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For the Mama-to-Be

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This post may contain affiliate links. Read my disclosure policy here.

Whether you are having your first or your fifth child, each pregnancy is special. It might be especially dreadful or especially delightful, but we want to remember it–if for no other reason that our children might want to know about that time–before they were born.

A pregnancy journal is a great way to not only record some details about your pregnancy, but also to educate yourself month-by-month.

The Happy Baby, Healthy Mom pregnancy journal is a covered spiral bound notebook, organized in tabbed sections by the three trimesters and then postpartum. This is divided up week by week full of information about that stage of the pregnancy, nutrition pointers, and journaling questions. There are questionnaires throughout to help you determine if something in your pregnancy should be discussed with your doctor (such as excessive morning sickness). This book is very comprehensive, and if used completely would be a great reference in trying to coach a friend or sister or even your own child through her own pregnancy later. My two pregnancies were different. I remember things about both of them, but I’ve forgotten more than I’ll ever remember.

The Belly Book is a bit more low-key. It also has the hardbound, covered spiral notebook format that is so handy in a reference book. It would be great for a first-time, second-time or seasoned birther. However, the simple format lends itself to the busier schedule of a pregnant mom who is also tending to other little ones, while still affording her the opportunity to focus on her newest addition. It is also divided into trimesters, but it focuses more on journaling and photos. There’s a spot to preserve your ultrasound photo and a belly photo for each week, with a space to journal about that week of pregnancy. There is a place to record information from each doctor visit, and of course to journal about “birth day” as well.

Some pregnancies are not expected, and that can fill those nine months with conflicting emotions. Rachel Brignoni has written an encouraging book called Hope. . . Joy (and a Few Little Thoughts) for Pregnant Teens. This book offers pregnant teens a course in finding hope and in remembering their worth and the understanding the power of positive thoughts and joy, even in the midst of an unexpected circumstance. Brignoni writes from the perspective of one who saw her pregnancy at 17 as a huge bump in the road at the time, but is able to encourage with the wisdom of looking back over many years.

I will draw two winners for these books. One winner will receive the book for pregnant teens  and one of the journals. Feel free to try to win this book for someone you know. I’m sure that it would be a huge encouragement to her.

A second winner will receive one journal of her choice along with Post-Partum cards, which are designed to help the “barely conscious” mom to stay in contact with the outside world, with simple check the box or fill in the blank notes that you can send to your friends and family.

Please leave a comment, and tell me which book most interests you.

The contest will close on May 28.

Reader Interactions


104 Comments

  1. I’ll love the Happy Baby, Healthy Mom because I am planning to get pregnant soon and want to start a pregnancy journal. It’s something my mom wasn’t able to do for us, which i want to let my future son/daughter know how i’m excited to see them. I hope you will have a raffle draw for this year. 🙂

  3. I’ll love the Happy Baby, Healthy Mom because I am planning to get pregnant soon and want to start a pregnancy journal. It’s something my mom wasn’t able to do for us, which i want to let my future son/daughter know how i’m excited to see them. I hope you will have a raffle draw for this year. 🙂

  6. Copy of Hope… Joy (and a Few Little Thoughts) for Pregnant Teens: Consciously Creating Your Legacy by Rachel Brignoni and pregnancy journal

    Only because i would gift the book to my niece who is a teen and pregnant.

  9. Don’t know any pregnant teens and hopefully won’t but would use the other for my daughter in law.

  11. the teen pregnancy book would be a wonderful read for some of the kids i teach………

  17. The Happy Baby, Healthy Mom book would be a great gift for my coworker/friend 🙂

  18. The pregnant teen book. I know a young woman who would appreciate it and I want to be supportive during this difficult time.
    Thank you for the contest.

  21. I would love to win these to give to my 21 year-old niece who is pregnant with her first.

  26. I work with teens, and teen pregnancy is an issue with which they are faced and one which we address–so I would like to win Hope. . . Joy (and a Few Little Thoughts) for Pregnant Teens. Thanks!

  28. I would actually like the book for teens – as a high school teacher, this would be a great help in dealing with a difficult situation.

  30. I’d like the Happy Baby Healthy Mother journal. I also forget more than I can remember with my first birth.

  33. I would love to win the Happy Baby, Happy Mom mbook, along with the Post partum cards. Thanks for the contest!

  35. The Belly Book is just what I need. Because, I’m a really busy mom who have an 18 month old daughter. When I was pregnant with her I had time to keep a journal and make this entire memory book for her, but with this second baby I hardly find time to do anything and it make me feel guilty. This book is exactly what I need. I would be really happy to win this book.

  42. Neat contest! I’d love the belly book to put the ultrasound pics and notes in!

  43. I just love the idea of the Belly Book. This is my third pregnancy and I find that I have forgotten so much. Thanks so much for offering these books.

  45. The teen one sounds great, there aren’t enough books out there like that.

  47. The Belly Book sounds great! I am pregnant with number 2 (a boy) coming sometime at the end of July/beginning of August. With a 2 1/2 year old to care for and two businesses to run from home, I’m afraid of forgetting to record those special moments with this one. Thanks!

  58. I would love the Post-Partum Cards. I have a 3 month old baby girl and could definitely use these. Thanks so much!

  61. Happy Baby, Healthy Mom sounds right up my alley–I’m not recording as much this pregnancy as I’d like.

  64. My sister-in-law is pregnant with her first. I’m sure she would love the Happy Baby, Healthy Mom journal. Great idea! Thanks for offering this!
    ~Tanya
    the4moyers(at)msn(dot)com

  72. The belly book is just what I have been looking for. I am expecting my first.

  75. The journal/photos idea would be perfect for a young gal in my life. Thank you for the opportunity!

  76. I would love to be able to give the pregnancy journal and post-partum cards to my stepdaughter who is expecting her first child in September of this year.

  77. The Belly Book sounds great! any of these would be perfect for some women i know that are pregnant…thanks :O)

  78. I’ll love the Happy Baby, Healthy Mom because I am planning to get pregnant this year and want to start a pregnancy journal – something I wasn’t able to do with my first born.

    Thanks for the giveaway!

  81. Hi! These are some great books. I am expecting my 6th baby and would love to have such a special book to document this pregnancy. I like the Happy Baby, Healthy Mom and the card set! They look like a lot of fun!

  84. Wish I kept a journal during my pregnancy. I’d like to win The Belly Book for my sister. She is almost 2 months into her second pregnancy.

  85. I would love to win the Belly Book for myself since we’ve made the decision to try for #2. My husband is a high school teacher and unfortunately could probably give the teen book to several girls at his school.

  87. I would love the belly book to record the things I’ve already written down!

  89. I’m a first-time mom-to-be and have quite the ghetto spiral notebook going that I’ve been less-than-impressed with how well I’ve kept up with it. I would love the Belly Book as a guide for my journaling… Thanks!

  98. ooh! Please pick me for the belly book! I bought one of these for my best friend and I would love to have one for my next pregnancy, which hopefully isn’t too far around the corner 😀

  99. Hello!~ I would enjoy winning the “Post-Partum” Cards and the journal. Please enter me in your fabulous contest. Thanks very much…..Cindi

  100. I’m expecting baby #2, and either journal sound fun! I’m not as good at writing things down this time. 😉 (But I’m not a teen, so that wouldn’t help.:) lol

  101. I have a cousin who’s maybe 20 and pregnant (not married) so I’d like to have a copy of the teen book for her.