Your Pregnancy Journal - Ton’s of Fun and Ton’s of Benefits
March 14th, 2007 Subscribe To Our Feed
Pregnancy journals are very popular today and women maintain them for different reasons. Your journal can resemble a diary, a scrap-book or consist of a collection of yellow sticky notes. The format and the purpose of your journal are completely up to you.
A pregnancy journal is a great way to document and understand your feelings, monitor your symptoms, record any pregnancy tips you discover during your journey, monitor your weight and exercise, share special thoughts with your developing baby and just about anything else that pops into mind. A pregnancy journal or scrap-book is a great way to enhance your total pregnancy experience.
Before starting your pregnancy journal, consider how you want to use it and who will be reading it. Some women prepare a fancy journal as a gift to their child, some pass their journal to their pregnant daughter, some share it with their partner and some keep their journal private. The important thing is that you’ll be preserving a very special time in your life.
Although journals are more popular among pregnant moms, some dads also participate in the process. Couples can create a joint journal or prepare separate ones. Your pregnancy journal can be alot of fun while also providing medical, emotional and other important benefits.
Medical Benefits of Journaling
Using your pregnancy journal to record your questions, concerns and symptoms makes it alot easier to prepare for your prenatal visits. You will no longer forget your questions or go blank at the doctors office. Before going to the doctor, just review your journal and highlight (or make a note of) the items you want to discuss. In addition, bring your journal with you in case you need to answer unexpected questions. Used in this manner, your pregnancy journal can help your make the most of each doctor visit.
It’s also a good idea to record pregnancy information in your journal that you want to verify with your doctor. For example, you may read something in a Pregnancy Guide and want independent verification from your doctor before following the advice. A second opinion can be useful and provide you with peace of mind.
Emotional Benefits of Journaling
The emotional benefits of journaling can occur during and after your pregnancy. During pregnancy, your journal can provide emotional benefits because:
- it provides an outlet for you to express your fears and concerns;
- writing or verbalizing your feelings often helps you understand yourself better;
- it can help develop or stregthen the emotional bond between you and your developing baby;
- it can enhance the emotional bond between you and your spouse; and
- journaling can be a source of enjoyment; etc.
When times get stressful after your baby is born, your pregnancy journal may provide unexpected emotional support. When your baby wakes you again at 2AM, a glimpse at your pregnancy journal or scrap-book can lift your spirits. Reliving a previous special thought, feeling or experience can have a positive impact on your current mood. It helps you keep a proper and more balanced perspective.
Practical Benefits of Journaling
Your pregnancy journals can function as a pregnancy support guide and provide real like practical information to other pregnant women in your life. Used in this way, the journal is a great reference for your pregnant daughter, other pregnant relatives or friends and yourself in subsequent pregnancies. You can use it as a reminder of when certain tests or doctors appointments should be scheduled the next time you are pregnant. The benefits of a pregnancy journal are only limited by your imagination. Like everything else in life, the more you put into it, the more you will get out of it.
Wishing You a Happy and Healthy Pregnancy
