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Pregnancy journals: Messages to the little heartbeat
Capture the excitement of your pregnancy by keeping a journal. Maybe you use it to
record your day-to day life, or to tell your child your story. Perhaps you write a letter to
your child, or catalog your hopes, or express the thrill of the uncertainty you’re
experiencing. However you approach it, your pregnancy journal will be a family
keepsake, something you can give as a gift to your child in years to come.
Where do you start?
You’ve probably already begun thinking about your life and how your child will move
within it. Write down your thoughts. No perfect sentences necessary. This doesn’t have to
read like your favorite novel. Your journal is totally for you. Do not read it with a critical
eye, but rather with a warm heart.
If you hate to write, explore the freeing experience of unloading all of your thoughts onto
paper. You can use a blank page, with no lines and just write…in circles, wavy lines,
single words…whatever appeals to you. Or, you can compose on your computer. You can
even share with your child about how you don’t like to write, but want to capture this
moment.
Time to write
Trouble sleeping? Write about it. Writing may help you work through your worries and
maybe overcome your discomfort and sleep better. Another good time to write is when
you first wake up, before you officially face the day. First thing in the morning, you’re
fresh and full of energy.
Ideas for writing
You may decide to fill your journal with family stories, about grandparents and greatgrandparents,
famous or infamous relatives, or funny lore that’s been passed down. You
may decide to tell your own story, or that of your partner. You may just see this as an
ongoing conversation in which you write about a variety of topics including current
events, your job, foods you like, and preparing the nursery.
Going public
Pregnancy is so life changing that you may want to share your experience with family
and close friends. Maybe you want to share it with the world. Several websites, such as
Memorypost.com now allow you to create your journal online. The advantage of an
online journal is that, in addition to your writing, you can share photos. You can also use
a guestbook to collect messages from loved ones. If you do decide to go online, be sure to
find a website that respects your privacy and reflects your personality.
You’re full of ideas right now. Explore them through writing and create a family
keepsake.
Monica Bulger is co-creator of Memorypost.com, a popular Internet service for new and
expecting parents to create personal websites, share photos, and collect stories.
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