care after the baby arrives. It will be some time before you have the opportunity to go out. That’s why taking care of yourself is one of the most important things to do before baby arrives. Getting a mani pedi hand in hand with getting your hair done. See what I did there? 😉 You will feel so good with your hands and feet taken care of. Special bonus? They say that foot massages can induce labor so if you’re really wanting that baby to arrive it could be a great 39 or 40 week treat.

3. Get an acupuncture treatment

Acupuncture can assist in digestion and easing discomfort during pregnancy. It also can reduce stress and anxiety. Sounds like a great thing to do when you’re expecting, right?

My friend Emily Guevara of The Acupuncture Juncture here in Dallas, is an amazing acupuncturist. She is well known around Dallas as providing excellent care. You can read more about her here: Fertility Acupuncture in Dallas.

4. Fill your freezer

I hated nothing more than cooking after my babies arrived. And life is a bit more hectic than you would suppose. Having access to good healthy food at all times is a big plus. Cooking in advance and stockpiling a freezer stash of foods was a big sanity saver for me.

5. Hang out with friends

Make sure you and your spouse both take time to spend with friends. This is important for both of you. It falls in the column of self-care to make sure you have time to connect with your friends without the worry of leaving baby at home.

6. Get Adjusted

You read that right. You might want to consider chiropractic care during your pregnancy. It can help address issues that cause discomfort and it could prove to assist you in having an easier labor. My friend Erin Calaway over at Apex Wellness is a Webster Certified chiropractor. She provides amazing care to all of her patients. Read more about her here – Chiropractic Care in Pregnancy.

7. Sleep

Pretty self-explanatory as well. It is difficult to sleep in the last trimester. I had horrible insomnia and reflux with all of my pregnancies. That made it really hard to sleep especially near the end. But I tried my best to get in extra sleep where I could because I knew how much I would miss it once the baby came. Like all seasons in life the sleep deprivation eventually passes. But it is one of the less fun things about having a sweet baby around. If you have troubles sleeping after baby arrives call my friend Mary Cantwell of Rest To Your Nest. She is featured on my blog here – her service is amazing and will help you get some z’s.

8. Babymoon

Having a babymoon goes right along with taking time for a date night. But it goes one step further. Why not take a short vacation with your spouse. Could be you won’t go away alone together for a long time. Even a romantic weekend at a bed and breakfast would be a nice idea.

9. Read a good book

I don’t know about you but I love to read! However, this passion has taken a significant back seat to my kids. I definitely remember the last few books I read before my kiddos arrived. It’s hard to feed baby and read a book in the other. Although, you might try Audible as a great alternative to reading an actual book after baby arrives.

10. Go out to the movies

I love going out to the movies. So I definitely recommend doing this ahead of baby’s arrival. You won’t have as many opportunities to go to a movie theater afterward.

11. Have a phenomenal maternity photography session

What kind of maternity and newborn photographer would I be if I didn’t recommend scheduling a custom maternity photography session? When you schedule a portrait session with a photographer like me it is an incredible experience. You get hair and makeup, you get to select gowns from my studio wardrobe to wear, and you also get to help design your custom portrait session. Afterward, you get to keep your portraits in the form of beautiful keepsake artwork. You get to feel like a queen for the day and you will never forget the experience because you get to enjoy your artwork forever.

12. Schedule newborn pictures

While scheduling maternity portraits it’s a great time to schedule newborn portraits as well. Newborn photography is best done when baby is 7-14 days old – for a variety of reasons. This is why it’s important to schedule it ahead of time. What’s more, if you’re working with me you get to choose from packages that take you from maternity through newborn and tell the whole story of baby’s arrival.

Thank you for reading!

Thank you for reading about what to do before baby arrives. I hope you’ll comment below and tell me what you did or suggest to do before baby arrives!

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