Pregnancy is a great time to keep a journal for personal reflection, both to document the joys of this exciting time in your life but also to work through any doubts or other anxiety you may be experiencing. However, pregnancy is not just a great time to keep a journal for yourself -- it's also a great time to keep a journal for your child (to be).
The type of journal you choose to keep is a personal choice and can be anything you want it to be. Here are two options you might consider:
Documenting Pregnancy
Many children (and the adults they later become) are curious to know what it was like for their mothers to carry them in utero. Did she crave ice cream and pickles? Was she tired a lot? Did she get the pregnancy "glow?"
You can document how it felt to experience the pregnancy day-by-day and week-by-week. How much weight you gained, the weird cravings you felt, the symptoms you experienced. Take photos to show off, as well!
Daughters will find this type of personal journal especially interesting when they are older and become pregnant themselves. Many will enjoy looking through the journal to know what they might expect themselves and to feel a greater connection with you through taking a similar journey.
Letters to Your Child
A personal journal doesn't have to be a record of your experiences. It is primarily an exploration of your thoughts and feelings, and keeping a journal during your pregnancy is a good way to capture these feelings for your unborn child. Writing letters addressed to your child is a great way to express those sentiments directly and to start nurturing a bond before your child is even born.
Write to your child sharing your feelings about becoming a mother, about your hopes for his or her future, and about your plans for your life together. Write letters that you can read to your child in the early years, and write letters that he or she can read and cherish throughout adolescence and then as an adult.
Imagine your child throughout all the stages of his or her life: Child, teen, adult, and so on. What do you want this person to know at each of these stages? Now write a letter sharing those thoughts.
Journaling during pregnancy is a great way to connect with the experience and to connect with your unborn child. You can choose any type of journal you like to help you more fully engage with the journey of becoming a mother. These are just two common types of journal that pregnant mothers keep, but you should feel free to explore and adapt a form that suits your needs.
Did you keep a personal journal during pregnancy? What kind did you choose to keep and why? Share your thoughts in the comments!
ABOUT
Lisa Shoreland is currently a resident blogger at Go college, where recently she’s been researching nursing student grants and target scholarships. In her spare time, she enjoys creative writing and hogging her boyfriend’s PlayStation 3. To keep her sanity she enjoys practicing martial arts and bringing home abandon animals.
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