— from Nalina, co-founder of Bop Canvases
I didn’t plan to keep a journal when I found out I was pregnant.
There was already so much going on — appointments, advice coming from every direction, mood swings that made me cry at biscuit ads… The idea of writing things down felt like just another thing on the list.
But one night, I couldn’t sleep. I had this little moment — the kind you can’t really explain. I felt something shift inside me, like the baby was saying, “I’m here.” And without thinking too much, I grabbed a notebook and just… wrote.
It wasn’t poetic or perfect. Just messy thoughts, how I was feeling, what I was afraid of, and what I was excited about.
Looking back, that page was the beginning of something really special.
It Became a Safe Space
There were days I didn’t want to talk to anyone — not even my partner. But I could always open that book.
I’d write about my cravings, about weird dreams, or tiny things like how a lullaby made me cry in the supermarket. Slowly, those pages started to feel like conversations — with myself, and with this little human I hadn’t even met yet.
Some Days I Wrote a Lot. Some Days I Didn’t. And That Was Okay.
This wasn’t some Pinterest-perfect journal. I didn’t write every day. I skipped weeks. I doodled on some pages and vented on others. But somehow, that made it more real.
And now that I’m further along, flipping back to those early pages feels like time travel.
I Didn’t Know Then How Much I’d Treasure It
Honestly, I thought it was just something for me. But now I think — one day, when my baby is old enough — I want them to read it. I want them to see who I was before I even met them. What I was dreaming for them. How deeply I already loved them.
That’s why I started using a proper journal midway — something sturdy, guided, and made for memories. It had little prompts and sections for each week, which really helped when I didn’t know what to write.
It even had a space to write letters to the baby — which became my favorite part.
(If you’re looking for something like that, I can share the one I used. It made the whole experience so much easier. But even a blank notebook is a beautiful place to start.)
If You’re on the Fence, This is Your Sign
You don’t need to write like a poet. Or journal every day. Or get it “right.”
Just start.
Write about the first flutter. The name you’re secretly in love with. The craving that hit you at 3 AM. The things you're scared to say out loud.
Write it for you.
Write it for them.
Write it because someday, you’ll be glad you didn’t let those moments slip away.
P.S. The journal I ended up using had my name on the cover and weekly prompts from Week 4 to 40 — which helped me stick with it. If you're curious, you can check it out here. No pressure at all — just something that made a difference for me.