When you first find out you are expecting it can be quite overwhelming.  Most moms-to-be immediately start thinking about delivery, the nursery, whether you’ll work with the baby or stay home, figuring out what kind of gear you need, if you’ll be able to figure out the breastfeeding thing (or whether you even want to give it a try).  It’s a lot to think about.  And, there’s a lot to learn. 

That said, expectant parents these days have a new resource available to help guide them through the maze of motherhood. That new option is a baby planner.  A baby planner is actually a coach and consultant of sorts, with some concierge thrown in, too.  All baby planners hope to educate parents.  Some baby planners offer specialties in certain areas, such as pre-natal fitness or going green, while others act as a clearinghouse of information on other baby industry experts in their region, such as night nurses and lactation consultants. 

A baby planner can help a first-time parent or someone who waited a while between children (which was the case with me and it seemed all the rules had changed!).  If an expectant mom finds she has multiples on the way, a baby planner can help her figure out what she really needs double of.  Adoptive parents can also find a baby planner to be quite useful as they prepare for their new addition.

In many cases, a friend or family member serves the role of a baby planner without the title.  But not every expectant mom really wants their advice, especially if those people haven’t spent much time around newborns recently.  And not every expectant mom has friends or family nearby.  They may feel lost in where to start to prepare for a child. 

I worked with a mom last year who had done so much research on the products available that she ended up emotionally paralyzed by all the information.  She no longer trusted her gut, so my job was not only to help her get her registry set but also to help her believe in herself again.  In the end, her baby came five weeks early and she had barely started working on her nursery.  Getting to know her as well as I did, I was able to step in and pull all the pieces together to complete the nursery while she was in the hospital with the baby.  It was wonderful for me to know she was coming home to the nursery she wanted and she is happy to point out it was a huge relief to her, too.

Baby planners don’t always take on huge projects.  They can help with the little stuff, too.  From running errands while you take care of your newborn or setting up your baby announcements, most baby planners can do whatever you need.  If you like the idea of getting this kind of assistance, there are associations you should check for members, including http://internationalbabyplanners.com/members/ and http://www.babyplannerinstitute.com/members/.  If you don’t see a baby planner in your area you can contact me at Desiree@BottlestoBritches.com and I’ll help you find the help you need.