The journey to parenthood begins long before a baby is born — yet most preparation during pregnancy focuses almost entirely on the birth itself.
Over the past decade, working alongside individuals, couples, and families in the Cowichan Valley as they prepare for one of life’s most meaningful transitions, one insight has become unmistakably clear: planning and preparing are not the same thing.
Planning vs. Preparing
Planning often involves gathering information, researching products, and organizing logistics. Preparing, however, goes deeper. Preparation asks us to get clear and intentional about what we want to create as a family, and take meaningful action so that our vision has the best chance of unfolding into our lived experience.
The Breastfeeding Example
Many parents assume breastfeeding will naturally work itself out once their baby arrives. The difficulty with waiting is that the first days after birth are already a lot to navigate — physically, emotionally, and relationally.
If a baby struggles to latch or gain weight, the pressure to figure things out immediately puts stress on the mother and baby, and tension on the couple, at a time when everyone is already adjusting.
Proactive preparation might involve learning during pregnancy how a baby’s intra-oral physiology, positioning, a mother’s breast size and shape, and her posture all play a part in supporting a baby’s latch.
Support at Early Beginnings Wellness
At Early Beginnings Wellness in the Cowichan Valley, expectant and new families are supported through one-to-one sessions, home visits, couples coaching, prenatal and postnatal workshops, retreats, and a weekly lactation support group.
Christina Hamill is the founder of Early Beginnings Wellness in the Cowichan Valley, supporting expectant parents through biodynamic craniosacral therapy, lactation, secure attachment coaching, and early parenting support.
This article originally appeared in the Cowichan Valley Voice Magazine, April 2026 Issue 209.