1. Pregnancy journal — Is It Worth It?
If you’re wondering, “Should I get a pregnancy journal?” — here’s my honest answer: probably not.
While they look cute and seem like a thoughtful keepsake, most moms I’ve talked to (myself included!) barely touched theirs. You’re busy growing a human, so filling out a detailed journal often becomes just another chore.
In fact, many women end up trying to complete them after birth, feeling stressed or guilty about all the blank pages. Unless journaling truly brings you joy, I’d say this is one of those pregnancy items you can skip.
TL;DR: A pregnancy journal might sound nice, but in reality, it’s not a pregnancy essential — and often just adds stress.
2. Pregnancy pillow — Do You Really Need One?
Let’s talk about the famous pregnancy pillow. You know, the giant, U-shaped body pillow that takes over your bed? I tried one — twice — and wanted to love it. Unfortunately, I was disappointed both times.
Here’s what didn’t work for me:
- Not customizable (that U-shape is pretty set)
- Too soft (personally, I prefer a firm pillow under my head at least)
- Made midnight pee trips a full-on obstacle course when trying to get out of bed
What worked better? A couple of well-placed regular pillows — way cheaper and easier to adjust.
TL;DR: Unless you’re someone who loves an all-in-one solution, you might find a pregnancy pillow more hassle than help. Save your money and use what you already have.
3. Stretch Mark Specific Lotion — More Hype Than Help
There’s nothing quite like a good lotion that smells amazing and leaves your skin feeling soft and hydrated. Unfortunately, when it comes to stretch mark creams, the marketing often oversells the results — especially to pregnant women.
We’re told that with regular application, these lotions can prevent or erase stretch marks. The truth? Science doesn’t back up the claims. While a quality moisturizer can help soothe itchy skin and improve overall skin comfort, it won’t magically stop stretch marks from happening. Most of it comes down to genetics and how your body changes during pregnancy.
TL;DR: Use lotion if it feels good and makes you happy — but don’t buy it expecting miracle results. Save your money for things that actually make a difference.
4. The Detailed Birth Plan — Why I Let Go of Mine
This one might be a little controversial, but hear me out: aside from a few key decisions — like whether I wanted pain relief, who I wanted in the room, and whether to allow hospital visitors — I chose not to create a detailed birth plan.
Why? Because I knew that if things didn’t go according to my carefully written plan, it would have devastated me. And let’s be honest — birth rarely follows a script. For me, not planning every detail gave me the freedom to be present in the moment, rather than grieving the version of birth I didn’t get.
Was it scary to let go of control? Absolutely. But it also spared me unnecessary stress, pressure, and disappointment — and in many ways, it was my first big lesson in motherhood: learning to adapt, to surrender, and to find beauty in the unknown.
TL;DR: Have preferences, but hold them loosely. Let the experience unfold as it’s meant to, and give yourself grace every step of the way.