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I'm always looking for easy ways to eat healthy for a busy lifestyle and love a good snack - who doesn't! Especially at the beginning of pregnancy you're going to be starving... and snacking is KEY (I'm serious people -- I went from being an intermittent faster never eating breakfast to having snacks stashed in my car, purse, desk, by my bed, etc..). But how do you balance eating enough to avoid nausea with being somewhat healthy? After all, the first trimester is when your baby's brain and body is developing most! Not to mention you're tired and want something easy with minimal prep. I've done the research for you! Check out the list below for some of my favorite snack items for pregnancy, breastfeeding, and everyday snack staples for anyone! I've broken this out into section categories: First Trimester / Nausea Breastfeeding General Healthy Snacks / Groceries Healthy Drinks / Protein Shakes & Soda Alternatives PRO TIP: If you're registered through Amazon, you can actually add all of these items to your baby registry and mark as "private". This means it will not show up publicly for others to see on your registry, just you. As your due dates gets closer, you can go in to your registry and add all these snacks to your cart from your registry to get the completion discount! First Trimester / Nausea: The items listed in this section are more targeted towards nausea. My diet during this time consisted of mostly KaChava Smoothies, oatmeal, PB toast, fresh fruit, veggies with hummus, chicken noodle or potato soup, saltine crackers, grilled cheese sandwiches and many of the snacks listed in the general snack section below. Prenatal Vitamins 0 cal I know this isn't technically a "snack", but having all the right vitamins and minerals helps cut down on unhealthy food cravings. Of course, take whatever vitamins you are most comfortable with, but I am a HUGE fan of the Pink Stork brand (no I don't get paid by them)....They just have really great products. I use a plethora of their products and took their Premium Prenatal Vitamins throughout pregnancy. This option has ALL the vitamins as well as a built-in "Morning Sickness & Digestive Blend", "Nourishing Baby Blend", and a "Digestive Gut Health" blend. I did not have any morning sickness, which I cannot for sure say was a direct result of using these...but worth trying. You can order a lot of their products on Amazon, but I recommend signing up for the subscription to save money. You can also try their Total Prenatal w/ DHA vitamins (I bought those and occasionally swapped those out with the Premium). Check out all the Pink Stork Pregnancy Products & Bundles here! Tummy Drops 10 cal / 0g protein / 0g fat / 2g sugar gluten free / organic / kosher / non-GMO I made sure I always had these on hand in my purse throughout pregnancy and even brought them to the hospital with me during labor (since they don't let you eat). Mommee Coffee 10 cal / 0g protein / 0g fat / 0g sugar organic / fair trade I personally didn't shy away from coffee or caffeine during pregnancy after reading Emily Oster's Expecting Better, but I did get this to try it out. They have different options between full caff / low acid all the way to no caff/ low acid. Pink Stork Morning Sickness Tea & Sweets Sweets: 50 cal / 0g protein / 0g fat / 3g sugar / Vitamin B6 Tea: 0 cal / 0g protein / 0g fat / 2g sugar BreastFeeding: With a newborn, you'll want something easy to grab and eat one-handed. Majka No Bake Lactation Cookie Bites 150 cal / 3g protein / 8g fat / 5g sugar Vegan / Gluten free / non-GMO / Soy free Milk to the Max Boobie Bars 230 cal / 5g protein / 12g fat / 11g sugar Organic / Vegan / Gluten free / Dairy Free/ Kosher / Soy free / Fenugreek Free Munchkin Milkmasters Lactation Sampler Pinkstork Postpartum Uplift Tea 0 cal Pinkstork Postpartum Recovery Tea 0 cal General Healthy Snacks / Groceries: Bada Bean Bada Boom Plant Based Protein Crunchies 100 cal / 7g protein / 3g fat / 0 sugar gluten free / vegan / high fiber / non-GMO / nut free / soy free / kosher Popcorn Two brands I like are Skinnygirl and SkinnyPop. Purely Elizabeth Oatmeal 240 cal / 9g protein / 7g fat / 2g sugar Vegan / Gluten free / non-GMO I buy their Oat cups for taking to work and the larger pouches to keep at home. Some of their products have more sugar than others, but I've found the Collagen Protein Oats and Superfood Oats to be pretty low sugar options. Alyssa's Healthy Bites 90 cal / 4g protein / 3g fat / 2g sugar Vegan / Gluten free / non-GMO / High Fiber She has Oatmeal bites, Vegan bites and even chocolate bites! Raw Superfood Trail Mix 143 cal / 4g protein / 9g fat / 7g sugar All Natural / Vegan / Non-GMO / No Salt/Sugar Added Usually I'd say to be careful of trail mixes and nuts since they're very calorie dense, but these can be great on top of oatmeal, yogurt or as a small snack. During pregnancy, calories don't count and these are really great for baby brain development with all the healthy fats! Blue Diamond 100 calorie On The Go Packs 100 cal / 4g protein / 9g fat / 1g sugar Vegan / Gluten free / Low Sodium Primal Classic Beef Sticks 90 cal / 8g protein / 6g fat / 0g sugar Gluten Free / Whole 30 / Low Carb / Paleo / Keto / Sugar Free My husband goes through these so quick, they are super high protein and low carb. High Protein, Low Sugar Yogurt Oikos: 100 cal / 15g protein / 0g fat / 5g sugar Gluten free / non-GMO / No Added Sugar Two Good: 80 cal / 12g protein / 2g fat / 2g sugar Gluten free / non-GMO / No Added Sugar I have always loved yogurt, but it's traditionally been hard to find a good low sugar one. There are two brands that have come out with higher protein, low sugar options: Oikos PRO and Two Good. I've tried most of the flavors for both brands and they're delish! You can probably get both of these at your local grocery or on Amazon Fresh. Wildway Grain Free Granola 140-150cal / 3-4g protein / 10-13g fat / 5-8g sugar Vegan / Gluten free / non-GMO / No Artificial Sweetener Justin's Peanut Butter Packets 210 cal / 7g protein / 18g fat / 2g sugar Vegan / Gluten free / non-GMO Easy for squirting on apple slices, Dave's Killer Bread or just eating straight up. Parm Crisps 160 cal / 13g protein / 7g fat / 0g sugar Gluten free / Keto / Low Carb / High Protein / Sugar Free These are great options for a more savory grab n' go snack...You can also make something similar and cheaper yourself at home just by baking cheese on a cookie sheet. All Natural Paleo & Gluten Free Power Balls 90 cal / 4g protein / 6g fat / 5g sugar Gluten free / Dairy Free / Grain Free / Soy Free / Paleo & AIP Tasty Bite Madras Lentils 290 cal / 11g protein / 11g fat / 8g sugar Vegetarian / Gluten free / non-GMO / Organic These are a long-term staple in our house because they're so easy and healthy...Not to mention they're high in folate which is great for baby development! They sell these at most grocery stores and Costco as well. I also sometimes dip RW Garcia crackers in this or crumble on top. Idahoan Instant Mashed Potatoes 170 cal / 3g protein / 4.5g fat / 2g sugar Gluten Free Okay, okay, I know this one isn't so healthy, but man is it comforting and easy! Anyone who knows me, knows I'm a fan of instant mashed potatoes -- I call it a "savory smoothie" for when you want something hearty and filling, but don't actually feel like eating. I keep a bin of these and the packets in our pantry at all times. Also something you can probably pick up at your local grocery. Three Wishes Cereal Honey: 120 cal / 8g protein / 2g fat / 3g sugar Vegan / Gluten free / non-GMO / High Fiber / Dairy Free / Grain Free This is the healthiest, bets tasting cereal I've been able to find that actually tastes good. I love the honey and strawberry flavors, but they also have an unsweetened, cinnamon, and fruit loop flavor versions depending on how much you want to cut down on the sugar. I get this at Sprouts Market. Pair with FairLife 2% Ultra filtered DHA / Omega 3 milk for extra protein and less sugar. Bobo's Oat Bars 170 cal / 3g protein / 6g fat / 9g sugar Vegan / Gluten free / non-GMO / High Fiber / Dairy Free / Kosher RW Garcia Crackers (with Hummus) 130 cal / 2g protein / 7g fat / 1g sugar Gluten free / non-GMO They have multiple flavors, but the Sweet Beet and Lentil Tumeric are my two favorites. Bare Snack Packs 140-230 cal / 2g protein / 0g fat / 12-23g sugar Gluten free / non-GMO / Dairy Free / All Natural Healthy Drinks / Protein Shakes & Soda Alternatives KaChava Protein Powder 240 cal / 25g protein / 7g fat / 6g sugar Plant Based Protein, Adaptogens / Antioxidants / Superfruits / Omega Fibers / Supergreen Blend / Vitamins / Minerals / Probiotics Vegan / Dairy Free / Gluten Free / Soy Free / No Preservatives or Artificial Sweeteners This is also a staple in our house. Prior to discovering this, my husband used to joke that there was $h!t growing out of my smoothies with all the different bags of stuff I was adding (chia, hemp, maca, etc.. Thank the lord that a company FINALLY made a low cal protein powder that is also jam-packed with all the superfoods you can think of! Did I mention it tastes great!? Kevita Sparkling Probiotic Lemon Cayenne 10 cal / 0g protein / 0g fat / 1g sugar Gluten free / non-GMO / Dairy Free / Caffeine Free / Organic Body Armor Lyte Potassium Electrolyte Drinks You can order on Amazon or get at local grocery store near Gatorade. I love the coconut flavor. Koia Ready to Drink Protein Shakes 190 cal / 18g protein / 7g fat / 4g sugar Vegan / Gluten free / non-GMO / Dairy Free / Kosher / Soy Free / Plant Based OLIPOP 35 - 45 cal / 0g protein / 0g fat / 2 -5g sugar Vegan / Gluten free / non-GMO / Paleo / Keto / No Artificial Sweeteners / Probiotics While I mostly stick with my HEB or La Croix sparkling water, these can be fun to mix it up. I would still limit the intake of these because the calories and sugar can add up, but they are great alternatives if you're still drinking normal sodas. Each pop is under 50 calories, non-GMO, vegan, gluten-free, Paleo, & Keto-friendly—no artificial sweeteners, colors, flavors, preservatives, or ingredients. I find them at my local Sprouts.

Month 1 / When you find out Tell Your Partner (If you haven't already) Decide with you Partner who you will tell and when Research what your Insurance Covers Make an appointment at your OBGYN - Depending on when you figure out you're pregnant, you'll need to make an appointment around 7 - 9 weeks to confirm pregnancy. This is super exciting time -- expect to hear the heartbeat! If you want your partner there for this, make sure to coordinate the appointment time with them! Get a quality prenatal vitamin - I recommend Pink Stork's Premium Prenatal found here because of the additional Morning Sickness Blend and Nourishing Baby Blend added in. Many insurance plans cover folate supplements and/or prenatal vitamins during pregnancy, so be sure to check your insurance benefits so you don't have to pay for these out of pocket! Research Daycare / Childcare Options - Depending on where you live and the demand, you might need to get on this ASAP to secure a spot for your baby. Download a Pregnancy Tracker - or two! - I loved the What to Expect App the best, but also loved reading The Bump. These were great at letting you know in digestible bits week by week what to expect in terms of symptoms, doctors appointments and more. Make it a habit to read through the weekly pages and related articles every few nights and you will feel very prepared. Stock up on Snacks & Adjust Diet - The first three months of pregnancy are when the building blocks of your baby's brain and body are developing as well as the placenta...So you better believe you're going to be hungry, your body is building a human AND an organ! Seriously, you should keep snacks in your car, purse, at work and next to your nightstand. Even though your tired and maybe don't feel great, you need to be sure you're eating super healthy. Check out this list of great snack options. I drank a green smoothie made with KaChava almost everyday to make sure I was getting enough nutrients and vitamins. Buy Expecting Better by Emily Oster (and start reading ASAP) - If you read one book, make it this one! My close friend got this for me at the beginning and it helped shaped how I approached pregnancy. Just like the description says, it's Freakonomics meets What to Expect When You're Expecting....Here's a link to the book. I also recommend her other books: Cribsheet and Family Firm later on. Month 2 Start Purging / Cleaning out your Home - I hate clutter and messiness so the thought of all the baby stuff we'd be acquiring over the next few months (and years) was overwhelming to say the least. My husband and I usually clean out stuff pretty regularly, but having a baby sent us into a purging frenzy. We literally touched every item throughout our entire house/ garage to minimize the "stuff" we had and get everything PERFECTLY organized. If you need some motivation and good laugh on why you should do this, check out this 5min video from comedian George Carlin. I promise you will feel so much better and ready for baby to have your home in order. Start a Researching Baby Products & Building a Registry - My same friend that recommended the Expecting Better book, also recommend the site Lucie's List to me for researching which products I should register for as well as great resources on pregnancy and beyond. I must say, the "Gear Guides" on this site are the best I've found. I started at the top and went through each one, bumping them up against Amazon product reviews and some general Google searches to determine which items I would register for. For my registry, I selected Amazon because who DOESN'T have Amazon these days? It makes it so convenient for people shopping your registry, returns/exchanges are so simple, it auto tracks your gifts and thank you notes and has a 15% completion discount! Additionally, Amazon gives you the ability to mark items as "private" so others can't see them on your public facing registry. I added things like post-partum essentials, books, pregnancy/breastfeeding snacks and more to my registry as private (things that would be weird for others to buy me)...Then, you can add all these things to your cart near the end of your pregnancy and get a huge discount! Once you announce your pregnancy, you might also be surprised how many people offer to let you borrow things...ask around! Baby stuff is expensive and it's very common for friends/family to share thins back and forth! Find a good prenatal workout routine / gym - Staying active and fit has been shown to have numerous benefits during pregnancy and for the labor process. If you already workout regularly, great! If you don't workout, you probably shouldn't start anything too intense, but DO need to at least start walking or something. Either way, you should check with your doctor for your personal situation. I kept up with my normal cardio and weight training routine and added in some prenatal yoga, Pilates and barre. Plan your Baby Budget - Start figuring out how much you'll need to prepare for baby, medical costs, childcare, going on a baby moon and more. Other Medical Procedures You Can Do - Since you will most likely meet your deductible during the year with all the doctors appointments, labor/delivery costs and hospital bills, you should look into any other medical procedures you want. For example, I went to the chiropractor every other week to make sure things were aligned which really helped me stay comfortable during pregnancy and reduce any long-term issues. Other things you can do depending on your insurance: Dental cleanings (oral health is very important for pregnant women), dermatologist, ENT, etc... Start Stretch Mark Prevention - Might as well start moisturizing and prepping your skin to stretch in the coming months! Drinking water will be important, but using skincare products is also necessary. Your postpartum body will thank you! I was constantly using body scrub to exfoliate and slathering on Bio Oil and Palmer's Cocoa Butter. I even got pretty liberal with using some of my expensive face creams and oils such as Josie Maran Argan Oil, and Sunday Riley's CEO Glow on my abdomen/thigh area. Get Pregnancy friendly Medicines - Speaking of heartburn, pregnancy might bring on some aches and pains and you'll want to make sure you have pregnancy friendly medication on hand. Luckily I didn't need much, but I definitely went through a lot of TUMS during months 4 - 7. Month 3 Start a Family Calendar - Prior to being pregnant, my husband and I just kept our own separate calendars and told each other about events...When I got pregnant, I figured it was time to setup a shared Google Family Calendar. This way we could easily access everything happening from doctors appointments, travel and all the future scheduling complexities that come with having kids. Bonus points for setting up a "Family Command Center". Schedule Nuchal Translucency Scan (11 - 13 weeks) - This test checks for certain birth defects such as Down Syndrome, trisomy 18, trisomy 13, heart problems and several other abnormalities. The test involves both a blood test and an ultrasound that measures the the back of baby's neck. The combined results give you a sense of the baby's risk although is not a 100% diagnosis either way. Getting this test is optional and knowing of this possible risk could help you plan and get increased monitoring throughout your pregnancy. Decide & Schedule Carrier Screenings and/or Genetic Testing (~12 weeks) - If you're going to do this also, it makes sense to schedule for the same visit as your Nuchal Translucency Appointment. Unless you're high risk, this will likely not be covered by your insurance, so expect to pay out of pocket upwards of $1,000. This is a much more robust genetic testing panel that test the mom to see if she's a carrier for certain defects as well as early gender detection. If the mom tests positive, then the dad could be tested. I recommend talking to your doctor about all the options here. We did all of this just for peace of mind and were able to do it without finding out the gender (since we were crazy and waited until the birth to find that out). Maternity Clothes - Time to start thinking about budget and what you will do for maternity clothes. I practically lived in maxi dresses and leggings. Check with friends for hand me downs to save money -- I had a friend give me two storage tubs of pregnancy clothes she called the Sisterhood of Traveling Maternity Clothes. I also decided that being pregnant was uncomfortable enough and that I'd treat myself during this time. So I subscribed to Rent The Runway's monthly membership program. This allowed me to get several items per month for work and events that I could weave in to the other items I had. It was honestly so worth it and added some fun to dressing during pregnancy! Check it out here and get 30% off your first month! Order a Maternity Pillow - I never used extra pillows before pregnancy, but man was this a lifesaver for a growing belly. I got this one and put my normal pillow on top which worked great. Next time around, I think I'll also get a wedge to be able to list on my back/sit more comfortably - especially once heartburn starts to strike later on in pregnancy. Plan Baby Moon (or two) - Before you get to too far into your 2nd trimester, be sure to get a few last trips with your partner planned since you shouldn't really travel past the start of your 3rd trimester. Month 4 Schedule your 20 week Anatomy Scan - For many ladies, this is the last ultrasound you'll have unless you want to pay for an additional one out of pocket or you have issues that need additional monitoring. Again, be sure to schedule for a time when your partner can be there -- this was one of the best parts of the whole pregnancy process to see your baby's growth and watch them moving around! Don't be shy - ask the Ultrasound tech for photos / videos! Schedule the rest of your OBGYN appointments (especially if you work) - Whether you are having a normal pregnancy or are considered high risk, your doctor's likely provided you a schedule / timeline of all the appointments you'll need through the remainder of your pregnancy. Make all your appointments ahead of time so you can be sure to get days/times that are most convenient for your schedule (and perhaps same day of week / time so it's easy to keep track of...The further along you get, you'll be going more frequently, potentially multiple times a week. I made all mine early and got the last slot on Tuesdays so that I could minimize the impact to my work schedule. Oh and don't forget to add them to your new shared Family Google Calendar! Announce the News - Friends & Family - Figure out fun ways to tell your family, friends and everyone. Be sure you let them know the news is still under wraps if you don't want them posting on their social media accounts or texting other friends/family before you have a chance to tell them yourself. Work - Make sure you've brushed up on your company's maternity leave policy. Some choose to wait longer to tell their co-workers, but I chose as soon as possible to start planning. Obviously if you've announced on social media already, don't be surprised if work knows. Baby Shower (or sprinkle) Plans - Now that you've told people, time to start thinking through a baby shower date and plans. A good rule of thumb is to have your shower between weeks 30 - 36 to give yourself enough time to have everything ready before baby arrives. Of course you know your situation, so if you're expecting an early delivery or having twins you need to adjust accordingly! Maternity Photos - I opted not to do maternity photos, but if you are doing these, you'll want to book early and start planning! Many photographers offer packages / bundles that include sessions for maternity, newborn and 1st year photos. Month 5 Research Life Insurance Policies - Not one of the "fun" topics...and certainly something I hope no one ever has to use, but something you and your partner definitely need to discuss and decide on. I do know people that have been in this absolutely horrible situation both with and without life insurance and it has made a huge difference. Start Kick Counts (~ 18 - 22 weeks) - You should feel your baby move by 22 weeks and can start performing kick counts. If you're like me, I didn't feel anything for sure until the later part of this window because a) I didn't really know what I was looking for and b) I had an anterior placenta. Here is a great article on fetal movement and performing kick counts. Start Researching Birth Decisions to Create Birth Plan - I went into the "birth plan" concept pretty chill - my birth plan was more of a "go with the flow" plan...After all, doctors do this everyday and are the true experts. Still, some things you might be passionate about or that you'll want to talk about with your partner and decide on are: Do you want a home birth, birthing center or hospital birth (some of this will already be decided depending on your doctor and where they have privileges at this point). Who do you want in the room during delivery? Who do you want at the hospital during labor? Induction Preferences (rupturing membranes, Pitocin, etc...) Vaginal labor vs. C-section Do you want an amniotomy (forced rupture of membranes to break your water)? Pain Management Options / Medications (Natural, epidural, Demoral, etc...) Fetal Monitoring Do you want episiotomy (snip of skin to make opening bigger)? Do you want a mirror to watch the birth? Are you opposed to medical students performing or watching? Delayed cord cutting? Who cuts cord? Do you want the Golden Hour? This is pretty standard at most hospitals. Cord blood banking & stem cell preservation? Keep, donate or trash placenta? Circumcision? Who / when should the first bath be? Sugar Water allowed? Pacifier allowed? Lactation Consultant? Some other things that will happen and are required by most states are the antibiotic eye treatment, vitamin K injection, Hepatitis B Vaccine, Heel prick for health screening, hearing test, etc... Month 6 Get TDAP Vaccine (weeks 27 - 36) - You can usually walk in to any CVS or Walgreens and get this in about 30 minutes. It's covered by most insurance. Anyone who will be around the baby a lot should also get this vaccine if they haven't within the last 10 years. Educate Yourself - Between the hospital, pregnancy apps, Pinterest, blogs and internet in general these days, it is easy to get all the information you need. If you're in Houston like me, The Motherhood Center offers a huge variety of classes online and in person. Here are a few of the common courses and sites I used to prepare: Breastfeeding Milkology - I took this online class over two nights. It was okay for the price, but you can probably find most of this information for free just by reading blogs, Youtube videos, etc... The most important thing most of these classes emphasis is to remember is that even though breastfeeding is natural, it isn't easy at the beginning -- success comes from hanging in there the first few days/weeks. Birthing Mommy Labor Nurse's Birth It Up Course - I had done so much reading and already taken the Milkology course, so I opted to skip this and just do the free one my hospital / doctor provided since I figured that would be most accurate for what I could expect in my exact situation. Check your hospital website and/or OBGYN for courses offered. Baby CPR Red Cross Online Baby CPR & First Aid ($35) You may be able to find a local in person course as well. Newborn Care / Sleep Training Taking Cara Babies - She has a few courses on newborns, sleep training and more. Several parents I know raved about these courses and said they work wonders. We did the First Five Months bundle for $99. You can also decide to skip these for now unless you get desperate and instead try the reading her and others' blogs, follow her instagram and other free resources first such as this blog here. 2 year UPDATE: We followed Cara's advice as well as Ferberized Penelope and she has slept like a dream (knock on wood). I highly recommend doing exactly what Cara/Ferber say. Our son came 2yrs after Penelope and he was a bit more challenging, but we stayed consistent and got him sleeping on a good schedule. They began sharing a room at ages 2.5 and 7 months respectively. Month 7 Tour Hospital - Most hospitals give tours (even virtually in the time of COVID). I definitely recommend this for peace of mind on where to go, what to expect and more. Complete Hospital Pre-Registration - You're not going to want to fill out a bunch of forms when you're in the throws of labor and show up at the hospital. Save yourself the frustration and pre-register. Order Breast Pump - If you plan on breastfeeding, most insurance plans cover a breast pump and even lactation consultants. I used this site was super easy to add your insurance information, see which pumps qualify under your insurance and then order (for free)! You can even choose to upgrade and just pay the difference. I went with the Medela Sonata to start and figured I'd also get the Elvie if breastfeeding was going well. UPDATE: I did not use the Elvie with my second baby at all and ended up producing way more milk...Not sure if the Elvie's suction is great for encouraging production, but needless to say, I didn't miss not using it. The Medela Sonata was my all-time favorite between the three pumps I had. Download a contraction timer app Finalize Birth Plan / Decisions - Also be sure to talk through this with your partner since you'll be distracted during birth. If your partner knows your wishes, it will be easier for them to make sure things are progressing how you'd like. You can also type this up, print and keep in a folder in your hospital bag with other important documents. Research & Pick Pediatrician - If you're in Houston, we go to Blue Fish Pediatrics and LOVE it. They have a ton of offices everywhere, are friendly and knowledgeable and kids love it. Find New Mom Groups - If you think you'll be bored and want to go on walks or have something to do, find a group in your area! Deep Clean House Start drinking Labor Prep tea and eating dates - This is supposed to help shorten your labor. Pink Stork's stuff is my favorite, but you can find lots of options on Amazon. Month 8 Pack Hospital Bag - Here's a guide on what to pack. Wash / Sanitize Baby Stuff - You don't necessarily want to take the tags off and wash everything since you never know what might be too big/small or what you might have too much of. Just make sure you have a good amount of the basics to get you started washed and ready for when you get home: onesies, blankets, bassinet sheets, swaddles, burb clothes, pacifier, breast pump, etc...You're going to be doing a lot of laundry anyways, so you can easily wash new things as you need them. Same concept for diapers, you don't want to unpack a bunch of diapers and then your baby is already outgrown them and you can't return. Personally, I recommend keeping everything packaged except the things you KNOW you need at the beginning. Finalize Nursery Prep a Diaper / Nursing Caddy / Post Partum Caddy (on each floor) - I ordered this cart from Amazon and used the top tier for diaper changing supplies, middle tier for pumping and the bottom tier for post-partum supplies on the first floor of our house. For the second floor where our master and nursery were located, I just kept the diaper / pumping stuff in the nursery and had a post-partum caddy in each bathroom. The wheels made it easy to roll around to wherever I was in our living room / kitchen and have everything I need. Here's what I kept in each section (most of this are the things I had added to my registry as "private"): Diaper Changing - changing mat, diapers, wipes, diaper cream, hand sanitizer, a toy for distraction, burp clothes, extra onesies. Nursing - Water Bottle, Medela pump, hand pump, Lasinoh starter kit w/ balms and covers, Kiinde pump bags (I highly recommend the Kiinde system found here). Post-Partum - diapers, padsicles, tucks/ witch hazel, peri bottle, sitz bath spray, chapstick, arnica. The Fridamom kit was amazing! Install Carseats - According to safety standards, the safest place to put your car seat is in the center of your backseat (to increase buffer space). The second safest is behind the driver side (since you're natural instinct is to protect that side of the vehicle). There are usually tons of free services/organizations that offer to make sure car seats are installed properly - do a quick Google search to find some in your area! Get husband / sibling gifts (optional) - I got my husband a gift for becoming a father and wrote him a letter ahead of time to give him at the hospital. You could also do the same for any siblings if you want them to have a special "Big Brother/Sister" shirt or something. Alternately, you might have the siblings pick out a special something to give their new baby sibling. Arrange Newborn Photos - If you're in Houston, we went to Sarah Borchgrevink. Check Hospital Visitor Policy and Decide Communication Plan - I gave birth during the time of COVID, so my husband was the only person allowed; but many hospitals have visitor hours, limits on number of visitors, age limits, etc.. Be sure to check your hospital's rules and talk with your partner about how you'd like this time to be. Some choose to keep it intimate with just the immediate family, others want all sorts of visitors. Depending on what you choose, you'll also need to come up with a communication plan for how often you will provide updates and to who. Finish Thank You Notes - Writing thank you notes from your shower / pregnancy is the LAST thing you'll want to do post baby. Try to stay on top of these as you go if you can, but either way, definitely have them done and mailed out before you go into labor. Finalize Plan for Pets / Siblings During Birth Start Tying Up Loose Ends at Work Send formal email to communicate the plan and alternate project owners to teams / clients for while your out. Create your Out of Office Message. Submit any required HR paperwork for maternity leave. Change owner of any recurring meetings so team can adjust while you're out. Month 9 Plan a Last Date Night Finalize Plans for Coming Home from Hospital - Align with your partner and/or anyone who will be helping you on what you need them to do for meals, laundry, etc... Don't be afraid to delegate! Set Visitor Expectations - You don't want it to be a mad dash or hectic when you come home. You're going to be getting tons of visitor requests, etc.. Make sure you and your partner have discussed how you would like your first few days and weeks at home to look -- then make sure you communicate that to family. Don't be afraid to be upfront with visitors and time box them (i.e. specify they can come over from 3-4pm because you have to feed baby and it's easier without guests). Doing so upfront is way easier than being stuck and uncomfortable asking someone who is outstaying their welcome. Make Freezer Meals - We made a ton of food and put in our garage freezer which was a life saver whether you use them in the early days or months later when you return to work and cooking dinner is the last thing you want to do. Don't forget to have some easy breakfast & lunch items on hand too! Meal Train Setup - If you've never heard of meal trains, it's an amazing thing to setup for a family whenever there is a births, surgeries, deaths or any situation where a family might need support and cooking is the last thing they should worry about. Usually a friend creates one for you and you send out the link for friends and family to signup for a certain day they will provide a meal... Check it out here. Download a Diaper App - We used a lot of Pampers, so I downloaded the Pampers app where you can scan the box and earn rewards like more free diapers! Download a Baby Tracker App - I used Huckleberry and loved it for both children. It made it so easy to track. I especially loved using it for my second, because I was able to reference detailed info from Penelope to see if I was on track. Arrange for Cleaning Service While at Hospital - Whether you have a regular cleaning service or not, this can be a wonderful nice-to-have. Although you've hopefully deep cleaned your home and have everything in order, a nice touch up while you're at the hospital can make coming home so much easier those first few days. Stay on Top of Laundry - Again, stay on top of this...You don't wanna come home to a ton of already dirty laundry. Stock up on Household essentials - When you get home from the hospital, you are not going to want to worry about running out of toilet paper, pet food or other essentials. Here's a few ideas of things you'll want to have stocked: Laundry detergent Baby laundry detergent Dish detergent Paper towels Toilet Paper Shower Supplies / Toiletries Toothpaste Trash Bags Ziplock Bags Pet Food Children's / Baby medication Post Partum Vitamins Coffee Perhaps a few non-perishable snack / food items and kitchen staples (not too much since you might be getting a lot of food delivered)

As a "preparer", what to pack for the hospital was one of the most intimidating parts of becoming a mom. As one of the most life changing and potentially stressful times, you don't want to wish you had something you need...but you also don't want to be a pack rat lugging multiple suitcases around the hospital. I scoured the internet and popular mom blogs to create the most comprehensive list below. In an effort to help you not overpack, I separate out the list below to include the must-haves and call out separate sections for additional items certain moms might want above and beyond. Before diving in: You can likely pre-register at your delivery hospital to make the check-in process easier when you arrive - Talk to your doctor and / or visit your hospital's website to learn more. Either way, be prepared to sign a bajilion papers while in the middle of contractions -- if that's not signing under duress then I don't know what is. If you have a vaginal delivery, you might only spend 1-2 nights at the hospital...Up to a week if you have a c-Section... Be sure you pack in a bag with wheels that's easy to roll around. Your husband will likely be the baggage handler and will thank you later. You're likely not too far from home and your husband or family members can bring you things if you really you need them. So air on the side of packing light. If you really feel like you need to, you can even pack a "backup" bag with all the things you're not sure you'll need and leave it by the door so that friends/family can easily grab this pre-packed bag and bring it should you need. You might need to also pack a bag for your pet(s) and other children if they will be staying with others while you're in the hospital. Make sure you have arrangements for that. Most hospitals will not allow you to leave without a properly installed infant car seat - Be sure that is done a few weeks before your delivery date. The ride home can also be uncomfortable for mom, so you might want to make sure a donut pillow or something soft to sit on is ready for your ride home. I didn't use one, but you know yourself best. COMING SOON - PRINTABLE HOSPITAL BAG CHECKLIST For Mom The Basics Driver's License Insurance Card Birth Plan (if you have one...I just let the docs do what they do best) Cell Phone Charger (a looong one) HSA / FSA Credit Card - If you have a special medical credit card linked to your HSA or FSA account, be sure to bring this to pay for any bills or covered items at the hospital. Labor & Delivery / Insurance information for pre-payments meeting deductible. - This was one of the most confusing areas for me as a first time mom. The medical costs with having a baby involves charges from your doctor for prenatal care plus the labor and delivery fees, you'll be charged from the hospital and accumulate all sorts of charges from third parties involved in blood tests, ultrasounds, and genetic testing. Knowing that we'd meet our annual deductible with all these medical costs, I splurged on other medical things I wanted to do (chiropractor, dermatologist, etc...). However, since your doctor and the hospital can't actually file until the birth, you might end up being OVER paid on your deductible by the time this happens. Don't expect your insurance to reimburse you for this. You will actually need to have the doctor and hospital contact your insurance company to confirm deductible and then get reimbursed directly from those providers themselves. Instead of pre-paying and dealing with this reimbursement headache later, my hospital allowed me to provide documentation and skip the prepayment so that they would just be fully paid by my insurance. Clothing I used the hospital gowns throughout labor and the first night post partum. The next day I basically lived in the diapers and my robe or this gown without any bra since there's constant nursing happening. Comfy Night Gown(s) ..If you're having a vaginal delivery, you'll probably go home in 2 days. If have a c-section, expect a bit longer and will need more. Robe Socks / Slippers - I opted for socks that have grips on the bottom. Going Home Outfit - You'll probably still be wearing a large diaper, so I opted for a comfy dress, but also have friends that wore leggings and a long tunic. (optional) Nursing Bras (~2-3) Toiletries Toothbrush / Toothpaste Chapstick Deodorant Hair Brush Hair Ties Optional / Personal Preference (aka you might not care): Lotion / Body Moisturizer Shampoo, Dry Shampoo, Conditioner Body Wash & Loofah Shower Sandals Essential Oils Razor Face Wash Face Serums / Creams Makeup (Your face will be swollen and you probably won't care so I'd skip this if you can). Personal Diapers - Your hospital will provide you with post-partum underwear, but the ones provided are one size fits all so they can sometimes be loose depending on your size... I brought my own diapers I had gotten off Amazon and they were much more comfortable / stayed put. Post Partum Specialty Items (Arnica, vitamins, etc...) Some Extras You Might Consider: Pillow - Actually a MUST HAVE in my opinion. If you don't mind sleeping on flat / uncomfy pillows, than skip this...If you want to be comfortable during this process, then bring your pillow from home -- however you might consider putting a pillowcase that you don't care about on it in case it gets some blood on it. Portable fan - My close friend Kristine recommended this as the postpartum night sweats hit. You probably have one for the stroller anyway, so throw that in the bag. Thank you notes for nurses & delivery team Letter / Gift for Significant Other or Siblings Baby Book - If you have a baby book that has a spot for footprints and handprints, be sure to bring the book or the page (just make sure it's packed in a way that doesn't bend/crumple it. Kindle / Book Water Bottle - Most hospitals provide you with a big cup as part of their patient care, but if you're picky, you might consider bringing your own. You can also confirm during your hospital tour. I actually loved the one that the hospital provided - less to pack! Snacks - You might not feel like going to vending machine or be able to get food, so bring a few snacks for yourself and your husband! See my post HERE on healthy snack options for pregnancy and beyond! Cash / Coins - Most vending machines these days accept credit cards, but good to have just in case. Portable Speaker - While I can say this was definitely not something I personally thought was necessary, I'm including in an effort to truly have a comprehensive list of items since I know many ladies like to have their own labor playlist. Decide for yourself! Laptop & Charger - Also not something I would really worry about since most things can be done from your phone these days. Also, my husband was bringing his laptop that I could always use if truly necessary. Eye Mask Headphones For Baby First, the hospital will have everything you need, so most of these things are all "above and beyond". You could easily bring nothing and be fine. Keep in mind your baby will be taken in and out of the room for tests and other procedures so you might lose some pieces. Outfit for Going Home Some Extras You Might Consider: 1-3 onesies - Depending on if you're having a vaginal delivery or C-section, you wont be in the hospital long. They provide clothes for baby so you really don't have to bring anything, but if you are particular about what baby wears the first few days, then bring your own outfits! Boppy / Breastfeeding pillow - While this was a staple in the early days, the hospital bed had so many pillows and Penelope was less than 7lbs so we got by leaving this at home. Mittens, beanie hat, socks Sound Machine Specialty Swaddles Pacifiers - The hospital has some, but they were huge...I wish I would've had some of my nanobebe ones. Blanket / Outfit / Accessories for photos in hospital For Dad 1 - 3 Daytime Outfits - Up to your husband on how fancy he wants to be with his daytime outfits. Sleepwear / Loungewear - Most guys sleep in boxers/briefs, but nurses and staff will be in and out of the room all throughout the night; so make sure your husband is dressed in a way that's comfortable for company! Slippers Kindle / Book(s) Dopp Kit / Toiletries - If you live close to your hospital, your husband might rather go home to freshen up than in the hospital bathroom. Pillow Headphones Eye mask Cell Phone Charger

Having a baby, especially if this is your first, is a major lifestyle change and you likely want to get into a new normal as soon as possible. Now looking back after three weeks in, here are the items I am glad I had or found myself ordering on Amazon soon after to get me feeling back to normal quickly! Sidenote, a lot of these things are not things you would want to put on your registry for others to buy...However, if you use Amazon, you can put on your registry as "private" so only you can see it but still get the 15% registry completion discount when you buy! A schedule - Or should I say a "pattern" or "cycle"...Not so much because it's realistic to have your baby on a schedule during the first few weeks, but for your own sanity. It's not that what you're doing (feed, play sleep, repeat) is hard necessarily; but it can start to feel like groundhog day doing the same thing day in and day out. It's very different from whatever you were likely doing before baby. Having some semblance of a schedule so your days and nights don't totally get out of whack and build good habits can only help get you back to normal faster. For example, I tried to go by the following schedule: 7:30 - Wake up, change diaper & feed in bed while I watch the news 7:45 - Lay Penelope back in bassinet while I get ready (if I didn't do this already before waking her up). 8:00 - Go downstairs for the day, make breakfast/coffee for myself while Penelope lays in her play center looking at black & white cards and "playing". 8:15 - NAP #1 - Ensure clean diaper and swaddle Penelope up for her 1st Nap. Go into nursery and try to get her to fall asleep by herself in crib. Onwards - From here on out, it's completely variable based on baby and how long they nap, it's very easy to get out of whack...see my (upcoming) post on what I did to get Penelope to sleep well starting day 1. Bedtime (anywhere from 7:30 - 9:30 - I encourage you to have a consistent "bedtime" routine A PostPartum caddy - I spent most of my time in our living room recliner the first few weeks. It's hard to move when you're breastfeeding and / or holding a sleeping baby so you want everything you need easily accessible. Here is what I kept in mine (photos below): Top Tier: diapers, wipes, burp clothes, monitor, basket with smaller things such as thermometer, nail file, brush, lotion, hand sanitizer, baby eye wipes, arnica, chap stick, nipple butter, vitamin D drops for baby/breastfeeding, baby Frida sinus stuff and phone charger. Middle Tier: Pump bags, Medela and Elvie pumps, Belly Bandits Bottom Tier: At first I had diapers and more post-partum stuff for myself, but then transitioned it to pumping bras, heat packs, nipple covers/pads, hand pump, etc.. For Baby: A playtime area / developmental activities - Speaking of playtime, babies brains are quickly forming neural connections from the day they're born (and before). So it's important to make the most of this time and stimulate babies brain! A word of caution here, don't forget your baby is a human and not a project. We loved the Lovevery play gym and the concept that just like food, toys have empty calories...give your baby toys that are enriching and help them optimize each developmental stage they're in! You can even sign up for the first year subscription that sends a box of toys and what to do step-by-step! Long sleeve/footed onesies that double zip or open from the bottom - For your sanity, I promise you will not want to completely undress a baby every time they need a diaper change. Also remember babies are cold (even despite the fact that your postpartum body might be having hot flashes and the 70’ room might feel hot to you. Penelope LIVED in long sleeve footed onesies. Here's an example of what you want so baby's top stays zippered up when you change: An easy swaddle - The Woombie was a lifesaver our first night home from the hospital. After trying to do blanket origami with the wraps from the hospital (IDK how the nurses make it look so easy); I cried that Penelope was going to suffocate her first night home until my husband saved the day with this. We also found several other easy swaddles the we liked, but do yourself a favor and don't try to do blanket origami...Even if you're good at it, it's a lot more work for nighttime diaper changes and simply unzipping the bottom of the swaddle. Sleep Sacks - We stopped the swaddle around 10 weeks and switched to these sleep sacks depending on the temp outside (cool #1, cool #2, cool #3, warm #1, warm #2) Easy night gowns - Again, you don't wanna wake baby up too much during the late night diaper changes, I tried many night outifts and these were my favorite. Pacifiers - Make sure you have plenty on hand. I would keep one in the bassinet, the crib, by the changing table, stroller/car seat, wherever you sit during the day and have some extras on hand. Penelope seemed to like these Nanobebe ones the best because they're smaller than others. We stopped the pacifier around 9 weeks cold turkey. Our approach here was to not get her too used to any crutch. She cried for a few days and then learned how to self sooth. Plenty of Diapers and wipes - I swear we went through about 15 diapers a day and lots of wipes, so make sure you have plenty. A word to the wise though, depending on the size of your baby, they might not be in newborns long, so you want just enough to tide you over at home until you can make a grocery store run. FridaBaby Sick Day Essentials - Penelope had horrible allergies / snot and I wish I had this kit with chest balm, wipes and essential oil plus the saline spray and oogie bear from the beginning. I had the snot sucker, medicine pacifier which were helpful! Overnight Diaper Booster pads - If you end up having diaper leaks overnight, then consider getting these booster pads. If you have leaks out the top back, get these stick on poop catchers. Blackout shades - Babies sleep better in dark rooms, so I got these portable shades I put behind the blinds. They use suction cups to stick to the windows so you can always take them with you when you travel. For Mom: PostNatal Vitamins - I'm sure you know where I'm going with this... Get the Pink Stork Postnatal vitamins! But in all seriousness, you DO need to continue taking postnatal vitamins after baby to make sure you're getting proper nutrition and your little one is too (especially if breastfeeding). These help with energy, recovery, immunity and more. Arnica - Arnica is a homeopathic, plant-based medicine for pain relief and swelling. It's a great extra boost for your healing body after either type of delivery. Here's what I took. Sitz Bath (and a big Tupperware Container) - My aunt who was a labor/delivery nurse recommended doing a sitz bath at least once a day to clean stitches and help heal faster. While I must admit, I didn't get around to doing it quite that often, it did help! I used this one by earth mama and this one. Frida mom peri bottle - In case you're wondering what this is, it's a little squirt bottle you use to clean yourself after you go to the bathroom because you have stitches and can't necessarily wipe. You'll get one at the hospital, which I took home and kept in a bathroom I didn't often use...but trust me, you're going to want the Frida Mom one most of the time (or one similar with the angled spout). Lounge Robes / Outfits - Something comfortable for your healing lady parts and easy for breastfeeding. I went with a ton of babydoll dresses / nursing dresses. I would also wear a bando bra with a robe. There's a lot of bleeding/lochia so you'll likely be wearing diapers or granny panties the first few weeks and I found dresses to be the most comfortable / disguising. Breastfeeding Essentials: Breastfeeding Snacks & Lactation Teas - I was determined to do everything in my power to not only breastfeed, but start building extra supply. I researched and ordered snacks and teas that I ate/drank at least once daily. See my post here on lactation snacks or message me for the full list of what all I used. The Haaka Ladybugs (skip the haaka manual hand pump) - To me, the haaka hand pump is just a container to catch milk in, and the ladybug product is way easier to do this while feeding. Elvie wireless pump - I had the Medela Sonata pump and loved it (I feel like it was very efficient)...But there were times in the middle of the night that I needed to pump and I didn't wanna go downstairs and use that more complicated pump. I got the Elvie soon after getting home and it was a lifesaver to just stick in my bra anytime I needed to pump or do something around the house. Even though I loved my Medela Sonata and it could technically be wireless (I did roll it around on my cart while pumping a few times)...It wasn't near as easy. The Elvie comes as a single or double or you can also check out the Willow. But be prepared, these do leak if you bend over. Hands free pumping bra - Depending on what pump(s) you have, you'll need a handsfree bra so you don't have to literally hold the pumps on your boobs for 20mins (what a waste of time)....Get this bra or one like it that is a handsfree pumping bra AND a nursing bra. Nursing bras - You might also want some normal nursing bras for a smoother under the shirt look. I got these off Amazon which were a great price and comfy. Nursing pillow(s) - After 2 days post baby my arms were sore from breastfeeding her (even with pillows at hospital). While I still wouldn't have brought my nursing pillow there, I can't imagine not having a nursing pillow day in and day out - You need it. It's so much more comfortable to let baby lie there while feeding and even nap! I had the Boppy which is super popular, but there are tons of options - choose what you think will work best for you! Medela Gel nipple pads - My friend Kaytee recommended these and omg were they heaven the first week of breastfeeding. I got a few from the hospital, but do yourself a favor and have some extra at home too. Here they are on Amazon. Nipple butter - I got a few tubes of Medela Purelan at hospital, but man was it also a lifesaver the first few days that I ordered more. I also had the Earth Mama and a few other brands that I also loved...Just make sure you have something. Sheets that you don’t care about & Bed Pad - If you're breastfeeding, there's likely going to be several incidents of your boobs leaking all over your sheets while you sleep which can leave stains - so make sure you have sheets that you won't be upset about getting ruined. I also used a waterproof bed pad I took from the hospital for the first few weeks to help keep our mattress clean from leaks. A BIG Water Bottle - The thirst is real post-partum for those breastfeeding mamas. A big water bottle on hand at all times will be needed. I just took the two from the hospital since they were perfect with the handle and long bendy straw. Miscellaneous A plan for meals - We had a meal train setup and some freezer meals ready which made dinner time super easy and mindless. I didn't think about breakfast or lunch as much and was super grateful for the amazing mom friends I had that brought me prepped breakfast/lunch foods. Whatever your situation, it is hard to even have time to microwave something and eat the first few weeks, so have a plan and food ready. Sanitizer & distilled water - There are so many little parts to breast pumps, bottles, pacifiers, etc... and you don't want your little one getting sick. I didn't think I'd need a bottle sanitzer, but I was so thankful I got this Baby Brezza one at my shower. I used it pretty much every day. I cannot imagine having to sanitize / boil all the things... Get it. Long phone charger - With breast feeding and holding a baby that you don't want to wake up, get a set of long phone chargers and keep them next to your nursing chair and wherever you hangout with baby in living room. Red night lights / bulbs - Red light is the easiest on the eyes in the middle of the night. I set my Hatch Rest Nightlight up with red for the middle of the night feeds I did in bed so I didn't wake my husband up. I also recommend getting a lamp with a red bulb for next to where you change diapers. Additionally, I got motion activated red night lights for the hallway between our room and the nursery. A stroller caddy / cup holders - I keep extra wipes, chapstick, cash, pacifier, etc in mine!