Pregnancy journal: what to write in your weekly notes

During pregnancy, weeks pass between appointments, and in that time small questions, changes you notice, good days and hard days all build up. By the time the appointment comes round, some of them may have slipped your mind. A note of a few minutes each week is a simple way to bring all of it to your doctor or midwife without losing anything. In this post we've gathered what you can write in your weekly note.

Why does a weekly note help?

Pregnancy care moves forward through appointments at set intervals. For example, the NHS, England's national health service, plans at least 10 antenatal appointments in a first pregnancy. Remembering everything that crosses your mind in the weeks between them is hard, especially when every week brings something new.

A weekly note is a lighter habit than keeping a daily journal. You sum up the week without having to write every day, and days when you're tired or don't feel like writing anything fit into this rhythm just fine.

The NHS stresses that asking questions and talking about your worries and feelings at appointments matters as much as the check-ups themselves. A weekly note is your preparation for that: you know in advance what you want to talk about. To organise your check-up dates, our post Keeping pregnancy check-up dates in one calendar may also help.

What can you write in your weekly note?

If you use the same headings every week, writing your note takes no more than a few minutes and comparing the weeks becomes easier. You can start with these headings:

• Week and date: Which week you're in and the day you write the note.
• How you were overall: Your energy, sleep and appetite; one sentence is enough.
• Changes you noticed: If something is new or has changed, write down when it started and how often it happens. You don't need to interpret it; your observation is enough.
• Medicines and vitamins: Note that you're taking them as your doctor recommended, and any days you missed. If you're thinking about changing anything, check with your doctor or pharmacist first.
• Appointments and results: The check-ups you went to that week and what you were told.
• Questions: What you want to ask at your next appointment.
• A moment of your own: If you like, a small memory from the week, such as the first flutter you felt or the first tiny outfit bought.

You don't have to fill in all of these headings every week. Some weeks a single line is enough; other weeks you may want to write more. What matters is that the note is regular and still makes sense when you read it later.

Where you keep your notes doesn't matter either: a notebook, a note on your phone or an app. What matters is that it's to hand on the day of your appointment and that you write in the same place every week.

What to know when noting your baby's movements

According to the NHS, a baby's movements are usually first felt between 16 and 24 weeks; in a first pregnancy you may notice them a little later. Over time you'll see that your baby has their own pattern of movements, and your weekly notes can help you get to know it. The aim here isn't to reach a number but to get to know your baby's pattern. You can also write down the week you first felt movements; when you read it back later, that small detail will remind you of your own story.

There's an important line here: if you notice your baby moving less, or a change in the pattern you're used to, don't just note it down and wait for your next appointment. In that situation the NHS advises calling your midwife or maternity unit straight away, even in the middle of the night. According to the NHS, home devices for listening to the heartbeat are not the right way to check how your baby is doing either. If you have a sudden or severe complaint, don't hesitate to call the emergency line.

Writing down your feelings is part of the note too

A weekly note isn't only about your body. Excitement, worry, tiredness, joy: they can all show up in the same week, and all of them are normal. Writing your feelings down in a few words makes it easier to see which days were hard.

If you notice a sadness or anxiety that lasts a long time, or a sense of not feeling like yourself, don't hesitate to talk about it with your doctor or midwife; these are things that can be discussed at your appointment. If you have thoughts of harming yourself, call the emergency line without waiting, or ask someone close to you for support.

It can also help to note the support you get from the people close to you: who was by your side that week, what you needed, what comforted you. These notes remind you what helped on hard days.

How do you take your notes to your appointment?

The real value of your notes shows at the appointment. The check-up may be short, so preparing beforehand makes things easier.

1. Put your questions first. The day before your appointment, look through your weekly notes and write the three most important questions at the top of your list.
2. Describe changes with their dates. Giving the date from your note instead of saying “it started recently” makes it easier for your doctor or midwife to understand what's going on.
3. Add the answers in the same place. Write the answers you get at the appointment in that week's note; you'll know where to pick up the following week.

If someone is coming to the appointment with you, you can share your note with them too; they may remind you of a question that slipped your mind.

If you'd like to keep up a similar habit after the birth, take a look at our post Daily records after giving birth: where to start?

Keeping your weekly notes in Oveluni

In Oveluni, pregnancy tracking sits within the Women's Health area of your Women's Profile and only opens when you start it. It shows your week and trimester based on the dates you enter; this is not a health assessment. If you like, you can turn on pregnancy week reminders; each new week is also a good moment to write your note.

For your weekly note you can use A note in Quick add, and the Daily check-in for your mood and energy. You record your appointments with Add a visit and write the answers you get in that visit's note. In the Calendar you see your visits and entries together. If you want to take a PDF report to your appointment, the “Include notes” option is off by default; your notes are only added if you choose to add them. For details, see the Women's Profile page. Oveluni is coming soon to the App Store. For the first weeks after birth, see Postpartum check and log list for the first 6 weeks.

Sources

1. NHS: Antenatal care and appointments (England's National Health Service)
2. NHS: Your baby's movements