Pregnancy Journal
Pregnancy advice is everywhere. Everyone has an opinion. Everyone knows someone who “did it perfectly”.
Here’s mine — the honest version. The things I would absolutely do again, and the things I wouldn’t waste another ounce of energy on.
What I Wish I’d Done More Of
Rested without trying to earn it
I treated rest like a reward. As though I had to tick off enough tasks before I was allowed to lie down.
Pregnancy is not the season to prove your productivity. You are growing a spine. A brain. Tiny fingernails. You do not need to justify being tired.
Protected my peace
I said yes to too many social commitments. Too many dinners. Too many things I “should” attend.
Pregnancy is physically demanding. It is also emotionally exposing. It is okay to opt out. It is okay to cancel. It is okay to stay home and go to bed at 7:45pm.
Documented the ordinary
Not just bump photos. The in-between moments. The quiet mornings. The strange cravings. The irrational tears. I filled in our pregnancy journal consistently, but it was a little too 'neat and tidy' - I wish I was more raw and real about it.
Pregnancy feels long while you’re in it. Afterwards, it feels brief.
Exercised more (with more variety)
This may be mildly controversial, but staying strong mattered. I went to F45 throughout my pregnancy, but I wish I'd also made time for a slower-paced exercise like yoga which may have also helped my mental health. Not extreme workouts. Not punishment sessions. Just consistent movement.
My recovery felt easier when I maintained muscle. Your body is about to perform something extraordinary. Strength helps, the more the better (sensibly, and within reason).
Talked more honestly about fear
Especially early on. The anxiety. The quiet Googling. The checking for symptoms.
We pretend pregnancy is pure glow and gratitude. It’s often also vulnerability and what-if thinking. Saying it out loud makes it lighter.
Had a maternity shoot
I had some photos taken for a magazine right at the beginning, and then late in my pregnancy, but didn't have any really personal, family photos with my partner. Though I'm glad to have the 'perfect' images, and the magazines to look back on, a maternity shoot with my husband would have felt more real.
What I Wouldn’t Do Again
Overbuy baby clothes
Newborn outfits are adorable. They are also worn for approximately 11 minutes before being vomited on. My second born didn't even fit a single newborn outfit.
Babies grow quickly. They do not care about coordinated sets. Most of the time, they stayed in their zip pyjamas.
Obsess over the nursery
I rushed to create the “perfect” room. Pinterest worthy. Beautifully styled.
The baby slept next to me. He stayed in my bedroom for 13 months, and at least the first 6 months were in a co-sleeper attached to our bed.
You need a safe sleep space. That is it. The aesthetic can wait.
Compare my bump to anyone else’s
There is no award for smallest bump. There is no award for biggest bump.
Every body carries differently. Social media is not a medical reference.
Work as though nothing had changed
I pushed through fatigue like it was weakness. I felt so guilty for not doing more in my business. I felt like I'd never have a chance to work once my baby arrived, so I pushed hard. I worked on designs for our baby journals as though it was my last chance, and I didn't even have a baby.
If you are employed, delegate sooner. If you run a business, build space in advance. Pregnancy demands energy whether you acknowledge it or not.
Google everything at 11:30pm
Step away from the forums.
Yes, it is normal to worry. No, the internet will not soothe you.
The Slightly Uncomfortable Truths
- You might not “love every minute”.
- You might resent your partner occasionally.
- You might feel disconnected from your body.
- You might feel immense gratitude and deep frustration in the same hour.
All of it can coexist.
Pregnancy is not a personality trait. It is a physical transformation layered with expectation.
If I could do it again, I would treat it less like a performance and more like a season.
A season to slow down. To simplify. To protect energy fiercely. To lower the bar.
You do not need a perfect pregnancy.
You need one you survive well.