Looking for a Pregnancy Journal? Check this One Out.

When I first found out I was pregnant four years ago, I looked in the local bookstores for something to record details of my pregnancy. I found something, even though it wasn't exactly what I was looking for.

Fast forward to now.

I've had the opportunity to review The Pregnancy Journal: A Day-to-Day Guide to a Healthy and Happy Pregnancy.  This revised edition, written by A. Christine Harris, Ph.D., was originally published in 1996.

I'm not sure where this book was when I was shopping for a journal. I can honestly say that I am jealous of any mom-to-be who has this book in her hands right now.

Each woman who uses this book will be able to personalize it according to her due date. There are nice sections where the expecting momma can write her thoughts about the pregnancy, her reactions to finding out she was expecting, whether it was planned or a surprise, etc.

The journal is divided into each day of pregnancy. Under each day, there is a wealth of information about what stage to development the baby is in, how mom's body is changing, tips on what nutrients are needed and where to find them, pregnancy trivia, and even how childbirth has changed throughout the years.

There are areas where Mom can chart her expanding waistline, cravings, emotions, mood, appetite and other important details that can easily be forgotten as our maternal minds turn to mush.

Think you know a lot about childbirth in other cultures? Here's a little tidbit I picked up on page 56:

"In northern Russia during the 1800s, the custom was for the midwife to require the laboring woman and her husband to give the names of the people, besides their spouse, with whom they had "cohabitated" (slept with). If the labor was an easy one, all had told the truth; if the labor was difficult, either the wife or the husband had lied."

Hmmm...perhaps I should have a talk with my husband about my 36 hour labor. lol

There is a really cool section at the back for those poor moms who go past their due date. It gives information about not freaking out if the little one hasn't appeared before or on the expected due date, and what's happening in there while you're impatiently waiting on the outside.

Evidently, we can't be pregnant forever. If you think 266 days gestation is long, thank heaven you're not an elephant. Then you'd be pregnant for 640 or 645 days depending on your species.

The other section I liked in this book gives you space to record the details of labor and delivery, including timing contractions, where you had the baby, and what you would change if you could do it over again.

If you're looking for a pregnancy journal, I would highly recommend checking this book out at your local bookstore. Thumb through the journal, and I promise you will like what you find.

I rate this journal five binkies out of five.