Pregnancy journal prompts help parents express thoughts and feelings, record their memories for a more mindful pregnancy, but also to remember. Believe it or not, as time passes these events that seemed unforgettable, somehow slip our minds. Enter the pregnancy journal or pregnancy diary.
Benefits of Keeping a Pregnancy Journal
Expecting parents should consider keep a pregnancy journal for four main reasons.
1. Emotional Well-Being and Stress Relief
Journaling is a way parents can practice mindfulness during pregnancy. Mindfulness simply means creating the space to stop life to sit in awareness – of all of our thoughts and feelings – and notice them without judgement. Dumping the many thoughts and feelings of the day-to-day pregnancy experience on the page certainly helps the mental health of new parents. A pregnancy journal also helps to better understand ourselves, mind, body, and soul, as we transition to becoming parents.
2. Bonding with Baby
Pregnancy, and the idea of having a baby, is a very abstract concept, especially for first time parents, and even more so for fathers. Taking the time to regularly journal throughout pregnancy helps parents become bonded to baby, and the idea of motherhood and fatherhood. When baby is born parents will feel less like they’re meeting a stranger and more like someone they’ve always known.
3. Tracking Progress and Milestones
Tracking the milestones of pregnancy makes it easy to see the progress through each trimester. Make note of memorable dates like the day you took a pregnancy test, first prenatal appointment, the beginning of the second and third trimester, feeling baby’s first kicks, first ultrasound, first time wearing maternity clothes, finding out baby’s gender, started a childbirth class, hired a doula, had a baby shower, had a hospital tour, etc. With all the pregnancy memories in one place, it’s easy to see everything you’ve done to grow your tiny human. Good job!
4. Preserving Memories for Yourself and Your Child
Another reason parents are interested in writing in a pregnancy journal is to have a keepsake to share with their children years down the road. Personally, I’ve found it fascinating to see my mother pregnant with me and to learn about her, her pregnancy, and her life around the time I was born.
What Do You Write in a Pregnancy Book?
Many parents want to start a pregnancy journal, but don’t know where to start. The simplest way to get started is to get a blank moleskin journal and just start writing.
Decide to make a habit of writing in your pregnancy journal every day, a certain day of the week, or every week. The habit will help you to remember to write your journal entries.
To get started and to unlock a deeper understanding of the emotions and experiences during pregnancy, use these thought-provoking pregnancy journaling prompts.
Pregnancy Journal Prompts for the First Trimester
The first trimester can feel awe inspiring, joyful, anxiety provoking, nauseating, exciting, and so much more. There’s a lot going on in the mind and body of a pregnant person in the first trimester. Use the following journal prompts for pregnancy during the first trimester to reflect, document the ordeal, and to connect with yourself, your partner, and your baby.
- How did I know I needed to take a pregnancy test?
- What do I remember most about the moment I found out I was pregnant?
- Who did I first tell I was pregnant?
- Will I share about this pregnancy on social media? Why or why not?
- Was this an unplanned pregnancy or not?
- Was it difficult for me to become pregnant?
- What were my initial pregnancy symptoms, if any?
- Have I had any food cravings or aversions?
- Write 5 words to describe my thoughts, feelings, and experiences about morning sickness.
- What has surprised me during the first trimester?
- When was my first appointment with my doctor or midwife? What were my first impressions of this person?
- When did I first notice a baby bump? How else has my body been changing?
- What are my thoughts and feelings about becoming a parent? What about my partner becoming a parent?
- Write 5 sentences to my unborn baby.
Pregnancy Journal Prompts for the Second Trimester
- If morning sickness has gone away, when did it go away?
- If morning sickness has continued, what are my best tips and tricks to manage it?
- When did I first feel fetal movement? How would I describe that sensation?
- Have I started thinking about baby names?
- Take a baby belly photo and journal thoughts and feelings about any physical changes I’ve noticed and my changing body.
- Have I needed to start wearing maternity clothes? What is working and not working with my clothes and my growing belly?
- Do I want to find out the sex of my baby before birth? Why or why not?
- How have I started preparing for childbirth?
- What are some highlights about what I have I learned so far about childbirth?
- How have family and friends responded to news of this pregnancy? What do I think and feel about these reactions?
- What are my favorite things to eat for breakfast? Late at night? What’s off the menu?
- Brainstorm possible ways to become connected with other local expecting parents.
- Has this pregnancy been smooth so far? Have their been any pregnancy complications?
- Have I been able to feel connected to this baby? Why or why not?
- How has my partner been involved so far during this pregnancy?
- Write 5 sentences to my unborn baby.
Pregnancy Journal Prompts for the Third Trimester
Congratulations, you’ve made it to the home stretch – the third trimester! The third trimester stretches our bodies to the max, probably so that by the end we’re ready to be DONE and give birth. Here’s a list of pregnancy journal prompts for the last weeks of pregnancy.
- If I were to write a google review on my doctor or midwife, what would it say?
- How have my prenatal appointments been going? Has this pregnancy had any complications?
- Have any strangers commented on my baby belly?
- What are my thoughts and feelings about my ever-changing pregnancy body?
- What is my favorite outfit to wear in the third trimester?
- Write 5 words to describe sleeping while pregnant.
- What were some of my most memorable pregnant dreams?
- Pregnancy sex – yay or nay?
- Do I feel prepared for childbirth? Why or why not?
- How have I prepared for birth? What do I still need to do?
- What’s the best and worst advice I’ve received?
- Have I settled on a name for baby? What names have my partner and I singled out?
- If I could recommend only one pregnancy book to my best friend, what would I choose?
- What are my favorite pregnancy hacks I’ve learned during this pregnancy?
- Has a friend or family member thrown a baby shower for me? What are my favorite memories from that day?
- Have I made any new friends or met any other pregnant people?
- What is a happy memory from my childhood I would like to share with my baby?
- Write 5 sentences to my unborn baby.
What are the best pregnancy journals?
If taking the above pregnancy journal prompts to make a DIY pregnancy journal sounds like too much work, consider buying a pregnancy journal instead. The journal entries are ready and waiting for you! Here are three of my favorite pregnancy journals:
