ten prompts for your postpartum journal
You have come so far since becoming pregnant. Write a letter to that version of yourself: the one who is just about to embark on this journey. What wisdom, what encouragement, what comfort would you offer her?
What did your pregnancy lead you to learn of yourself? What, if any, of this wisdom do you wish you could share?
You, with your mother’s intuition, know your baby better than anyone else. What do you look forward to knowing about them in five years? Ten? Twenty?
What are some things you feel confident about with your baby right now? On what things do you wish for a bit more clarity?
What are some thoughts that tend to arise during your middle-of-the-night wakings?
In what ways are you different, and in what ways are you the same, since becoming a mother? What parts of yourself would you like to prioritize preserving through the highs and lows of postpartum?
Do you feel pressure, or support, in the decisions you must make for your baby? From family, peers, social media, healthcare professionals? Do you feel very strongly about any of your decisions for your baby?
Does anything about your birth weigh on you, for better or for worse? Do you feel inclined to talk about it with your loved ones, healthcare providers or doulas?
How has your relationship with your parents crafted, or impacted, the way that you feel in motherhood thus far? What does the relationship look like between your upbringing and your dreams for your baby’s childhood?
What are your favorite methods of self care? What makes you feel cozy, supported, calm? Describe them as vividly as you can. Is there any way your loved ones could make it easier to sprinkle some self care into your day-to-day during your fourth trimester?