Pregnancy is such a unique chapter of life. One moment you’re counting down the days until you meet your baby, and the next you’re wondering how it’s possible to be excited, emotional, uncomfortable and completely in love with someone you’ve never met, all at the same time.
As a maternity and newborn photographer, I spend a lot of time chatting with expectant mums. And if there’s one thing I hear over and over again, it’s this: “I wish I’d slowed down and enjoyed it a little more.”
When you’re busy preparing for a new arrival, it’s easy to focus on everything that needs doing. But pregnancy isn’t just a waiting room before motherhood begins. It’s an important part of your story too.
So here are a few gentle reminders and practical tips to help you make the most of this special time.
Take the Photos
You don’t feel glamorous. Your ankles have disappeared. None of your clothes fit properly. You’re waiting until you feel more like yourself. But one day you’ll look back at pregnancy very differently.
You’ll remember the excitement, the anticipation, the little kicks and movements that only you could feel. You’ll remember carrying your baby before anyone else had even met them.
The best time for maternity photographs is usually between 28 and 34 weeks, when your bump is beautifully defined but you’re still feeling reasonably comfortable. And please don’t worry about being “photogenic.” My job is to help you feel relaxed and comfortable, so your photographs reflect you exactly as you are.
Give Yourself Permission to Rest
Growing a tiny human is hard work! We often talk about preparing the nursery, buying the pram and organising baby clothes, but sometimes we forget that your body is doing something extraordinary every single day.
If you’re tired, rest. If you need help, accept it. If your to-do list has to wait until tomorrow, that’s okay too.
Pack Your Hospital Bag Earlier Than You Think You’ll Need To
This is one of those jobs that everyone puts off until later. Then suddenly, you’re 37 weeks pregnant, and wondering whether the baby has plans of their own!
Having your hospital bag packed a little earlier can give you enormous peace of mind. A few things mums often tell me they were glad they packed include:
- Lip balm
- An extra-long phone charger
- Comfortable pyjamas
- Snacks
- A soft blanket
- A baby outfit in more than one size
It’s a small job that can make you feel much more prepared.
Include Your Partner in the Memories
If you’re planning a maternity session, make sure your partner or support person is part of the story too.
It’s easy to focus entirely on the baby, but these photographs become so much more meaningful when they capture the excitement and connection you shared before your little one arrived.
Years from now, your child will love seeing how loved they already were before they were even born.
Prepare for Your New Baby, But Be Kind to Yourself
The newborn days are wonderful, but they’re also exhausting.
Social media can sometimes make it feel as though everyone else has everything organised perfectly, but the reality is usually very different. Rather than trying to prepare for every possible situation, focus on making life a little easier for yourself.
A few freezer meals. A basket of essentials downstairs. Clean baby clothes ready to go… and I promise you’re more organised than most!
You don’t need to have everything figured out before your baby arrives… Most of us just figure it our as we go!
Remember That You Matter Too
One of the things I feel most passionate about as a photographer is encouraging mums to step into the frame.
Too often, you’re the one taking the photographs instead of appearing in them. Because you’re tired. Your hair isn’t how you’d like it. You haven’t had enough sleep.
But one day, your child won’t notice any of that. They’ll see their mum, the person who carried them, comforted them, cuddled them and loved them from the very beginning.
And those photographs will mean more than you can imagine.
Enjoy the Journey
Pregnancy doesn’t last forever, even though some days it feels like it might. Try not to spend the whole time waiting for the next stage.
Pause occasionally. Take the photo. Celebrate the bump. Rest when you need to. Let people help.
And before long, you’ll be holding the little person you’ve spent months dreaming about.
