Journaling and using journal prompts for preconception can be a very therapeutic process. It can help set your mind on the things that are important to you.
It can help you process your feelings, fears, hopes, and dreams.
It can be a stress reliever.
Journaling can be an amazing practice to add to any stage in life. One of these stages is preconception. It seems that the world puts a lot of focus on pregnancy and birth, but does not give preconception the time of day. This does not make much sense though, because preconception is fundamental to the entire pregnancy. In fact, many cultures around the world will prepare for pregnancy a few years in advance.
This is because, whether for the first or fifth time, the entrance into motherhood is a sacred part of life. It is sacred, and it puts a lot of extra pressure on the body. A mother’s mineral status prior to pregnancy will impact not only the health of the pregnancy, but also the lifelong health of the child.
Want to learn more about what nutrition to prioritize in preparation for pregnancy?
Check out these two posts to get started, as well as Innate Fertility.
Nutrient Density- Arguably the Best Way to Eat
5 False Nutrition Beliefs that You Need to Rewire
Not only is it important to prepare the body physically for pregnancy, but mental preparation is also essential.
When a woman is pregnant, her mental, emotional, and hormonal status will all affect the baby growing inside of her. Working through thoughts, feelings, fears, and stresses beforehand can work towards making a pregnancy far lighter, giving that sweet little baby more endorphins.
It can also help a future mother to think about how she wants to plan for this pregnancy and can help to bring more excitement and less stress into the whole process.
Preparing for pregnancy is meant to be a beautiful and fun time. So let’s embrace all of our thoughts, let them go, and smile.
How to Start a Preconception Journal
Starting a preconception journal can be super easy. You can simply keep it on the notes app on your phone, open up google docs, or get a notebook to physically write down all of your thoughts.
When I journal, I love using a physical pen and paper so that I can hold onto these physical items for years to come.
If you keep a physical journal, you can also tape in pictures and little keepsakes to commemorate the moments on your journey to pregnancy.
You can start out each morning writing, or you can end off your day, reflecting on all that has happened and all you want to remember. It can be a weekly ritual, or a daily habit.
The beautiful thing about a preconception journal is that it is about YOUR CONCEPTION JOURNEY. This means that you get to make the rules.
Journal Prompts for Preconception: Working through the Past
Sometimes in order to embrace pregnancy, you first must work through the past. work through your own past using these journal prompts for preconception.
- What is something from your past that you want to let go of in order to move forward?
- What advice would you give your past self?
- What from your childhood are you most thankful for.
- Do you have any unresolved trauma that you would like to heal from before becoming a mother?
- What in life brings you the most peace?
- What were you raised to believe that you want to pass onto your children?
- How has your life changed in the past 5 years to lead you to this point in your life?
- Write a letter to the father of your child, telling him why you want to take this journey together?
- What relationships do you need to heal before becoming a mother?
- What are your biggest goals for the next year?
- Do you need to set anything aside in order to become a mother?
- How do people’s opinions of what you do impact your decisions?
- Do you listen to your own intuition?
Journal Prompts for Preconception: Preparing for Pregnancy
It is so important to prepare the body for pregnancy long before becoming pregnant. Use these journal prompts for preconception to figure out your personal pregnancy prep plan.
- How do you envision your first trimester?
- How do you envision your second trimester?
- How do you envision your third trimester?
- How will you feel when you see a positive pregnancy test for the first time?
- How will you feel if the way you envision pregnancy does not go according to plan?
- What does your preconception meal plan look like?
- What does your pregnancy meal plan look like?
- How will you communicate your pregnancy needs to your partner prior to this time period?
Journal Prompts for Preconception: Preparing for Birth
It can be useful to think on how you envision your birth even before becoming pregnant. Use these journal prompts for preconception to figure out how you envision your birth.
- What type of birth provider do you want?
- Are you planning to give birth in home? At a birth center? At the hospital? Why?
- How do you envision it will be holding your baby
- How will you feel if the way you envision your birth does not go according to plan?
- How do you envision your birth?
- How will you communicate your birth needs to your partner prior to this time period?
- What type of birth classes do you want to take?
- Can you think of any red flags that may turn you away from a certain provider?
- What are your fears about birth?
- What in birth do you think will make you feel the safest?
- What about birth are you most excited for?
Journal Prompts for Preconception: Preparing for Postpartum
It can be helpful to think on how you envision your postpartum period and to plan for it before pregnancy begins. Use these journal prompts for preconception to plan for your postpartum period.
- Do you want visitors after you have your baby? Who?
- How do you want to prepare for postpartum?
- Are you planning to breastfeed? How will you prepare for this?
- Are you planning to use formula? What type will you use?
- How long do you plan to lay in bed for?
- What meals do you want to plan for after birth?
- Who do you feel safe tell if you begin struggling mentally?
- Will you try to find a postpartum support group?
- Will you need to mourn your previous life as you become a new mom?
- How will you communicate your postpartum needs to your partner prior to this time period?
- How do you think your relationships will change?
- What are you most excited for about the postpartum period?
Journal Prompts for Preconception: Your Baby
Using journal prompts for preconception can simply get you excited to meet your baby! Start dreaming about who you think your child will be!
- What is your deepest prayer for your child?
- What do you think your baby will teach you about yourself?
- Who will your baby look like?
- Write a letter to your future baby
- What do you think it will feel like to have your baby growing inside of you?
- What sacrifices will you need to make for your baby?
- What is the thing that makes you most excited about having a baby?
Journal Prompts for Preconception Recap
Using journal prompts for preconception can be such an incredible way to not only process through all the emotions of the journey, but also to create a keepsake that you will be able to treasure forever.
You will also be able to prepare for motherhood and learn to embrace what comes with it.
Do you like these prompts? Let me know what your favorite one is in the comments below. Pin these prompts for later, and share this with your friends who will soon become mothers.
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Want to learn more about the beauty of fertility? Check out this post:
Fertility: Why it is Vital to Women’s Health and Not Just Conceiving
Did you conceive? Congrats!! Now check out these journal prompts:
Pregnancy Journal Prompts: 127 Ideas for What to Write