Baby Planning Schedule

After finding out we were pregnant, both Joe and I felt like there was so much to do. At the same time, we didn’t really know what those things were. After reading and some research we made a plan and set some due dates for ourselves. We wanted this time during pregnancy to feel enjoyable, not overwhelming. We made a plan to space out the major tasks that we were anticipating.

I love stationary so I started with a cute target calendar,

I used different colors each trimester when I wrote in how many weeks pregnant so that I knew where the Trimesters started and ended. I also wrote down how many months.

• We already scheduled and OB appointment, so I penciled that in for week 8 .
• We wanted to have an updated predicted budget by 6 weeks.
• Joe and I discussed when we wanted to tell
  • Our family – We decided to wait until 9 weeks to tell family (however we ended up waiting until week 13)
  • Friends – 13 weeks to post on social media.
  • Work – At 16 weeks is when I told my work.
• The Nursery
  • The room location picked out by the start of the second trimester around 14 weeks.
  • All the major items like a crib, car seat, changing dresser, and rocker purchased and in our house by 26 weeks.
  • The decorations/ room set up and baby items washed and put away by 35 weeks.
• Health
  • Look into insurance by 8 weeks
  • Look into HR maternity policies 10 weeks
  • Sign up for birth prep courses around week 14
  • Find a pediatrician by 16 weeks
  • Pre-register for delivery by 20 weeks
  • Hospital tour by week 24
  • Finalize a birth plan by week 28
  • Contact HR for FMLA by 32 weeks
• Baby
  • Decide what childcare options we should look into by week 7, after the budget.
  • Research and set up Daycare tours by week 8.
    • Sign up and put down a deposit for childcare waitlist by week 10.
  • Theorize and discuss what roles each Joe and I would take on caring of baby 28 weeks
  • Brainstorm names and come up with at least 2 for each gender that Joe and I agree on. The goal was 30 weeks, but we had decided much earlier.
  • Research, understand, and talk about infant sleep and feeding methods by 32 weeks.
  • Decide if I am going back to work after maternity leave by week 35 so I could handoff appropriately.
  • Install car seat by weeks 37
• Other shopping
  • Get clothes that will fit a growing belly by week 18. I didn’t want to be in the situation where I had nothing to wear because I put off shopping until my clothes were too small.
  • Have hospital bag/supplies ready to go by week 35.
  • Meal prep by week 38.

This is a timeline established by Joe and I to feel like we were spacing things out. A game plan gives me freedom of mind so that I can enjoy each moment knowing there will be a time and a place for the other items later. Did you make/ follow a task list? Maybe you didn’t even premediate some of these things.  What worked well for you?