10 Ways To Celebrate When You're Expecting | Bolivar, Missouri Maternity Newborn Photographer

Congratulations! As a maternity & newborn photographer and mama of 2 on Earth, I know there's nothing more exciting than finding out you are expecting a sweet little baby! It's no surprise that you want to celebrate your pregnancy and sweet baby throughout this special time! From personal experience and working with countless families to plan their maternity and newborn photography sessions, I've seen a lot, and I'd love to share a few ideas on how you can celebrate your sweet bundle of joy!

1. Telling the people you are closest to! Whether this is your spouse, grandparents, best friend, or your online friends... there are so many exciting ways to share the good news!

   Here are a few ways you can do this:

   - Give a little gift (This could be something small like an ornament, necklace, cigar, positive pregnancy test, an outfit or little shoes - all wrapped up in a gift bag!)

   - Throw a party. You could throw a little (or big) party with your closest friends and family and make the announcement in the middle of the fun!

   - Announcement Photos. This is a fun way to to share the news with friends, family, and online! Announcement photos can range from a simple set up of your ultrasound photo + baby outfit + a cute little saying, to little photography session to document you and your partner with all of those things!

   

   

2. Weekly or Monthly Growth Tracking!

   - Pregnancy tracking apps. There are a ton of them out there that compare the size of your sweet baby to various things such as fruits, vegetables, etc. They also provide great insight on what is going on with your baby's development each week, help you prepare for the future, and are a great place to keep track of appointments and milestones.

   - Bump photos. These are a fun way to document your amazing body and all the changes it goes through as your sweet baby grows. Every week, have your partner take a photo of you in the same position/clothing. Each week, you can document what was happening at that time. After your baby is born, put all of these photos into a collage! Your body is incredible and beautiful - you deserve to be celebrated too!

3. Gender Reveal! I'm splitting this one into two categories - #1 is finding out and sharing the gender before birth. #2 is finding out and sharing the gender at/after birth.

   #1 Sharing before birth: Did you know that you can find out the gender of your baby as early as 6 weeks!? Pretty amazing, right! The most common time to find out (and confirm), however, is at your anatomy ultrasound - usually around 20 weeks gestation. Here are some ways you can celebrate:

   - Online post: stick that cute little ultrasound photo that says "I'm a boy!" or "I'm a girl!" on Facebook and Instagram and call it a day while all of your friends and family happily congratulate you!

   - Gender Reveal Party: If you're the party type - this can be a fun way to celebrate with all your friends and family. Have everyone wear their guess - pink or blue, have fun snacks, play games. You can announce/find out by popping a balloon, cutting into a cake, confetti cannons, etc. The possibilities are endless and oh so fun!

   - Gender Reveal Cake Photos: You've seen the beautiful photos of couples with the white heart shaped cakes and the champagne glasses! Cut your cake using the glass as your photographer captures your surprise!

   #2 Finding out at birth: Although It's hard to be patient - and I'm not sure if I could wait, this is such an amazing way to find out if your baby is a boy or girl! While you are the first to know, here are some fun ways you can send out the news!

   - Fresh 48 session: During your stay in the hospital, have a fresh 48 session! This cute little session is so relaxed and the perfect way to capture those couple days of your sweet baby! Stick a hat or bow on your little one and share away!

   - Take a video: Stick your and your partners hands over the face of your little baby, video, and remove to display a little blue hat or a pink bow on your baby's head! This is especially fun if you have other children or grandparents who want to be part of the reveal.

   - Tell your visitors as they arrive! A fun way to get to see the excitement and surprise on their faces as they meet your little one.

4. Half Baked Photo Session

   We've all seen the fun Ben & Jerry's "Half Baked" Ice cream sessions, sitting on your kitchen counter - flour on your belly and your cheek - a tub of their yummy ice cream and spoon in hand! These are such a fun way to celebrate all the work you have already put into growing your tiny human.

5. Baby Shower: A common way to celebrate when you're expecting, especially for first time parents! A baby shower is a great way to celebrate you and your baby while stocking up on some much needed essentials! Friends and family will love getting to spoil you and your little one. At your shower you can play games, have a diaper raffle with a prize for the winner, write special notes to baby, etc.

6. Maternity Photography Session

   One of my favorite ways to document and celebrate you and your baby. A maternity session typically takes place between the 28th and 36th week of pregnancy, but may vary depending on your photographers preferences, how much you are showing, and if you or baby have any health concerns. The options for maternity sessions are endless - from high end studio to stunning outdoor golden hour sessions, or even a relaxed in home session - this session should be personalized to you and your vision! Here are a few tips:

   - Have a clear vision and find your photographer based on that. This could include your photographers style, whether or not they offer a client closet, and what kind of experience and product you want.

   - Remember, you may not "feel" your best right now, but I promise you are stunning and will look back lovingly on this time as your baby grows. You can always get the photos and never look at them again - but you can't go back in time and have photos taken. Each pregnancy is unique and you will never be this woman with this baby in her belly again. My top regret with my first baby is not getting maternity or newborn photos taken.

   - Turn your session day into a date! You already have your hair and makeup done, you might as well celebrate a dinner date alone with your partner! Throughout parenthood, you'll discover that clear communication and effort will take you a long way in your relationship with your spouse and overall happiness. Take every chance you get to nurture each other.

   

   

   

   

   

   

   

7. Baby Moon

   While on the topic of pouring into each other's cups, a baby moon is the perfect way to get away from the stress of every day life and enjoy one more trip or weekend getaway together before baby comes! Enjoy good food, have deep conversations, rest, and relax.

8. Postpartum Meal Party

   Grab your closest girl friends and sisters and come up with yummy freezer recipes to make together! Make mocktails, snack on a charcuterie board, and laugh together while whipping up some much needed easy freezer meals for after baby arrives. One of my favorite places to find ideas is on Pinterest. Click HERE if you want to see a few that I've saved!

9. Say Hello Event!

   After your sweet baby is born, you may not feel like company right away or may not want a million people holding your fragile newborn. Planning a "say hello event" is an easy way to invite people to meet your baby, without adding an overwhelming amount of meet and greets to your exhausting calendar, and keep your baby in your arms. Guests get to say "hello" to baby in your arms, visit for a short time, and then be on their way.

   

10. Newborn Photo Session

    A newborn photography session takes place sometime between birth and 4ish weeks, depending on your photographer. Newborn sessions are priceless, in my opinion. Babies change and grow so much during those first few weeks of life and those weeks can often be cloudy in your memory due to hormones and exhaustion. Whether you document this time with baby only photos or a full newborn session including parents or siblings, it's what I recommend above everything else! When choosing your newborn photographer, make sure you love their work and that they know how to handle newborns in a safe way.

I hope this list has given you a few ideas on how to celebrate during this exciting time! Whether you choose to do one or all, I hope you feel loved and celebrated!

If you are looking for a maternity or newborn photographer, I would love to work with you or help you find your perfect photographer. You can contact me HERE.

I love hearing your ideas - so if you have another idea, please leave it in the comments! I can't wait to see what other ways you choose to celebrate your pregnancy and baby!