Twelve weeks · $79, one payment
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A newborn baby asleep on a knitted blanket, a parent's hand resting gently on top.

The New Baby Journey

A baby gift for the part
nobody thinks to remember.

Before the baby arrives, there’s a whole life happening. Twelve weeks of personal emails from Martine, with unexpected questions, music and small things worth keeping. Made for the parents, not the nursery.

Give twelve weeks or start it for yourself
Start twelve weeks or give it to someone else
  • Written for the weeks before birth
  • Twelve weeks
  • Thirty-six emails
  • $79, one payment

Three simple steps

A gift that arrives long before the baby does.

Make a little room for the before.

  1. An envelope tied with a ribbon, and a pen. 1

    Tell us where to send it

    Add their name and email address, and let us know who the journey is from.

    Enter your email address. That’s all we need to get you started.

  2. An open door onto a path in the early light. 2

    Choose the Monday

    Pick a Monday at least 13 weeks before the due date, so all twelve weeks fall before the baby arrives.

    Pick a Monday at least 13 weeks before your due date, so all twelve weeks fall before the baby arrives.

  3. A candle on a windowsill beside folded linen. 3

    The twelve weeks begin

    Three emails a week, with words to read, moments to listen to, and invitations to write.

Watch how it works, in under a minute →

An expecting couple laughing together in a sunlit kitchen, each holding a mug.

Before the baby arrives, there’s a whole story worth keeping.

Everyone is looking forward to meeting the baby. But what about the twelve weeks leading up to that moment?

The conversations about names. The ridiculous predictions. The things they think they’ll never do as parents. The little details of everyday life that seem so ordinary now, but might be wonderful to look back on a year from today.

New Baby makes those weeks something to enjoy, not just count down. Three mornings a week, a personal email arrives with an unexpected question, a story, or something fun to try. Along the way, there are voice messages, music and little things to write down and keep.

And when the baby is finally here, there’s something else waiting: a collection of memories from the time before they met.

Everyone is looking forward to meeting the baby. But what about the twelve weeks leading up to that moment?

The conversations about names. The ridiculous predictions. The things you think you’ll never do as a parent. The little details of everyday life that seem so ordinary now, but might be wonderful to look back on a year from today.

New Baby makes those weeks something to enjoy, not just count down. Three mornings a week, a personal email arrives with an unexpected question, a story, or something fun to try. Along the way, there are voice messages, music and little things to write down and keep.

And when the baby is finally here, there’s something else waiting: a collection of memories from the time before you met.

What they receive

What’s included

  • Thirty-six emails

    Three each week for twelve weeks, on Monday, Wednesday and Saturday, followed by check-ins at three, six and twelve months.

  • Seven voice messages

    Some emails come with a short message in my own voice, with a full transcript included.

  • The Before Notebook and Open Later

    Printable pages for names, guesses, ordinary stories and the small details that might otherwise disappear. And Open Later, a single page with a small surprise of its own.

    Printable pages for names, guesses, ordinary stories and the small details that might otherwise disappear. And Open Later, a single page with a small surprise of its own.

  • The Memory Keeper

    In the final week, they receive a printable keepsake with one line from each of the twelve weeks, to keep.

    In the final week, you receive a printable keepsake with one line from each of the twelve weeks, to keep.

  • A start date that suits them

    A start date that suits you

    Every journey begins on a Monday. You choose which one, at least 13 weeks before the due date.

  • A carefully chosen playlist

    Twenty-four songs chosen to follow the twelve weeks, for slow mornings, long drives and the quiet evenings before the baby arrives. They can listen whenever they want.

    Twenty-four songs chosen to follow your twelve weeks, for slow mornings, long drives and the quiet evenings before the baby arrives. Listen whenever you want.

The Before Notebook and the Open Later page laid out on a wooden table. The first page of The Before Notebook: Use it, don't use it.

A look inside

Not another baby checklist

One of the thirty-six, on a Monday morning in week four. Some emails are a question, some are a small observation, and some are simply funny.

And this is an impression of what the recorded messages sound like, with a short excerpt from one of them.

Inboxnow

Everybody’s met a different baby

Dear Sarah,

It’s funny how many versions of this baby already exist.

Someone is convinced they’ll be calm. Someone else says, “Oh, with you two? Stubborn.”

There’s probably a theory about the hair.

And the nose.

Possibly football.

By the end of one family dinner, you can have three completely different babies being discussed.

And the funny thing is, one day you’ll know who was right.

Maybe nobody.

Warmly,

Martine
The Before Notebook and the Open Later page laid out on a wooden table.

Something for them to keep

One day, someone might ask what life was like before the baby arrived. The big things are easy to remember. The nickname they used, the ridiculous predictions and the ordinary routines are not.

That’s what the printable pages are for. The Before Notebook catches some of those details as they happen. And Open Later is a page that waits for its moment.

In the final week, they’ll receive the Memory Keeper, with one line from each of the twelve weeks.

None of the writing is required. But if they do use the pages, they’ll have something to look back on long after the emails have stopped.

The Before Notebook and the Open Later page laid out on a wooden table.

Something to keep

One day, someone might ask what life was like before they arrived. The big things are easy to remember. The nickname you used, the ridiculous predictions and the ordinary routines are not.

That’s what the printable pages are for. The Before Notebook catches some of those details as they happen. And Open Later is a page that waits for its moment.

In the final week, there’s the Memory Keeper, with one line from each of the twelve weeks.

None of the writing is required. But if you do use the pages, you’ll have something to look back on long after the emails have stopped.

A pregnant woman in an armchair by the window, smiling at her phone.

Is this right for them?

Is this right for you?

Give this gift if

  • There’s a baby on the way, whether it’s their first or they already have children at home.
  • You’d like to give something for the parents, not another thing for the nursery.
  • They enjoy unexpected questions, everyday stories and a bit of humor.
  • The baby is due at least 13 weeks from the start date, so the whole journey fits before the birth.

This might not be the right fit if

  • They’re looking for pregnancy advice, medical information or a parenting course. This journey offers none of those.
  • The baby is due in less than 13 weeks. The emails are written for the time before the birth.
  • They prefer an interactive conversation. These messages are meant to be read quietly, with zero pressure to reply.
  • You aren’t sure they’d welcome twelve weeks of emails right now.

This is for you if

  • You’re expecting a baby, your first or another one.
  • You’d like something in your inbox that’s about you, not the nursery.
  • You enjoy unexpected questions, everyday stories and a bit of humor.
  • You’d like to keep a few things from this time before it changes.

This isn’t for you if

  • You’re looking for pregnancy advice, medical information or a parenting course. This journey offers none of those.
  • Your due date is less than 13 weeks away. The emails are written for the weeks before the birth.
  • You want a conversation. The journey goes one way: you can write back any time, but nobody is waiting for you to.
  • You want it to be over quickly. It takes twelve weeks on purpose.

Who writes this

Martine, who writes the a365gift journeys.

Who writes this

Hi, I’m Martine.

It started with a calendar. A dear friend was getting married, and I wanted to give them something that wouldn’t be over in a day. So I made something for all 365 days — a few words to open, a small moment of joy, or something simple to do together.

The idea stayed with me: some moments in life deserve more than one day of attention.

That became a365gift.

I write every email myself and record every voice message in my own voice, months before it reaches anyone. Not because it’s the quickest way to do things, but because I want what reaches you to feel like it came from a person.

Twelve weeks of being thought of. A little at a time, on ordinary days as well as the difficult or extraordinary ones. And something to keep when those twelve weeks are over.

Martine

Questions people ask first

When should the journey begin?

Pick a Monday at least 13 weeks before the due date. All twelve weeks are written for the time before the baby arrives, and babies often come a little early. If the due date is closer than that, this journey isn’t the right fit.

Is this only for first-time parents?

Not at all. The journey is written for anyone expecting a baby, whether it’s their first or they already have children at home.

Is it for one parent or two?

Either. The emails go to one email address and never assume a particular kind of family. Some questions invite them to ask a partner, a friend or someone close.

Isn’t twelve weeks a lot? I don’t want to intrude.

It’s three short emails a week, each taking only a minute or two to read. Many are a single question or a small observation. There’s nothing they have to do or keep up with.

Do they have to write or respond?

Not at all. There’s nothing to reply to. They can read the emails, listen to the voice messages, use the Before Notebook, or leave something for another day.

What if it isn’t the right fit for them?

If it doesn’t feel right for them, just let us know within 30 days and we’ll refund you in full. No questions asked. See our Refund Policy.

Is this medical or pregnancy advice?

No. The journey offers company and a little fun in the weeks before the baby arrives. It is not medical advice, pregnancy or birth guidance, counseling, or a parenting course. For anything about their health or the baby’s, they should talk to their doctor, midwife or other healthcare provider.

When should I begin?

Pick a Monday at least 13 weeks before your due date. All twelve weeks are written for the time before the baby arrives, and babies often come a little early. If your due date is closer than that, this journey isn’t the right fit.

Is this only for first-time parents?

Not at all. The journey is written for anyone expecting a baby, whether it’s your first or you already have children at home.

Is it for one parent or two?

Either. The emails go to one email address and never assume a particular kind of family. Some questions invite you to ask a partner, a friend or someone close.

What if I don’t feel like writing?

That’s completely fine. You can simply read the emails or listen to the voice messages. The Before Notebook and Open Later are there if you want them.

What happens after twelve weeks?

In the final week, you’ll receive the Memory Keeper. After that, Martine returns at three, six and twelve months.

Can I stop the emails?

Yes. Every email includes an unsubscribe link. You can stop at any time.

Is this medical or pregnancy advice?

No. The journey offers company and a little fun in the weeks before the baby arrives. It is not medical advice, pregnancy or birth guidance, counseling, or a parenting course. For anything about your health or the baby’s, please talk to your doctor, midwife or other healthcare provider.

Have another question?
See all frequently asked questions →

A page from The Before Notebook: Someone else gets a vote.

Give them more than a moment.

More than a moment.

$79

One payment for twelve weeks of emails, voice messages, music and printable pages, delivered three times a week.

Most baby gifts are for the baby. This one is for the people waiting to meet them.

Most of what you’ll buy these months is for the baby. This one is for you.

  • 30-day money-back guarantee
  • No subscription
  • Nothing to install
Give twelve weeks of being thought of Begin twelve weeks

This is companionship, not therapy

These emails are intended for general emotional support and companionship only. They are not counseling, psychotherapy, medical or mental health treatment, or medical advice, and they are not a substitute for care from a qualified healthcare or mental health professional. They do not offer advice about pregnancy, birth or a baby’s health.

If what you’re going through is affecting your health, daily functioning, or safety, please seek appropriate professional help. If you are in the United States and you are in crisis or experiencing thoughts of suicide or self-harm, call or text 988 to reach the 988 Suicide & Crisis Lifeline.