Pregnancy is a fun topic to write about in a journal. This time in your life is so new and different from any other stage in life. So much is packed into nine months; if you don’t write it down, you’re bound to forget some of it. It can be really entertaining to look back at your pregnancy journal and relive some of the memories (or be grateful that some of them have passed, like morning sickness). Writing about your pregnancy might come naturally for some, but if you’re suffering writer’s block, here are some ideas for what kinds of details you might want to include in your pregnancy journal.
Symptoms. Begin each entry with a list of symptoms. You don’t have to go into detail if you don’t want to, but even a brief list will be interesting to look back on later when you can pick up on patterns. You may also appreciate the time line of symptoms during your next pregnancy when you find yourself asking, “was I sick this many weeks last time?”
Pictures. Include photos of your growing belly, your glowing skin or your swollen ankles. I wish I would have taken a picture of my poor ankles the day I was admitted. They looked like they didn’t even belong to me!
Stories. Pregnancy is full of funny moments. One of my favorite memories was when I brought my sister and my mom with me to an ultrasound. Right as my sister was looking at the screen, my son lunged at the ultrasound with his mouth wide open and startled her! Considering it was a 2D ultrasound and all you could see what his skull, it looked like a scene straight out of The Mummy. It was pretty strange looking, I’ll admit, but her reaction was priceless!
Letters to your baby. Spend some time reflecting on your pregnancy and the new life ahead of you. What would you like to say to your child? What would you like them to understand about where you are in life right now? Imagine handing your child a journal in 15 years; what will you want it to say? Tell them how much you are looking forward to meeting them and how much you love them already.
Plans and milestones. Write about your progress on the nursery, shopping trips for baby clothes, your first baby shower and your hospital tour. Anything you do related to your pregnancy and new baby is fair game for your pregnancy journal. Even the most minute details will bring a smile to your face later on.