How to Write a Pregnancy Journal, With Weekly Prompts
Reviewed by Safi Allah Khan
Medically reviewed by: Safi Allah Khan · Written by the Momi team · Last updated 20 October 2026
Quick answer: How to write a pregnancy journal: pick a format (paper, app or both), write a short entry each week, and add a bump photo. Note how you feel, symptoms, scans and milestones like first kicks. Use prompts when you're stuck, and keep it honest; it's for you and your baby. Five minutes a week is enough.
A pregnancy journal is a record of nine months you'll never get back. Whether you write pages or a single line, it'll mean a lot later. Momi's pregnancy journal gives you a diary and weekly bump photos in one app; this guide works for any format.
Why keep a pregnancy journal?
- Memories fade fast. The day you found out, the first heartbeat and the first kick feel unforgettable, but details blur after the birth.
- A keepsake for your child. Many parents share their journal with their child years later.
- A place for feelings. Pregnancy can bring joy, worry and everything in between. Writing helps some people process it.
- Practical notes. Jot down questions for appointments, symptoms and how they change, and what your midwife said.
A note on wellbeing: the NHS and ACOG say depression and anxiety in pregnancy are common and treatable. If you notice you're writing about feeling low, hopeless or anxious most days, share that with your midwife or doctor rather than keeping it on the page.
How to start: 5 simple steps
- Choose your format. A notebook, a printed journal with prompts, or an app.
- Set a rhythm. Weekly is easiest. Pick a day, such as the day your pregnancy week changes.
- Start with the story so far. How you found out, who you told first, how you felt.
- Keep entries short. Three to five sentences is plenty. You can always write more.
- Add a photo. A weekly bump photo from the same angle makes a beautiful sequence.
Pregnancy journal prompts by trimester
First trimester (weeks 1 to 13)
- How and where did you find out? What did you do next?
- Who did you tell first, and how did they react?
- What symptoms surprised you most?
- What foods do you crave, or can't stand?
- How did you feel at your first appointment or dating scan?
- What are you most excited about? Most nervous about?
- What did you hear or see at your first scan?
Second trimester (weeks 14 to 27)
- When did you first feel your baby move? What did it feel like?
- How did you announce your pregnancy?
- Write about your anatomy scan. Did you find out the sex?
- Names you love (and ones you've ruled out).
- How is your body changing? How do you feel about it?
- What music, places or foods do you want to share with your baby?
- What's your partner or a close friend like as a parent-to-be?
Third trimester (weeks 28 to 40)
- What does your baby do when you lie down, eat or hear music?
- What's in your hospital bag?
- What are your hopes for the birth?
- Describe the nursery or your baby's sleep space.
- Write a letter to your baby before you meet.
- What advice have you been given? Which bits will you keep?
- What do you want to remember about being pregnant?
After the birth
- Your baby's birth story, while it's fresh
- Their first day, first feed, first visitors
- How you felt meeting them
Bump photos and scan pictures
Photos turn a journal into a story.
| Idea | Tip |
|---|---|
| Weekly bump photo | Same spot, same angle, same time of day; side-on shows the bump best |
| Holding a sign | Write the week number or baby's size for that week |
| Scan pictures | Photograph or scan them; thermal prints fade over time |
| Partner photos | Include your partner or older children as the bump grows |
| Milestones | Baby shower, nursery, packed hospital bag |
Use the baby size by week guide if you want to add the fruit or vegetable for each week.
Digital vs paper pregnancy journal
| Paper journal | Digital (app) journal | |
|---|---|---|
| Feels | Personal, handwritten | Quick, always on your phone |
| Photos | Print and stick in | Add from your camera in seconds |
| Prompts | If printed in the book | Often built in or easy to add |
| Risk | Can be lost or damaged | Depends on the app's storage and backups |
| Privacy | Physical; keep it safe | Check the app's privacy label and settings |
| Keepsake | Ready-made | Can often be exported or printed |
Many people do both: a quick note in an app during the week and a longer entry on paper now and then.
Tips for keeping it going
- Use reminders. A weekly notification helps.
- Lower the bar. One line is better than nothing.
- Write on bad days too. Honest entries are the ones you'll value most.
- Invite your partner. See pregnancy journal for mom and dad.
- Catch up without guilt. If you miss weeks, add a short summary.
How Momi helps
Momi's Mom's diary lets you write entries through your pregnancy, and the weekly bump photo journal keeps a picture for every week, with ultrasound images alongside. Dad's diary gives a partner their own space on the same phone. With Momi Premium, your journey becomes a timeline you can export as a PDF ebook.
Download Momi free on the App Store or Google Play. Free with ads; optional Premium.
Related: pregnancy week by week · pregnancy to-do list · 20 weeks pregnant
Sources
- NHS, Mental health in pregnancy
- ACOG, Depression During Pregnancy
- ACOG, Postpartum Depression
- NHS, Your antenatal appointments
- NHS, Your baby's movements
Medical disclaimer: Momi and this website provide general information, not medical advice. Always talk to your doctor or midwife; in an emergency call your local emergency number.
FAQ
What should I write in a pregnancy journal?
Anything you want to remember: how you found out, how you're feeling, symptoms and cravings, appointment and scan notes, your baby's first kicks, names you're considering, letters to your baby and hopes for the birth. Add a bump photo each week. There are no rules.
When should I start a pregnancy journal?
Whenever you like. Many people start when they get a positive test, others in the second trimester when they feel better. It's never too late: you can start in the third trimester and add a few memories from earlier weeks while you still remember them.
How often should I write in a pregnancy journal?
Weekly works well for most people, because pregnancy is counted in weeks and it's easy to pair an entry with a bump photo. Short entries are fine. Add extra notes on big days such as scans, first kicks or a baby shower.
Is a digital or paper pregnancy journal better?
Both work. Paper feels personal and makes a lovely keepsake. A digital journal is always on your phone, makes it easy to add photos and scans, and can be exported or printed later. Some people use an app day to day and print a book at the end.
Can journaling help with pregnancy anxiety?
Writing things down helps some people make sense of their feelings, but it isn't a treatment. If you often feel low, anxious or hopeless, or can't enjoy things you used to, talk to your midwife, doctor or health visitor. Support and treatment are available.
Related guides
Track this in Momi
Momi is a free pregnancy tracker app for iPhone and Android that follows pregnancy week by week, estimates the due date, and keeps a pregnancy journal, weight log, kick counter and contraction timer in one place.
