Why I Created My Pregnancy Journal: A Personal Journey

Pregnancy is one of the most transformative experiences a woman can go through. It's a time filled with joy, excitement, and even a little bit of fear and uncertainty. For me, it’s also been a journey of self-discovery—not just as a mam, but as someone who needed a space to truly reflect on the life-changing experience of bringing a baby into the world.

 

Hi, I’m Brónagh, and I’m the proud mam of two beautiful daughters: Brónadh, who is 2 years old, and Saoirse, who is 8 months old. My husband, Karl, and I have been on this incredible journey together, and through both of my pregnancies, I encountered challenges that led me to create My Pregnancy Journal—a journal that truly meets the needs of mammy-to-be.

 

The Challenges with Existing Pregnancy Journals

When I was pregnant with Brónadh, I was gifted a pregnancy journal. I thought I’d found the perfect tool to capture my pregnancy experience. At first, I loved the idea of having space for weekly check-ins and milestone tracking. But as time went on, I realised there were so many things missing. There wasn’t enough room for photographs of my growing bump or the little mementos I wanted to keep. There was no space for me to write heartfelt letters to my baby or reflect on how I was feeling emotionally. I quickly realised that while it was a lovely gift, this journal didn’t truly meet all of my needs.

 

Fast forward to my second pregnancy with Saoirse. This time, I knew I needed a journal that would allow me to document my experience in a more meaningful way. But I was in for a surprise—finding a journal I loved proved to be far more difficult than I’d imagined.

 

The Struggle to Find a Journal that Fit My Needs

I went online and started looking for journals. The problem? Almost every one I found was either sold out or far too expensive. I even checked stores locally, but it felt like there were no options that felt right. Desperation led me to buy one I found in-store, but oh my goodness—it was a disaster!

 

The prompts were far too vague, and the journal itself was too small. There was barely any space for photos, let alone for the things I really wanted to capture. I tried to make it work, but it was clear that this wasn’t the journal I needed. So, I did what I could: I plastered over the pages with photographs, wrote long letters to Saoirse in the margins, and used the space as best I could to try and document the pregnancy in a meaningful way.

 

But as much as I tried to make it work, I still felt like something was missing—there had to be a better way to document this beautiful, messy, and emotional journey.

 

The Turning Point: Designing My Own Journal

After Saoirse was born, I still felt frustrated with how my journal had turned out. It didn’t capture everything I’d hoped for, and it didn’t allow me to document the journey in a way that felt true to my experience. That’s when the idea for creating my own pregnancy journal really took shape.

 

I thought to myself, “If I get pregnant again, I want to have the journal I need—one that gives me plenty of space for photographs, letters to my baby, weekly check-ins, and more.” I wanted something that would allow me to document every little detail, from the excitement of my first scan to the baby shower and beyond.

 

So, I set out to design a journal that would give me ample room for everything I wished I had:

• A full trimester calendar for each trimester to track progress and milestones

• Dedicated pages for special pregnancy events like the baby shower and baby moon

• Lots of space to stay organised with to-do lists, shopping lists, and notes for arranging the nursery

• Pages for letters to my baby and plenty of room for photos to capture those memories I knew I’d want to hold on to forever

 

To make it even easier to use, I designed the journal with a coil spine, which allows the journal to lie completely flat when open. This feature makes it far easier to write in, and it’s also practical for sticking in photographs, as the coil gives the book some room to expand. I also added a ribbon marker, so you’ll always know exactly where you left off—no more flipping through pages to find your spot!

 

It was about creating a journal that didn’t just serve as a checklist, but as a companion through the pregnancy journey—a space to reflect, plan, and celebrate every beautiful moment along the way.

 

What I Wanted My Journal to Offer That Others Didn’t

I wanted a journal that would allow me to track both the physical and emotional aspects of pregnancy, a journal that would capture the true essence of the experience, not just the milestones.

 

I wanted something that would offer ample space for reflections, personal stories, letters to my babies, photographs, and even sketches. A journal that would make room for those moments that matter most, the things we often forget to jot down—like how I felt when I first heard Saoirse’s heartbeat or the excitement of feeling Brónadh’s first movements.

 

The My Pregnancy Journal I created isn’t just a place to check off appointments and weight gain. It’s a space for you to reflect—to process your thoughts, to write letters to your baby, to document your worries, and to track all the little milestones that make this journey so unique.

 

Ready to start documenting your pregnancy journey? You can grab My Pregnancy Journal right now here on our website, and begin your own beautiful journey of memories today.

 

How Journaling Helped Me During My Pregnancies

Journaling became my therapy during both of my pregnancies. With Brónadh, I used the journal as a way to ground myself when everything felt overwhelming. It gave me a place to express my fears, my hopes, and my excitement. I wrote about how I was feeling physically and emotionally, and those pages became a way to process everything that was happening to me.

 

With Saoirse, journaling took on even more meaning. This time around, I was balancing motherhood with pregnancy, and there were so many new emotions to process—joy, worry, nostalgia, and sometimes even guilt. Being able to write down my thoughts helped me sort through those feelings. I wasn’t just documenting my pregnancy—I was connecting with myself, embracing the journey, and honouring my experience as a mammy.

 

And that’s exactly what I want for every mam-to-be who picks up My Pregnancy Journal. I want you to feel like you have a space where you can be your authentic self—a place where you can document your joy, your fears, and everything in between.

 

The Importance of Documenting This Life-Changing Experience

Pregnancy is such a personal, transformative journey. It’s a time when everything changes—physically, emotionally, and mentally. The journey is different for every woman, and that’s why I believe it’s so important to document it in a way that feels true to you.

 

This journal is about more than just tracking doctor’s appointments and baby kicks; it’s about documenting the whole experience—the emotional rollercoaster, the quiet moments of joy, the challenges, and the triumphs. It’s about creating a record of your own story, one that you’ll treasure forever.

 

When I look back at my journals, I don’t just see appointments and numbers—I see my journey. I see the love, the fears, the growth, and the wonder of becoming a mammy. It’s a gift to myself and to my daughters—a legacy of their pregnancies and the love that surrounded them before they even arrived.

 

Building a Bond, Creating a Keepsake, and Reducing Brain Fog

There are so many reasons why documenting your pregnancy journey through journaling is important, but three key benefits stand out to me:

 

Building a Bond with Your Baby: Journaling is a wonderful way to bond with your baby even before they are born. Writing letters to your baby, recording your feelings, and reflecting on the little moments can help foster a deeper emotional connection during your pregnancy. It’s a special way to start creating memories with your little one long before they arrive.

 

1. A Keepsake for Future Generations: My Pregnancy Journal isn’t just for you—it's a gift for your child. As they grow up, this journal can be a precious keepsake for them, allowing them to see how excited and loved they were before they were even born. It may even be something they pass down to their own children one day, creating a lasting family legacy of love and memories.

2. Reducing Brain Fog: Pregnancy can leave you feeling forgetful and overwhelmed. Journaling is a great way to help combat pregnancy brain (or “baby brain”) by providing a clear, organised way to capture your thoughts and experiences. Writing helps you process the whirlwind of emotions and to-do lists, keeping your thoughts clear and your mind at ease.

 

If you’re ready to document your own pregnancy journey in a meaningful way, don’t wait! Head over to our website to get your hands on My Pregnancy Journals today and start creating memories that will last a lifetime.

 

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What’s Next?

In next week’s blog, we’ll dive into 5 Creative Ways to Personalise Your Pregnancy Journal, so you can make it uniquely yours!