Why You Should Document Your Pregnancy (and How to Get Started)

When you are in the depths of your pregnancy, it is easy to feel like there is no end in sight. Every symptom feels ongoing, every joy feels everlasting, and it is hard to imagine that this phase of your life will ever end. 

Any mother who has experienced this emotion can assure you that the symptoms, emotions, and overall experience of pregnancy are fleeting, at best.

In this article, we will talk about WHY you should be documenting your pregnancy, and exactly how to go about getting started.

SPOILER ALERT! One MAJOR reason to document your pregnancy is so that you know what products WORK and do NOT work for future pregnancies. Our favorite product during pregnancy, postpartum, and beyond? Our beautiful lace nursing bra from Momanda!

Are you an expecting mom? Are you hoping to be an expecting mom one day? If you answered yes to either of those questions, you are in the right place! 

Why You Should Document Your Pregnancy

When you’re expecting a new baby, you automatically have a lot on your plate. Planning, preparing, sorting… it is unlikely that you are looking for new hobbies or things to fill your time.

However, there is one thing that a lot of moms don’t even consider doing throughout their pregnancy until it is too late: documenting it!

Documenting your pregnancy is a simple, regular task that needs to be completed consistently throughout your pregnancy. Of course, it is not required, which makes it easy to push to the side, and even forget about. 

Let’s talk about the reasons why documenting your pregnancy should be a priority!

📌REASON #1: To look back on as a memory.

Now, to all expectant mamas out there, we know what you’re thinking! You feel like there is no possible way that you could ever forget what the pregnant experience is like! How could you forget the constant symptoms, the breathtaking moments, and constant reminders?

Well, as incredible and unique as pregnancy is, the best is yet to come. That means that the moment your baby is born, memories of pregnancy will be pushed to the back burner as your mind starts to cope and learn about existing as a postpartum mom, and then as a newborn mom, and an infant mom, and so on…

By documenting regularly, you can rest assured that no amount of “mom brain” or brain fog will diminish these precious memories.

📌REASON #2: To look back on during future pregnancies.

Every woman experiences pregnancy differently; not only differently from woman to woman, but from one child to another. 

With this being said, women who are pregnant for the second, third, (etc.) time will typically compare their current pregnancy to previous ones. 

If you do not document, generic pregnancy updates can certainly be helpful, but unfortunately, they are not as personal. For a list of detailed week-by-week pregnancy updates, check here.

By documenting your pregnancy, you won’t have to guess whether you experienced a symptom in the first or second trimester, whether the symptom was recurring or not, or what you did to ease/ resolve a symptom. Through documentation, you will have all of those detailed answers at your fingertips!

📌REASON #3- To monitor for any trends in physical symptoms, emotions, etc.

Pregnancy is a roller coaster of emotions, symptoms, cravings, and aversions.

While it probably seems sporadic, some women have found that keeping a detailed record of the things they ate, the ways they exercised, and the places they went allowed them to make correlations to certain reactions that would not have been otherwise visible to them.

When you are experiencing so much, the easy thing to do is to group all of your symptoms and blame “pregnancy”. However, you may find that you are more in control than you think. By taking the time to document, you might notice that there are a few things that you CAN do to make your pregnancy journey easier!

📌REASON #4- As a memento for your child.

Not all children are going to be interested in reading the detailed journey of being grown in their mother’s womb. However, some children will be!

As a mom, you will inevitably share stories of your pregnancy with your child. By keeping a record, you won’t have to guess about the details- you will have them accessible to share at any time!

What could be better than bonding with your child over the beautiful experience that brought them into your arms for the very first time?

📌REASON #5- To see your growth on difficult days.

40 weeks of pregnancy doesn’t feel like it’s “flying by” while you are in the thick of it. If you have an especially challenging pregnancy, it can be easy to forget how precious this journey is, and how worthwhile it will be.

Documenting your pregnancy will not only allow you to look at the positive side, but it will help you to reflect on how far you have come in your journey.

How to Go About Documenting Your Pregnancy

By now, you can see the value in documenting your pregnancy. How should you go about getting started?!

We have created a step-by-step guide for how to get started in documenting your pregnancy. It’s time to get started!

Steps to Begin Documenting Your Pregnancy:

1. Find a place to document.

Documentation will look different for everyone. How do you want to look back on this time? What resources are accessible to you? Here are a few ideas of places that you can record:

• In a journal
• In a scrapbook
• Personal video diary
• On social media
• Anywhere that will last!

2. Designate a time to document.

One of the most challenging things about documenting is maintaining consistency. With that being said, consistency is what will make your recording worthwhile as it is what will allow you to see the changes and progressions throughout your pregnancy accurately. 

Decide how often you want to document. Daily? Weekly? Bi-weekly? Once you have decided, make it a priority to stick to it.

3. Designate a place to document and be sure to keep your supplies accessible.- you wanna remove all barriers

Does this sound like a little much? Potentially. The key to documenting consistently is removing all barriers… AKA, make things as easy and convenient as possible! When you know it’s time to document, muscle memory will take you back to the same spot every time! Your hands will be so full in the preparatory stage of life that it is in your best interest to take all measures that you can to make documentation easy and convenient for you!

4. Make a list of what you want to document.

The type of information that is valuable will vary from woman to woman! What types of details do YOU want to keep track of? Consider the following:

• Photos (Will you take weekly pictures? Biweekly? Monthly? Will you wear the same outfit every time? Will pictures be taken in the same location?)
• Measurements of your belly
• Emotional feelings
• Physical symptoms
• Questions for the doctor
• To-do lists to complete
• Favorite products from pregnancy

We already KNOW that your future pregnant self will thank you for keeping a list of your favorite pregnancy products.

At the top of that list? Undoubtedly the beautiful Lace Nursing Bra from Momanda. Featuring a flattering low-cut, plunging neckline, front dop-down clips, and extended hook and eye closure, this sleek and sexy bra will carry you from the early days of pregnancy through your breastfeeding days.

5. Visualize what you want to do with this documentation. 

Once your pregnancy journey is over, what will you do with the documentation? Here are a few ideas!

• Keep it for yourself! After your pregnancy, write a letter to your future self to keep stored with the pregnancy documentation. Every time you look back on this memory, you will be amazed at how far you have come and how you have changed!
• Gift it to your child. Write a letter to your child from your current perspective as a brand new mom. This letter will surely be treasured for a lifetime to come.
• Have it professionally bound and protected.
• Keep it out in the open for family, friends, and guests to enjoy!

No matter how many pregnancies you experience, each one is unique in its own way. By documenting your pregnancy, you can remember exactly what details made THIS pregnancy so special for you.

Congratulations on your pregnancy, and happy documenting!