Helping Both Parents Prepare For A Baby
Parent Planning
One of my popular services is my Parent Planning counseling, where we pro-actively identify possible challenges and develop techniques unique to the changes that come with having a new baby. These include:
Strengthening Communication
Sleep Patterns & Management
Postpartum Stress Management
Relationship Dynamics
Lifestyle Adjustments
Benefits of pre-baby parent planning are helping couples feel more confident and prepared, strengthening their bond, reduce anxiety, and resolving future conflicts constructively.
Frequesntly Asked Questions
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You can help your partner during pregnancy by learning as much as you can about pregnancy and how to adapt to changes. Attending doctor visits together will help you understand what is needed during pregnancy.
Eating healthy, getting regular exercise, making lifestyle changes (like quitting smoking), and getting enough sleep will give you a good foundation for when the baby arrives.
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Parent planning can include discussion about how you will divide household and childcare responsibilities, how you will maintain your relationship and self care after the baby arrives, and even planning for how you’ll handle finances and budgeting related to the baby.
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Therapists trained in perinatal mental health can help couple understand what they’re experiencing, reduce anxiety, and develop practical tools for coping.
Planning sessions can include guidance in improving communication and connection with your partner, practical agreements about daily tasks, and self-care routines to keep yourself healthy.
You’ve heard it from other new parents: having a baby is stressful and tiring the first couple of years. Taking care of the newborn is the top priority, often at the expense of self-care for the mother, father, and for the relationship.
For the sake of raising a healthy baby, both partners can prepare themselves ahead of the baby’s arrival to stabilize and strengthen themselves and their bond with their partner.
Benefits of parent planning before the baby arrives:
Better Health Outcomes - When partners support the mother during pregnancy, there are lower rates of pre-term birth and fewer growth problems in babies.
Stronger Relationship - Shared experience and and strong communication during pregnancy helps couples adapt to create a strong co-parenting foundation.
Practical Support - Helping with daily tasks and attending medical appointments reduces the physical strain on the pregnant partner and creates a sense of teamwork.
As an expecting couple, you want to do all you can to provide for and protect your newborn. Sometimes, this means taking steps to take care of your mental health and your relationship. It’s a strength, not a weakness, to seek help in order to give your baby the best care.
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