There’s a common idea that you hire a postpartum doula when you’re getting close to your due date.

But what if your postpartum support could begin long before your baby is born?

Pregnancy is the perfect time to start building your village—the people, professionals, resources, and systems that will surround you during one of the biggest transitions of your life. And your postpartum doula can be an important part of that village from the very beginning.

Hiring your doula early in pregnancy doesn't simply reserve someone for those first exhausting weeks. It gives you the opportunity to develop a relationship, ask questions, make thoughtful plans, and benefit from your doula's experience before you actually need it.

Bringing home a new baby is exciting, but the postpartum period can also be exhausting and overwhelming. Between nighttime feedings, diaper changes, recovery, and learning how to care for your newborn, having an extra set of hands can make a meaningful difference.

Postpartum psychosis has been getting a lot of attention lately. It’s appearing in social media conversations, news stories, podcasts, documentaries and discussions about maternal mental health.

That increased visibility can make it seem as though postpartum psychosis is suddenly becoming common.

It isn’t.

Postpartum psychosis is rare — but it is serious, and greater awareness matters.

Everyone talks about preparing for birth.

We take childbirth classes. We pack hospital bags. We write birth preferences. We choose a provider and prepare for labor.

But what happens after the baby arrives?

Suddenly, the focus shifts almost entirely to the newborn. Yet the person who gave birth is also recovering from an enormous physical and emotional event while learning how to care for a brand-new human.

This is where postpartum doula care can make a meaningful difference.

A postpartum doula provides nonmedical emotional, informational and practical support during the transition into parenthood. While research specifically examining postpartum-only doula care is still developing, the evidence surrounding doula care and postpartum support is increasingly encouraging.

Preparing for a new baby is about more than stocking up on diapers and onesies. Postpartum support can be one of the most meaningful gifts a family receives.

If you'd like friends and family to be able to gift you our postpartum services through your Babylist registry, follow the steps below.

Baby gear has gotten smarter, more versatile—and sometimes much more complicated. To narrow the field, we looked at 2026 recommendations from baby-gear experts and parent surveys, including Babylist's expert picks, its 2026 parent-voted favorites, and current product availability.

Bringing a baby into the world can be joyful, overwhelming, exhausting, and emotionally complicated—all at the same time. While postpartum conversations often focus on feeding, sleep, recovery, and baby care, a parent’s mental health deserves just as much attention.

You've packed your hospital bag, installed the car seat, folded the tiniest onesies, and dreamed about the moment you'll finally bring your baby home. But as exciting as that day is, the first week at home often feels very different than parents expect.

Bringing home a new baby is one of life's most meaningful milestones—but it can also be one of the most physically, emotionally, and mentally demanding. While there's often a great deal of preparation for birth, many families find themselves asking after the baby arrives, "Now what?"

One of the biggest surprises for new parents isn't how much they love their baby—it's how little sleep they get.

Newborn sleep is unlike anything you've experienced before. It's unpredictable, constantly changing, and often leaves parents wondering if they're doing something wrong. The truth is, newborns are biologically wired to wake frequently, especially during the first few months of life.

There's no "right" way to navigate life with a newborn. Some families have a strong support system close by, while others find themselves adjusting to parenthood without nearby family or friends. No matter your circumstances, welcoming a new baby is a major life transition—and you don't have to do it alone.