These 40 at-home activities for pregnancy are perfect for starting a new hobby, something to do during a hot summer, entertainment while on bedrest, or any time at home. Whether you’re a homebody by nature or just looking for a diverting activity to keep things fresh, these activities will keep the mind, body, and soul invigorated – in all the right ways!
Of course, don’t try to do the whole list. Read the post, notice 2-3 that catch your attention, and plan for one activity just for today. One day at a time, mamas.
40 Exciting At-Home Activities for Pregnancy
Pregnancy is one of the most creative things a woman can do. For 40 weeks her body busily makes new and unique life – it’s truly a miracle! Because of this, many pregnant women find that their desire to create, explore, and connect intensifies. While finding the perfect at-home activities for pregnancy, notice if the activities you find appealing give a nod to your creative side.
1. Plan a Stay-at-Home Babymoon
It’s not uncommon for new parents to go on a babymoon before their new little one makes their grand entrance! A baby moon is a getaway for expecting parents – usually a weekend, but sometimes longer. It’s a time for couples to relax, connect, and gear up for big changes in their future.
If spending a weekend away isn’t in your future, plan a babymoon at home! Take some time to make a list of the things you would have enjoyed about the trip, but also write down why.
For Example:
- 2 hour car ride – good conversation, singing our favorite songs
- time at the spa – pampering our worn out bodies
- dining at a new restaurant – we love trying new foods
- hotel – get away from daily responsibilities
- hotel room – sleeping in, resting, and “being lazy”
Once you figure out your reasons for wanting a babymoon, see if you can get creative and translate them to a staycation at home.
For Example:
- Spend 2 hours listening to music together, talking, and eating road trip snacks.
- Take a shower or bath together. Do a mani pedi at home.
- Choose a local restaurant you’ve not been to, and order take-out. Plan to do this for multiple meals!
- Agree to disconnect from work responsibilities and turn off or silence phones. Do not do chores or other house projects during this time.
- Buy a fluffy white, down comforter if your budget allows. Also, clean and declutter the bedroom before the babymoon. A tidy space will help you to relax.
2. Read a Good Book
There’s nothing quite like a good book that takes you on a grand adventure without ever leaving your home, amiright? Reading a good book is a solid choice when hanging out at home and pregnant. I’m currently reading the Outlander series by Diana Gabaldon. It’s probably a bit too naughty for some, but I’ve enjoyed it. 😉
I’ve also recently read Educated: A Memoir by Tara Westover, and loved it. It’s not fiction, but so bizarre and fascinating, it almost could be. 😉 Other good books I’ve recently read:
A Praying Life
The Deepest Well
Birth Without Fear
Brain Health From Birth
Have you read any good books lately? If so, leave a comment way down below and share with others. I love a good book recommendation!
3. Watch BOBB and Why Not Home
The Business of Being Born and Why Not Home are powerful documentaries about the birthing industry and culture in our modern society. If you are curious about birth out of the hospital, these films will capture your attention. Ricki Lake takes center stage in BOBB. (Don’t even talk to me if you don’t know who she is. That just makes me feel old. LOL!)
4. Freezer Cook for Postpartum
If you are in the third trimester, it’s time to start planning for postpartum food. One of the ways parents feed themselves during the first six weeks after birth is by doing a little freezer cooking. I’ve done a lot of freezer cooking over the years, and learned having even just a few things in the freezer is a good idea. You never know what will happen!
Maybe you could make some freezer smoothie packs or some energy balls. You could even make some lactation bites!
5. Make Padsicles
Another activity to do at home during the third trimester is to make padsicles. Padsicles are frozen postpartum pads soaked with healing ingredients that are used for pain relief and to promote healing after childbirth.
Some women experience no tearing or trauma during birth, but for those that do, they are a lifesaver. Padsicles are helpful for recovery from swelling, bruising, hemorrhoids, lacerations, stitches, and episiotomies.
6. Call or Video Message a Good Friend
I don’t know how Laura Ingles Wilder did life without the ability to connect to friends and family at the drop of a hat. Could you even imagine? Take advantage of the mind-blowing technology we have, literally right at our finger tips. Schedule a chat with one of your favorite humans today!
7. Practice Yoga
One of the best at-home activities for pregnancy is to practice yoga. Ladies, this doesn’t need to be complicated. Yes, a yoga mat makes it easier, but you don’t have to have a mat to do yoga! Check out YouTube for some free prenatal yoga inspiration. For something more straightforward, Amazon always has options too. Lots of mamas love Shiva Rea’s prenatal yoga videos!
![ZenMama with Rainbeau Mars: Prenatal Yoga Workout [DVD]](https://www.motherrisingbirth.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/01/41SMZx3z3zL._SL500_.webp)
8. Plan a Movie Night
Pick a movie, grab your favorite snacks, your nearest human, plant, or animal, and enjoy some good cinema. The movie we most recently watched is Frozen II, so unfortunately I’m all out of recommendations for you. If you have some you’d like to share with us, PLEASE, leave a comment!
9. Game Night
I’m a huge fan of game nights! Board games, that is, not video games. If you love to have a fun, rowdy time with your best human, schedule a time, clear the table, and make it happen. For some 2 player board game ideas, check out these options.
10. Take a Walk
Taking a walk is free, therapeutic, and can change the mood for the better, quickly. While you’re walking, take deep breaths, notice the sounds, what’s blooming, and try to stay in the present moment. (Don’t take your phone!)
11. Write Thank You Notes
Pregnancy is a time when many new parents are showered with gifts from their baby registry or perhaps a warm meal. Take some time at home to express your thanks with a handwritten note. Maybe writing thank you notes isn’t the most exciting thing on this list, but hey, why not now, right? It’s better to get thank you notes done now than after baby comes.
12. Mani and Pedi Time!
A pedicure at home is a lovely thing! However, it typically requires an extra set of hands when pregnant. (If anything, it’ll make a good memory, right? Hey, you may be surprised at your parters ability to make your tootsies look great!)
If you don’t have someone that can give you a pedicure, then focus your efforts on your hands. Give your hands a good soak, cut your nails, push back the cuticles, and apply a fresh coat of nail polish. Ta da!
13. Deep Clean the Bathroom
Cleaning a bathroom is probably one of my least favorite things to do – especially the shower. However, a clean bathroom is delightful to be in. It makes such a big difference!Bite the bullet and deep clean the bathroom before baby comes. If you work on your hands and knees, know that you’re encouraging baby to be in a good position, which often helps labor to be shorter and less painful. A win-win!
If you do choose to deep clean anything, make sure you use non-toxic cleaners. You and your baby are worth it! If you’re looking for some house cleaning inspiration, make sure to check out one of my favorite books below – How to Keep House While Drowning.
LOVE LOVE LOVE this book for the postpartum experience, especially when multiple children are involved.
14. Begin a Puzzle
Completing a puzzle is a very fun and soothing activity that keeps the mind active and the body still. Do you have an unused puzzle at home? Go dig around and see what you can find. Or perhaps you want something new from a store. I found some neat mandala puzzles on Amazon. Check them out!
15. Post a Facebook Poll
If online shenanigans are your thing, ask the masses and your friends what they think. Odds are, people will share their opinions with you, a pregnant person, whether you ask or not so why not be proactive with it?
Topic Ideas:
- Baby names
- Birth date, weight, and length guesses
- Baby gear recommendations
- What’s for dinner?
- Natural remedies for common pregnancy ailments
- Favorite board game
- Book, restaurant, and movie recommendations
16. Organize a Closet, Cupboard, or Drawer
You know that spot in your house that stores things that have no home? The “junk drawer” as my mom always called it, or the closet where you shove things before people come over? Yeah, that spot. Take an hour and organize it.
Not sure where to start? I’ve got you.
- Empty the space of its contents.
- Sort into three piles – trash, giveaway, keep.
- Throw out the trash.
- Bag up the stuff to give away and put it in your car.
- Figure out where the items in the keep pile go and put them in their (new) home.
- Ta da! You did it!
17. Start a Pregnancy Journal
Surprisingly, remembering the details of a pregnancy is actually quite difficult. In the moment, it’s hard to believe the possibility of forgetting these momentous, special moments. However, failing to write things down in a pregnancy journal will encourage our brains to do just that – forget everything!
After birth life becomes “all about baby” and any brain cells you have left after experiencing what I call “placenta brain” are going to help you function more as a human being rather than a zombie. Don’t expect to remember everything later when you have more time. If you’re a DIY sort of gal use a blank moleskin journal with my pregnancy journal prompts. If you enjoy scrapbooking there’s a baby book for you too.
18. Organize Baby’s Clothes
If you’ve acquired some baby clothes, take an afternoon to sort the clothes in a way that makes sense for your space. Many parents like to wash all of baby’s clothes before delivery, but I would caution you against taking the tags off and washing everything.
Some babies are born bigger, and really don’t spend time in newborn size clothes which may mean you end up with unworn newborn clothes that are impossible to return and difficult to giveaway. Also, some clothes are seasonal and you may end up not needing everything.
After deciding which to wash and which to hold onto for now, separate baby’s clothes into sizes. Check out these handy closet dividers! (If you’re really looking for something to do, separate them by color next. 😉 )
19. Take an Online Childbirth Class
Many new parents believe that childbirth education isn’t necessary because our bodies were designed to give birth and therefore knows exactly what to do. It is true that our body intuitively knows how to have a baby, but there are additional skills and knowledge needed to successfully navigate having a baby in our birthing culture. It also helps to know what to expect, how to cope, and have a bag of tricks on hand.
Online childbirth classes are perfect for parents wanting to explore their options during pregnancy, and learn how to advocate for themselves throughout childbirth. These birthing classes will prepare you to birth-in-awareness whether you are birthing at home, in a birth center, tipi, taxi, or hospital.
20. Decorate the Belly
Belly painting is a really fun activity that shows off the belly in a unique way. I’ve had some friends create some unique designs on their baby bumps! One that I saw was a belly painted like a beachball. The really funny part was when she took a picture of herself, belly painted, she wore a bikini. It really looked like she was at the beach holding a beachball!
To get you started:
- Belly Painting Kit
- Belly Casting Kit
- Henna Kit
21. Take Belly Photos
With technology everywhere and really great cameras on our phones, it’s never been easier to take belly photos in the comfort of your own home. Even if you don’t want to share them with others, you’ll be glad to have them down the road. Belly photos don’t need to be fancy, but if you’re looking for some tips, head on over to clickinmoms.com. They have some great ideas!
22. Start a Dream Log
Pregnancy dreams are nuts! And quite amusing. Every morning before you wake up, jot what you remember down in a notebook next to your bed. (Don’t worry, it’s pretty normal to have dreams where you gave birth to a cat, dog, or somehow removed your baby from your belly, and then put it back again.) Have fun with this one!
23. Practice Using a Birth Ball
A birthing ball is an exercise ball that helps ease pregnancy symptoms, but can also encourage a less painful more straightforward birth. It’s a must-have for every pregnant woman hoping for an easier pregnancy, better birth, and happier postpartum. I’m not exaggerating!
Over here we discuss what type of birthing ball to purchase, when to start using a birthing ball, and how one can help achieve a more comfortable pregnancy and better birth. We will even talk about how to use a birthing ball with a newborn baby postpartum.
24. Sun the Belly
Sun’s out, belly’s out! If the sun is shining where you live, take a moment to give it some sun. Sunlight is good for vitamin d, but also our mental well-being. It feels so good!
25. Eat Something New
Is there a recipe that you’ve always wanted to try? A recent cooking show episode that made something fabulous? Now’s your chance! At your next grocery run, pick up the necessary ingredients and give it a whirl. Or, you know, call around and see which restaurant can make it better. Bon Appétit!
(I will say, the recipe below is pretty good. 😉 )
26. Plant a Garden
Ok, so maybe planting a whole garden is a wee bit much, but I will say that having a plant to tend to is a really soothing and rewarding activity. Buy ONE plant, or buy a few, or perhaps just buy some seeds and start from scratch.
Rosemary, mint, oregano, aloe, and succulents have been hard for me to kill over here in North Florida. Leave a comment and let me know what you’ve successfully grown (or want to grow) where you are!
27. Start a New Habit
Have you ever wanted to add something to your daily routine but never pulled the trigger and made it happen. Now’s your chance! The key here is to just pick one thing, and then determine at what point in the day you should do it. Also, nominate an accountability partner – it’ll make all the difference!
Atomic Habits is the perfect read if creating good habits piques your interest. I’ve read it and found it to be helpful!
28. Try an Activity Book
A good activity book keeps the mind occupied, a great activity book keeps the brain sharp. If you’ve got some idle time at home, try something like this. You can even do this with a friend or family member via FaceTime! This particular activity book is hilarious!
29. Sculpt Something
One of the more fun at-home activities for pregnancy is to sculpt something with clay, play dough, or something similar. Try sculpting “being pregnant” or “the strongest image of birth”. At first, a project like this may feel intimidating. I guarantee you, however, that once you get started you’ll get really into it. It’s a really fun and centering activity.
30. Try Birth Art
Speaking of getting in touch with our creative side, birth art is probably one of the most artistic at-home activities for pregnancy. For some prompts, try the ones listed above – “being pregnant” or “the strongest image of birth”, or check out the birth art chapter in the well-known book Birthing From Within.
31. Ask a Friend to Host an Online Baby Shower
If for whatever reason you are at home, pregnant, and can’t have the baby shower you’ve dreamed of, think outside of the box and plan an online baby shower! Text your bestie, sign up for Zoom, and start planning! Who says baby showers have to be in person??!!
Think about it:
- Guests can ship gifts straight from a baby registry to your home with a click of a button.
- Hosts can ask guests to prepare a word of encouragement, scripture, prayer, or story to share at the event.
- If you love baby shower games, you could even try ridiculous 😉 activities like guess the circumference of mama’s baby belly, baby themed word scramble (screen sharing!), guess the price of common baby products, the best drawing of a baby wins but drawings must be completed with the eyes closed, etc. Baby shower games can go virtual!
- Guests can plan for and gift a meal train for the first six weeks postpartum.
- Take a poll of when baby will be born and the length and weight of baby.
32. Write a Letter to Baby
How cool would it be to read a letter written to you while you were still in the womb? I know I would be oh so curious as to what my parents were thinking and feeling as they prepared for another baby (me!). It doesn’t need to look a certain way – it can be a prayer, thoughts about the pregnancy, or even a simple drawing!
33. Take a Nap (or Two)
As if you needed a reminder, it’s always a good idea to rest, nap, and get some good sleep where you can. ‘Nuf said.
34. Bath + Meditation
A relaxing bath is a wonderful way to soothe the body and soul with one fell swoop. Combine a bath with a bit of meditation and epsom salts, and it’s definitely time well spent. A simple way to meditate is to notice the breath in order to stay in the moment and be aware of the body.
(Scroll to #40 for advice about noticing the breath.)
35. Stretch Before and After Sleep
Stretching feels really good, is a great way to start and end the day, helps the body increase circulation, and can help prevent those nighttime muscle cramps. It doesn’t need to be complicated! Find a spot, and do some simple stretches. Let your body tell you what you need and don’t need, and go from there.
36. Work on Birth Plan
Have you made a birth plan yet? Birth plans are wonderful tools to explore options and facilitate good birth preference conversations with care providers.
When creating a birth plan, there is a temptation to feel more in control of the people in the birth room and how the birth will unfold. However, I encourage mothers to think of a birth plan as a tool for communication during pregnancy and birth rather than the means of a false sense of control over a particular outcome.
A birth plan is one of my favorite at-home activities for pregnancy to get mothers involved in their care in order to become a part of the decision making process during pregnancy and birth.
“Women’s positive and negative recollections of their birth experiences are related more to feelings and exertion of choice and control than to specific details of the birth experience.” (SOURCE)
Did you read that ^^^ ? If not, take a moment and really take it in. Satisfaction in a birth experience has more to do with the level of involvement in the decision making process rather than a specific birth outcome.
37. Mini Dance Party
This one is free! Turn on the music, move your body, and just dance. I guarantee you some laughs, increased energy, and better mood. Need some inspiration? My kids and I really enjoy this soundtrack —-> Trolls. LOL!
38. Memorize a Favorite Quote or Poem
When’s the last time you memorized a piece of scripture, a favorite quote, or poem? Yes, it’s a challenging mental exercise, but it’s so good for the mind and soul. Check out one of my favorite poems for pregnancy by Audre Lorde. This poem, Now That I Am Forever With Child, was read at my blessingway and I loved it!
TIP: Memorize the words to a melody. The brain memorizes things much faster when we use a catchy tune!
39. Watch a Hair Braiding Tutorial and Try It
My daughter’s teacher always has the cutest braids in her hair – they’re so feminine and beautiful! The thing is, she’s a busy lady so I know she doesn’t spend a ton of time doing her hair. It’s clear that she’s practiced quite a bit over the years! To become your very own pregnant, braided hair goddess, find a tutorial on YouTube for more fun at-home activities for pregnancy!
Here you go, I’ve got you started.
40. Notice the Breath
In my childbirth classes I teach the best labor breathing technique. It’s extremely effective, women all over the world use it in labor without knowing what it is, it’s easy to learn on the spot in labor, and can carry a women through the bulk of her labor and delivery.
Not only is this labor breathing technique excellent for a natural birth, but it’s also amazing for a medicated or even a cesarean birth. No matter what type of birth you are planning, this simple and effective labor breathing technique is for you.
40 Exciting At-Home Activities for Pregnancy
Whew, kudos to you if you’ve read all the way to the end. But what did I miss? What would you add to this list? Leave a comment and share your favorite at-home activities for pregnancy. I can’t wait to read them!