Next Level Birth Prep

Preparing for the birth of your baby can feel like a full-time job. Between the endless registry lists, birth class options, and nursery plans, it’s easy to get swept up in the logistics and lose sight of the bigger picture. But if you’re looking to take your birth planning and preparation to the next level and go beyond the basics, this post is for you. Here’s how to think holistically, proactively, and realistically about your journey ahead.

1. Build a Birth Dream Team (Beyond Your Partner and Doula)- Your birth team doesn’t have to stop at your partner and a doula. In fact, considering a wider circle of support can offer physical, emotional, and mental reinforcement before, during, and after birth.

Consider including:

• Chiropractor– Prenatal chiropractic care can help align your body, relieve discomfort, and may support optimal fetal positioning.
• Acupuncturist– Acupuncture can help with common pregnancy symptoms and may assist with labor preparation in the final weeks.
• Pelvic Floor Therapist– This specialist can help you prepare your pelvic muscles for labor and support your postpartum recovery.
• Therapist or Mental Health Counselor– Birth and parenting can bring up anxiety, trauma, or simply the need for emotional processing. A therapist can help you prepare mentally and emotionally for all possibilities.

Bringing in a diverse set of professionals helps create a web of support that holds you in more ways than one.

2. Go Beyond the Basic Birth Plan- A traditional birth plan usually includes preferences like pain management options, labor positions, and immediate postpartum care. But if you’re ready to level up, be sure you know your rights as a hospital patient and also make space for the unexpected.

Include contingencies for:

• Navigating hospital policies & procedures- Learn and understand standard policies, procedures and patient rights and how to advocate for yourself if you get pushback about certain choices you make.
• Early labor or NICU time– How will this change my birth plan? What bag needs to be packed differently? Who will take care of things at home? What are the care protocols if I am discharged and my baby is in the NICU?
• Emergency C-section or hospital transfer– What happens if your original birth setting changes suddenly?
• Infant loss or complications– It’s painful to imagine, but thinking through these possibilities with compassion and support can help you feel less disoriented if they occur.

You don’t need to dwell in fear—but you can plan with courage.

3. Make a Financial Plan (Kids Cost Coins!)- Diapers, hospital bills, lactation consultants, maternity leave—these things aren’t cheap. Being financially prepared doesn't mean you need to have everything figured out, but a flexible plan helps reduce stress.

Your plan can include:

• Estimating birth-related costs (hospital, midwife, home birth supplies)
• Budgeting for baby essentials and recurring costs (childcare, formula, wipes)
• Planning for unpaid leave if applicable
• Starting a savings fund for unexpected expenses

Consider consulting with a financial advisor or using a simple spreadsheet to get started. It's not glamorous, but it's peace of mind.

4. The Extra Mile: Pre-Birth Pumping (With Caution)- If you’re planning to breastfeed or pump, you might be curious about expressing and storing colostrum before birth. Some birthing people choose to begin hand-expressing after 37 weeks as a way to:

• Become familiar with their milk supply
• Store early nutrition for baby
• Support feeding if baby has trouble latching initially

Important note:
You should not attempt to express colostrum before 37 weeks, as it may trigger contractions. And it’s not required for a successful breastfeeding journey. If it feels stressful or overwhelming, it’s okay to skip it. A calm, supported start matters more than a freezer stash.

Leveling up your birth planning is not about controlling every outcome. It's about preparing for the journey with awareness, confidence, and grace. Whether it’s building a multi-faceted support team, planning for the unpredictable, or simply giving yourself permission to not do it all—this is about you and your growing family.

Don't have a birth plan or know where to start? All of my clients are provided with a birth preferences & wishes template to get them started with outlining their desires for labor and birth. This visual birth plan is also a great one if you're looking for something simple to share with your provider and birth team.