When it comes to journaling prompts for new moms, it can be so helpful to process all the changes that come during the postpartum period. Journaling, even if you only have energy for a few sentences a day, can be a beneficial practice for new moms especially.
Journaling Through the Postpartum Period for New Moms
Often called the fourth trimester, the first three months after the baby is born are incredibly difficult. The focus during these first weeks after delivery is often on the baby and not the mom. The first postpartum OBGYN appointment is usually not until 6-8 weeks after delivery. Whereas the baby is getting closely monitored during the first days and weeks after birth.
So, this can be a time when a lot of moms struggle with postpartum depression, “the baby blues”, and other mental health challenges that come with adjusting to an entirely new identity as a mom and new parent. Add on top of that recovering from birth, bottle or breastfeeding every 2-3 hours, and hardly sleeping at night… the postpartum period for new moms is a time of intense emotions and hormonal changes.
The postpartum period is full of changes and challenges.
Benefits of Journaling as a New Mom
Some of the many benefits of journaling through such a life-altering time in our lives include:
- Journaling can help identify patterns in behavior - for new moms, this may lead you to seek help from our healthcare provider or support system
- Journaling can encourage thinking about the bigger picture and how events in life are interconnected - for new moms, this can be especially helpful on days when you feel overwhelmed and bogged down by the monotony of feeding schedules, diaper changes, etc.
- Journaling can help with organizing thoughts - for new moms, this is especially helpful when operating on little sleep
- Journaling consistently can help with feeling more in control of daily life - for new moms, this is especially valuable when you feel like you have lost all routine and control you had before getting pregnant
- Journaling can help track progress and completion - for new moms, this is a way to celebrate the milestones that both you and baby have completed together
- Journaling and writing down thoughts and feelings can help with processing them quicker and better than bottling them up - for new moms, this is a way to get things out of your head and onto paper and can help you feel not so alone when we share them with others
25 Journaling Prompts for New Moms To Use During Postpartum Period
These journaling prompts are intentionally left open-ended. We encourage you to take them as a starting point for whatever you want to write about and process in your journaling practice today.
And every time we say “Little One”, we hope you’ll insert your sweet new baby’s name!
- I am proud of myself for…
- One of the hardest things I did today was…
- My body is amazing because…
- I am in awe of how Little One…
- When I can get more sleep, I will…
- Being pregnant was hard, but the thing that makes this season hard is…
- Looking back on pregnancy, I realize now that…
- The thing I enjoy most about caring for Little One right now is…
- The hardest part about being a new parent is…
- Today I am grateful for…
- Being a mother means…
- My daily routine with Little One is…
- I found myself smiling today when…
- Tomorrow I want to find five minutes to…
- I am looking forward to the day when I…
- The best gift that Little One has given me is…
- I wish I could gain clarity about…
- Some of the thoughts I had in the middle of the night last night were…
- My favorite memory from the last week was…
- My favorite time with Little One today was…
- My favorite way to care for me these days is…
- The three things that I wish I could have told myself before delivery are…
- The five things I want to remember from this postpartum period are…
- I feel loved best during this postpartum period when…
- Motherhood could best be described as…
For more journaling prompts, check out these topics:
- 40 Journal Prompts for Moms of All Ages & Stages
- 50 Journaling Prompts for Mental Health
- 25 Journaling Prompts for Anyone Dealing With Grief
Comment below and let us know how you’re doing with the new mom stage of life. We’d love to hear from you! For more blog topics on self-discovery, personal growth, and all things journaling, check out the Silk+Sonder blog.