How to keep a pregnancy journal

What to capture

• How you feel this week, in your body and in your head
• What changed since last week
• Moments you want to remember, like the first kick you noticed
• What you're excited about and what's worrying you
• Names you're considering, and why
• What your partner, family or friends said

A weekly routine

1. Pick one day a week and keep it
2. Take a photo if you want a visual record
3. Talk for two or three minutes about the week
4. In between, record a quick note whenever something happens you want to keep

Questions for appointments

Questions tend to arrive at 2 a.m., not in the waiting room. Say them out loud when they come up, then look them up before your appointment. Afterward, record what you were told in your own words while it's fresh. If anything is unclear, check it with your care team rather than relying on your notes.

Talking to the baby

Some people record entries addressed to the baby. Describe the room you're getting ready, the music you play or what you hope for them. It can be a lovely thing to hear together years later.

When weeks are hard

Not every pregnancy goes as planned, and a journal can hold the hard weeks too. You don't have to keep going if it stops feeling right. If you're thinking about harming yourself or you're in danger, contact local emergency services or a crisis line now. In the US, call or text 988.

A pregnancy journal in Dawn Light

Tap the sun and talk, and use Add photo for the weekly picture. Tag entries "pregnancy" and "appointment" so the Journal tab can show one at a time. Search finds the question you asked in week 20. Lock with Face ID keeps it private, and after the birth the same journal carries on as a baby journal.