When I was pregnant the first time, I used to jot notes about my pregnancy down in the same Moleskin notebook that I used for other things like grocery lists and book notes. But by the time I was pregnant with my second child, I knew I wanted to keep a proper pregnancy journal. I wanted something real and substantial that not only helped guide my thoughts but also preserved them for my children to look back on during their time in the womb. I like to think that in some far-off time, my grandchildren and great-grandchildren will read my thoughts and form a connection to the time I was creating our family, and there's no better way to capture those memories than with a pregnancy journal.
Pregnancy journals are so much more than your average notebook. They’re tailored just for expecting mothers, full of pages for sentimental milestones, special prompts like “cravings” and “kick count,” and places to put things like sonogram pictures, your pregnancy test, and even a lock of your baby’s hair when they’re born. They’re a great way to organize your thoughts when your mind feels anything but orderly.
I think there's something magical in taking account of how your body changes and what pregnancy does to your mind, and more importantly, your heart. How you feel and what you're anticipating as you're growing another life is nothing short of miraculous. It's also fun to predict the personality of your child based on how they felt as they moved inside your body — and a great pregnancy journal is the perfect place to store these thoughts.
There are some fantastic pregnancy journals that you can buy, and I've picked some of my favorites here. They range from extremely simple to elaborate and fancy, and a little bit of everything in-between.
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Inclusive and Guided
Growing Together: A Gender-Neutral Keepsake Pregnancy Journal
Even if you’ve never journaled before, your words will flow easily thanks to this guided, gender-neutral pregnancy journal. With questions like, “What are you craving?” and “How are you feeling?” you don’t need to worry about starting points.
It also has spaces for things like ultrasound and bump pics, giving you room to cherish the whole journey.
For classic-style loving parents, this bound journal will hit all the right notes. It's beautifully arranged with filigree and scrollwork throughout.
But the real beauty comes with the simplicity of the prompts, allowing you to recount your pregnancy with as much or as little detailing as you are comfortable with.
This pregnancy journal is an all-in-one option for multitasking parents, this pregnancy journal is part memory keeper, part journal, and part organizer. It even has a hospital checklist!
You can use the bonus pages for extra thoughts — or like I would, listing everything the nurses said to my husband when I was giving birth. “I assure you, that’s normal.” “Yes, the needle is going into her spine.” Ahh, memories.
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Best Scrapbook Style
My Pregnancy Journal and Baby Memory Book With Stickers
This hardcover pregnancy journal was built to last! If you consistently keep up with this journal throughout the stages of your pregnancy, you'll have created a masterpiece your family will love to look back on.
It has a wonderful sticker collection added to mark special times and feelings you encounter during your pregnancy journey, and the prompts are simple and easy to follow.
This is one of the sweetest pregnancy reflection journals out there! With beautiful quotes layered into the pages of this journal, from beginning to end, any new parent will feel more at ease after answering the prompted, thoughtful questions as they move through their trimesters.
Designed to be used from the positive test to the birth of your child, this sweet pregnancy journal is easy to use, and fun to put together. This will become a keepsake you'll be glad you created.
It has a lovely monochromatic theme, with hand-drawn flowers and flora throughout. The touching prompts guide you to really get into your feelings so that you'll remember them well after you deliver.
I'm actually getting emotional just thinking about writing letters to my baby through my pregnancy and their first year. This journal prompts you to do just that, and I can't think of a more beautiful way to document your pregnancy.
By the time its filled out it feels more like a memoir or autobiography than a simple journal, and your baby is sure to treasure it forever.
Too much of what has to do with pregnancy and childbirth is gendered. There's no need for the parent or the child to only be referred to in that way. Beyond that, not everyone wants to learn the expected gender of the baby before they're born. This gorgeous journal makes room for all of these ideas.
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Gift Worthy
Pregnancy Planner Baby Book – Guided Pregnancy Journal
Deceptively gift-worthy for the price, this pregnancy journal has a little something for all journaling styles. The classic bound spine and silky-textured paper will last long after you've forgotten many of the moments you captured in this book.
The weight of the journal lends itself toward a coffee table book, or bookshelf staple. It feels finished and refined.
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For Compact Journaling
Pearhead My Pregnancy Journal Book, White, Gold and Black
Most of these pregnancy journals are kind of huge. This one will fit in your handbag or easily on your bedside table. And don't worry, it doesn't skimp on content and still has plenty of places for pictures and little notes to yourself and your baby. It just does it in a more compact way.
Cat BowenParenting EditorCat Bowen is the parenting editor at BestProducts.com where she researches all of the best products for families from pre-conception through their teen years, focusing on matching scientific evidence with real-life needs.
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