Pregnancy is one of the most fleeting chapters of your life.
Nine months seems like forever… until it isn’t. And after that baby comes, life will never be the same again and there’s no way to fully prepare for that. Which is why your pregnancy bucket list is so important. Here’s why having a great bucket list will help you:
- Slow down and savor the journey
- Capture moments worth remembering
- Build memories that last a lifetime
Below are the most memorable experiences worth adding to any pregnancy bucket list…
What you’ll discover:
- Capture Fine Art Maternity Portraits
- Plan a Babymoon Getaway
- Start a Pregnancy Journal
- Host a Meaningful Baby Shower
- Create a Belly Cast Keepsake
- Write Letters to Your Future Baby
For more on this topic, check out the full Pregnancy Through Postpartum collection
Capture Fine Art Maternity Portraits
Fine art maternity portraiture should be at the top of every pregnancy bucket list.
Why stick around for these photos??
Because your bump will only be here for a little while. And there is NOTHING like professional, gallery worthy photos of one of the biggest milestones in your life!
Fine art maternity portraits are more than standard pregnancy pictures. Each element (lighting, posing, wardrobe, editing) is carefully curated. You end up with classic photos that look great hanging on your wall instead of lost in your phone photo roll.
Hiring a DC maternity photographer who specializes in fine art maternity portraits is the best way to ensure that your photographs will turn out beautifully. Look for a photographer who has:
- A polished portfolio of fine art maternity work
- A studio (or location) with proper lighting equipment
- A wardrobe collection for clients to choose from
- Glowing reviews from past mums-to-be
28-34 weeks is ideal. Your bump is nice and round but you can still easily move around. Make your appointment early- top photographers book up months ahead of time.
Tip: Take your partner with you for some of the shots. Couples pictures always turn out the best memories overall.
Plan a Babymoon Getaway
Want one last trip just the two of you? Plan a babymoon.
A babymoon is a vacation you take before your baby arrives. Use this time to enjoy tranquil dinners, catch up on sleep, and spend quality time with your partner before things become loud and hectic.
The second trimester is the ideal time to travel:
- Morning sickness is usually behind you
- Your energy is back
- You’re still mobile enough to actually enjoy yourself
You don’t have to travel halfway across the globe. A weekend at a cabin, spending time at the beach a few hours away, even a peaceful city getaway all sound great. It’s not about where you go – it’s spending that quality time with each other before life gets crazy.
Start a Pregnancy Journal
This is one of the most underrated items on the list…
A pregnancy journal is where you can write down how you feel, what you are looking forward to, and what you are concerned about. Some day those scribbles will mean the world to you.
Here are some things worth writing down:
- The day you found out you were pregnant
- The moment you told your partner
- The first time you felt the baby kick
- Cravings, dreams, and weird symptoms
- Letters to your future child
Don’t stress about making it look cute. Just write. Even journaling a few sentences per week you’ll have created a priceless keepsake when your baby is born. CDC statistics showed only about 75.5% of mothers sought prenatal care in their first trimester in 2024, so start documenting your journey early!
Host a Meaningful Baby Shower
Celebrate your expanding family with the ones you love most at a baby shower.
But wait … a baby shower doesn’t have to be Pinterest-perfect. In fact, the best showers are the ones that are personal. Personal to you, your story and your loved ones.
Think about:
- A small dinner instead of a big party
- A “wishes for baby” card station
- A photo booth with maternity-friendly props
- A meaningful theme tied to your nursery
Skip the extravagant gender reveal productions, unless you’re really into that sort of thing. You should feel pampered – not like you’re performing for Instagram.
Create a Belly Cast Keepsake
Want a physical reminder of what your bump looked like? Create a belly cast.
A belly cast is made by taking a plaster mould of your pregnant belly. Usually done around 36 weeks, you end up with a gorgeous 3D keepsake to paint, decorate or store away safely.
Making one yourself only takes an hour or so with a DIY-kit. Alternatively, you can get an artist to tattoo you professionally. Either way, you will have a permanent representation of your bump at its fullest.
It might seem a bit strange at first…but trust the process. You WILL love it more and more as time goes on.
Write Letters to Your Future Baby
The final thing on this bucket list could be the most significant of them all.
Sit down and write your baby letters that your baby can read when they are older. Include:
- Your hopes and dreams for them
- What the world looked like during your pregnancy
- The story of how their parents met
- Family stories worth passing down
Treasured keepsakes. Something to be read at weddings and milestone birthdays and future quiet Sundays. Just like painted maternity portraits, letters are a way to capture this season of your life before it slips away once baby comes.
Final Thoughts
A pregnancy bucket list is NOT about checking off all the Instagram-worthy things.
Take time to enjoy this brief chapter in your life. Slow down. Make memories and keepsakes you will look back on fondly for years to come. As a quick refresher, your ideal pregnancy bucket list includes:
- Fine art maternity portraits
- A relaxing babymoon
- A pregnancy journal
- A meaningful baby shower
- A belly cast keepsake
- Letters to your future baby
Over 3.6 million babies were born in the United States in 2024. That means millions of moms are about to take on this exact same journey. The only ones who won’t regret it are the ones who documented it right.
Choose one or two topics from the list below. Begin with those.
You’ll thank yourself later.
For more on this topic, check out the full Pregnancy Through Postpartum collection
