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21 Weeks Pregnant – Positive Affirmations

At 21 Weeks Samantha is over half way there! After sharing a previous journal entry earlier on in her pregnancy, she is back to share more of her journey, read on to hear how her pregnancy is going since we heard from her last.

21 weeks pregnant

Baby is the size of a: Large Banana

Cravings: all of the cake

Symptoms: general physical discomfort, constipation, congestion, fatigue

I’ve been feeling: kind of weird about my body this week. I noticed I have been putting myself down a bit, so I need to work through some stuff.

My partner has been stressed with work, but pretty lovely with me.

I am happiest when I am at home.

My partner and I disagree on middle names. Andrew want something beginning with S because the first name begins with a, but I don’t like many S boy names.

Something I need to get done is to book antenatal class.

Something that surprised me has been how I self deprecate my pregnant body.

My favourite part of pregnancy so far is feeling him moving.

This week I have a real sense that everything is going so quickly. I keep thinking I’m still in the early stages of pregnancy, but I am over halfway there! I have an obvious bump, my posture is hard to maintain, I can’t move the same way I normally can. Work is getting harder, sleep is less comfortable, hips gets sore if I sleep too long on one side, baby is moving so much more obviously. With this realisation of time ticking, I’m finding much more anxiety creeping in. Getting the house finished and in place, labour and delivery, work (how will I make it till the end of November, should I go mid-November?) Getting everything we need for baby, money, how will the rest of pregnancy go?

I definitely need to work on trying not to be Superwoman right now. It’s okay if I need a rest. It’s okay if I can’t do something. I am pregnant and that is reason enough. I am enough. I am doing enough. I am enough.


If after reading this you’d be happy to share your own experience of pregnancy, please email me at megan@forgetmenotjournals.com  to send you one of the pages (or you can send a photo of your own pregnancy journal)

28 Weeks Pregnant – Baby Number 2

28 Weeks Pregnant

Baby is the size of a: Eggplant

Is this pregnancy similar to your first and will you be finding out the gender? Yes indeedy, number two for us – Paige will be 18/19 months when her brother arrives…EEEK! This pregnancy took us by surprise and freaking the F out about two under two but nevertheless really getting excited now that we’re getting closer to meeting him. Much different experience this time having found out the gender at the request of my hubby – I personally love a good surprise. I started this pregnancy at 62kg so at 27 weeks that’s a gain of 9.6kg and 28 weeks 10kg. With my first pregnancy I gained a total of 9.8kg…interesting, but also who really cares. I’m running around after a toddler this time and choccy biccies are too hard to say no to, haha!! Hoping most will fall out with the baby and some more to melt off with the breastfeeding, right?


If after reading this you’d be happy to share your own experience of pregnancy, please email me at megan@forgetmenotjournals.com  to send you one of the pages (or you can send a photo of your own pregnancy journal)

23 Weeks Pregnant -Heartburn, nausea & dairy cravings

Another Mum to be shares her journal entry with us at 23 Weeks Pregnant, refer to the image below to hear how she has been feeling this week.

Week: 23

Baby is the size of a: Grapefruit.

Weight: 80kgs

Symptoms: Heartburn, feeling sick, tired, frequently catching colds



If after reading this you’d be happy to share your own experience of pregnancy, please email me at hello@shesaidyes.co.nz to send you one of the pages (or you can send a photo of your own pregnancy journal)

19 Weeks with Hyperemesis Gravidarum & Third Pregnancy

Baby is the size of a: Mango

Cravings: Bacon & egg muffins & mandarins 

Symptoms: Unfortunately I was diagnosed with hyperemesis so I have severe vomiting on random days mostly every morning, and sometimes from about 4pm onwards.  My husband would probably say I have severe mood swings as well haha!

I’ve been feeling: a little down honestly. Overwhelmed? Busy with two kids, a job, and a household to maintain. I never thought I’d take this pregnancy easily, but I didn’t think it’s be this hard. 

I’m most nervous about: going from 2 kids to 3. Haha! and that’s about it.

I am most looking forward to: my youngest becoming a big sister & her reaction to a baby along with my eldest becoming the “leader” of the babies. (In her own words)

Advice I’ve been given lately: be kind to yourself and do something for you. I think this is very important as mother’s we lose ourselves and who we are.

The hardest thing about being pregnant is: Lack of energy, nausea and not being able to enjoy this pregnancy like I have the last two. 

My favourite part of being pregnant would be: when I found out, and feeling the fluttering begin which makes the pregnancy feel real.

When I think about how much my life will change, I feel: overwhelmed, excited & nervous.

If I could say anything to my baby right now it would be: I do love you, I do care, I do want you and we can’t wait till you are here. 


If after reading this you’d be happy to share your own experience of pregnancy, please email me at hello@shesaidyes.co.nz to send you one of the pages (or you can send a photo of your own pregnancy journal)

23 Weeks Pregnant – First Baby, first grandchild

With just under 18 weeks to go, things are full speed ahead, but she feels ready and happy to share how she is feeling just over halfway in her pregnancy.

What’s the best piece of pregnancy advice you’ve received so far? This is our first pregnancy, it’s first grandchild in the family, and both my partner and I are first in our friend groups to have a baby. So, we don’t get too much advice, but oh man, the grandparents are excited! I am very grateful to have the support we have on both sides.

Any morning Sickness? I didn’t have morning sickness; I mainly just felt a bit tired and groggy. I have however constantly hiccupped throughout this journey which my co-workers make fun of saying, “ribbet!” I had zero appetite in my first trimester meaning toast for dinner, however now in 2nd trimester it’s come back in full force. The strangest thing, not sick the whole first trimester, and then I do two prenatal Pilates class, and throw up in both! It makes me a little scared to return…

Will you find out babys gender? In terms of elaborating on other parts of pregnancy, we both decided we wanted to know the gender when we could, which is a boy! Everyone in the circle except for grandparents thought boy (including my partner) so I wasn’t surprised when he was a boy. However, me being a girl with no brothers, I find it a bit of ‘the unknown’! But either way we would’ve been happy.

My partner and I don’t actually live together yet, and neither of us have ever lived with partners, so this year will be a massive year of changes. From moving in together from flatting situations for the first time this August, to having our baby in October, many firsts to come!


If after reading this you’d be happy to share your own experience of pregnancy, please email me at hello@shesaidyes.co.nz to send you one of the pages (or you can send a photo of your own pregnancy journal)

18 Weeks Pregnant – Surrogate Pregnancy

Baby is the size of a: Capsicum.

Cravings: Carbs! Give me all the hot chips!

Symptoms: Nothing currently so enjoying these few weeks before heartburn kicks in!

I’ve been feeling: Great! Time is absolutely flying by! I’m so busy with my own three kids that I don’t really get a chance to stop and think or dwell too much. 

My partner has been: The most incredibly supportive guy in the world. Having your wife carry a child for another couple isn’t exactly an everyday occurrence, but he’s been with me every step of the way, my biggest supporter, will go to the supermarket late at night to get mint chocolate and puts up with my mood swings. 

I feel anxious about: Hormones post birth. Being a surrogate, bubs obviously goes to parents from birth and I CAN NOT wait to witness this incredible moment but I’d be lying if I said I wasn’t apprehensive about how I’ll feel in the weeks following. My heart will be happy, it’ll just be an adjustment period of waiting for my body to settle and realise it’s all good. 

When I need to relax I: Jump in a scolding hot shower, comfy pjs then bed! I’m a total Nana and not ashamed to admit it!

When I see my body I feel: Incredibly proud! It grew and nourished my three children, was home to my three angel babies if only for a short time and is now helping to make another couple’s dream come true. I will never take that for granted.

The most helpful person to talk to recently has been: Two friends who have also been surrogates. These amazing women have been a wealth of knowledge and guidance and I’m so grateful to be able to flick them a message at any time.

Diet/exercise/sleep/stress: My diet is fairly standard except the hot chips I’m living on! Exercise is pretty much non-existent however I’m all my feet all day at work. Sleep is good (touch wood!) Stress is inevitable being a busy working mum and also studying part time but I’m a sucker for punishment! Just have to take each day as it comes….

If I could say anything to baby right now it would be: It’s not my baby but I can’t wait to meet my little womb mate, you have the most amazing Dad’s waiting patiently for you!

If after reading this you’d be happy to share your own experience of pregnancy, please email me at hello@shesaidyes.co.nz to send you one of the pages (or you can send a photo of your own pregnancy journal)

26 Weeks Pregnant – Restless sleep

Week 26

Baby is the size of a: Red Cabbage.

Cravings: Kiwifruit & Chocolate

Symptoms: Tired, sore lower stomach

Weight: 60kgs

I’ve been feeling: TIRED! Suppose that this normal being pregnant with a toddler. Been really sore in my tummy, like growing pains/stretching. I have found this pregnancy very different to my first. I was sick this time as well but it was a lot later in my pregnancy and resulted in me having to go on anti nausea medication.

My sleep has been: Very up and down, I’m up a lot to pee and have been for a while. Some nights I’m tossing and turning lots, other nights I’m sleeping well.

This week I learned: More info on perineal massage/hot compress and the injection you receive to birth the placenta.

I feel happiest when: I get a well-rested sleep. Feel my little bubba move.

I hope my parenting style is: Relaxed and easy going like I am with our toddler.

Before baby arrives, I would like too: Have the nursery set up, toddler in a big girl bed and baby clothes all washed.

Advice I would give a friend about the second trimester is: Rest when you can, get a massage, go on holiday. Enjoy feeling your baby move.

How I’m going with diet, exercise, sleep, stress, and other health goals: I’m eating a balanced diet and not being super strict. My exercise is running after a 2-year-old. Sleep is up and down; I do need to start going to bed earlier. Feeling a bit stressed with other personal things in life. I found myself feeling way more tired this time, but I suppose that comes with being pregnant and running round after a toddler. The last few weeks I have found myself feeling less tired and more energized, my first pregnancy I remember feeling amazing through my whole second trimester, this time has definitely been different. I been waking for a while now needing to pee 2-4 times a night. I‘ve been trying to rest and relax when I can and start organizing bits and pieces for bubba. We need to start talking more about names. I’m so excited I have 13 weeks left I’m so excited for bubba to arrive. 

What have you struggled with in this pregnancy? I lost weight and struggled to put it on round 12 weeks as I was struggling that much to eat and was that sick. I ate a lot of bread and only wanted salty things opposed to last time where I wanted sweet a lot. In the beginning I just ate what I could keep down or made me feel okay, sometimes I just needed to get through the day.

Will you find out babies’ gender? At my anatomy scan we found out what we are having, we were told we are expecting another little girl (we were both so sure we were having a boy this time)  I then went to my midwife appointment the week after, where I got really worried as my backup midwife was reading through my scan notes and I felt she was acting a bit strange, and I remember at my scan being told baby looked good and there were no concerns. She then read to me that they wanted me to go back for another scan as they were not 100% sure I was having a girl. I was told that in my scan it looked like she had clitoral hypertrophy and wanted me to go back for another scan at 32 weeks to make sure I wasn’t actually having a boy or that it had settled down and it is a girl. I was told this is common with girls and goes away so it’s nothing to worry about which made me feel better and less worried.

If I could say anything to my baby right now, what would it be: You are so loved already, and we all can’t wait for you to be here, especially your big sister!

If after reading this you’d be happy to share your own experience of pregnancy, please email me at hello@shesaidyes.co.nz to send you one of these pages (or you can send a photo of your own pregnancy journal).

20 Weeks Pregnant after Miscarriage

Baby is the size of a: banana 
Current weight: 69kg (3.5kg gained)
Cravings: None weirdly 
Symptoms: Very sore sciatic nerve and ligament pain 

How have you been feeling: Very nervous up to this point, until I had my 20 week scan on Monday which confirmed a happy, healthy, growing baby. I lost a baby mid last year and found out at my 12 week scan, all alone during level 3 lockdown.

Do you feel comfortable sharing your miscarriage experience? I discovered I had miscarried when I went for my 12 week scan. I had a dating scan at 7 weeks which showed a heartbeat, had been to the midwife at 10 weeks and she had found a heartbeat on her monitor but we couldn’t hear it as baby was sitting down by my hip but there was a clear 144bpm reading on her monitor, she even showed it to me.

I had no health issues at all, regular exercise, eating all approved pregnancy foods etc. I had been feeling my usual pregnancy symptoms daily, no sign of any changes, no cramping, no bleeding or anything. The night before my scan we went into level 3 lockdown and I was disappointed that my husband wouldn’t be able to come along to see baby growing.

I turned up for my scan alone and when she put the scanning machine (no idea it’s technical name haha), the uterus was big and black.

There was a small object on the left side which was the baby. Unfortunately there was no blood flow, no heartbeat and no growth from what she thought could have been 9 weeks. I told her about how we’d seen a heartbeat recording at 10 weeks and she was confused. I burst into tears and let her finish doing what she needed to do. I left the scan clinic and sat in my car crying for a solid 5 minutes before ringing my husband. He luckily only was 5 minutes down the road in his office and came up to meet me. The rest of the day was a blur, my husband came home and took over looking after our son while my mum went home.

The next couple of days I just cried on and off and tried to focus on the positive that I had my son and he was healthy and happy. I was thinking I’m lucky I’ve got one healthy one.

My midwife was very supportive and checked in on me for those days until the hospital rang me. I had three choices; one was to naturally miscarry when my body was ready. I knew this wasn’t going to work, I had no cramping at all, my body had held onto this fetus already for at least a week or two with no symptoms. Option 2 was to take tablets to soften my cervix which I wasn’t interested in as I knew a couple of people who had done this and ended up at a&e with bad bleeding. I went with option 3 which was surgery to remove the tissue.

The following week, exactly a week after my scan I went in for surgery. At this point I had accepted mentally what had happened and was feeling a little better about things. Surgery went well, little pain, usual 12 days of bleeding and results showed nothing unusual. 7 weeks later I had a period. 7 weeks after that my period hadn’t come. I took a pregnancy test which showed a positive result. I knew I wasn’t pregnant and booked in to see my GP that arvo. Long story short, after having to be referred back to hospital for scans and bloods, it showed 2cm of tissue had been missed in surgery.  This was 16 weeks post last op.

So I was booked in three days later for surgery round 2. This surgery wasn’t great. They put a camera up to check they had got everything and cut my cervix which needed stitches. I was in serious pain for a good 10 days, saw my GP twice to get checked etc. eventually 17 days post op, I stopped bleeding and had a scan to check nothing was left. We were finally at the end of the ordeal. My HCG level was finally 0 and I could move on.

Two months later, two periods as recommended, I got pregnant again and I was excited but so nervous! So glad that this one has stuck and is growing well!! 

I’m most excited about: Seeing my toddler become a big brother and welcoming a new life into our family finally!
I can’t wait to be able to: Cuddle, nuture and grow a new life outside of the womb and celebrate all the exciting milestones with a second baby. 

When I see my body I feel: So happy this life has survived and excited to see my stomach expanding as baby grows and develops inside me. I feel a lot bigger this time round too but it’s a nice feeling too. 

The first time I felt my baby move: I haven’t felt him move yet as my placenta is anterior, this hasn’t helped with my worries of baby not growing but I know in the next couple of weeks I’ll start to feel those movements. I’m super excited to be able to feel the kicks and hiccups again. 

The best thing about the last week has been: My 20 week scan, seeing my beautiful boy growing, all his fingers and toes, his face and all his gorgeous features.

When strangers react to my pregnancy I feel: a lot bigger as they often think I’m a lot further along than I am. 

How I am going with exercise, sleep, diet, stress and other health goals: I’m keeping up with my weekly boot camps which I’m super proud of. I’m going for daily walks with the toddler and dog and am super proud I can still chase my toddler around at this stage. Sleep isn’t the best with a toddler who hasn’t appreciated much sleep his life but I try and nap when possible. 

If I could say anything to my baby right now it would be: Keep growing little bub, I can’t wait to meet you when you are big and strong so you can learn so much from the world and your big brother too!

If after reading this you’d be happy to share your own experience of pregnancy, please email me at hello@shesaidyes.co.nz to send you one of these pages (or you can send a photo of your own pregnancy journal)

26 Weeks Pregnant After Miscarriage: Endometriosis and Rheumatoid Arthritis

I am incredibly grateful to the soon to be first time Mama for sharing so generously and openly about her chronic health conditions, the loss of her first pregnancy last year, and her journey with her second pregnancy, now at 26 weeks gestation. When I read her 26 week diary entry, I saw that she experienced a miscarriage prior to this, and asked her if she was comfortable elaborating.

I hope you get as much out of this as I do. Thank you again Mama.

I wondered how you would feel about sharing more details around your previous pregnancy loss?

I don’t mind sharing at all. So I have Rheumatoid Arthritis and the treatment for that consists of certain medications that are not compatible with getting pregnant as they harm the baby. So before I even attempted to get pregnant I had to come off my medications for 3 months prior. With RA being worse in winter I literally planned it with the seasons so I stopped in August, to mean coming into Summer I would hopefully conceive quickly. Although we didn’t know if that was the case, as I also have Endometriosis.

I was really lucky to conceive first time in November but that ended in December at only 5 weeks. I think the worst thing was I felt responsible because I felt like my body had failed me (this is also a common feeling with chronic disease). I was also really surprised about how upset I was considering I was so early.  Being a nurse I knew the medical stuff but never considered the emotional stuff.

We were so lucky to again conceive straight after that miscarriage, however the first trimester my anxiety about losing it was 10/10.

Constantly thinking at anytime the pregnancy would fail. That was really hard. I couldn’t bring myself to even look at baby stuff till about 16 weeks.

So here we are at 26 weeks, and then baby is measuring small (not uncommon with RA) and now dealing with my joints starting to play up again. It’s a constant mind game of ‘is my disease harming my baby’ and also being pregnant but also dealing with the joint pain that’s unseen to everyone around you.

I think if I could give any advice it would be… to try and trust your body can do it even after a loss/trouble conceiving. Which is so hard because that also means giving up a sense of control.

If after reading this you’d be happy to share your own experience of pregnancy, please email me at hello@shesaidyes.co.nz to send you one of these pages (or you can send a photo of your own pregnancy journal).

14 Weeks – Second Pregnancy after C Section Induction “Surviving not thriving”

I just love this honest and candid reflection on this Mama’s first pregnancy and induction, and how that’s impacted her second pregnancy. I’ll let her start with her reflections and then share her experience at 14 Weeks Pregnant this time around.

My first pregnancy I was really sick until 23 weeks and got into a really bad headspace.

I wasn’t excited, I felt so guilty and then felt I’d be punished, and something would happen to the baby. It was ridiculous but I couldn’t help it.

As soon as the sickness lifted, it was like I could see clearly and it made a huge difference.

Towards the end of my pregnancy, Olivia dropped from the 35th percentile at 32 weeks to the 11th at 36 weeks. so from then I was in hospital multiple times a week being monitored. I found the communication was shocking. I’d be sent home, then called back – being abused for leaving. It was ridiculous and very stressful.

Olivia’s heart rate was up and down and when I was home I could barely sleep, just making sure I could feel her move. 

At 38 weeks I was induced, they decided she was better to be monitored on the outside. Three days of being induced and I was exhausted. They tried everything! I ended up having a Caesarian Section. We were both calm and relaxed, Livi’s heart and mine were fine but it was a failure and we decided to just move forward.

She was born at a tiny 2.4kg! Perfect and healthy, Just small. It wasn’t a bad birth, it was just long and tiring. – she’s now 95th percentile and perfectly chunky!

This pregnancy, I’ve opted for an elective C-section, and will be interesting to see how the baby grows. I’m not nervous. I like the idea of knowing exactly when the baby is coming. I think my headspace is so much better with this sickness because I now know the end result is so worth it. Olivia lights up our world and we just can’t get enough of her. I didn’t know I could love something so much it hurts.

The idea of a second child… and of that love doubling. I don’t know how my heart won’t just explode or ache for all eternity!! We just can’t wait!

14 Weeks Pregnant – Baby is the size of a peach! 

My Weight – 95.4kg 

Cravings – salty chips and potato!

I’ve been feeling… Over it! I have a 8 month old daughter, and being this sick and tired is awful. I feel I can’t give her my whole self because I have to take it easy. 

I’m most excited about… meeting the little bean. I just want to know what it looks like!! 

I’m most nervous about… sleepless nights again.

I’m starting to think about… names and nursery decorations. 

The worst symptoms have been… headaches, sickness and exhaustion. 

The best part of my week has been… a HSP for lunch – its the small things!

When I wonder about the gender… I think it will be lovely for my little one to have a little sister but would also be nice to have one of eac. we find out in two weeks what we are having! 

How I’m going with diet, exercise, sleep, stress and other health goals... health goals are a little out the window right now. Lockdown (Melbourne) doesn’t help but also I’m surviving not thriving right now. 

If I could say anything to my baby right now it would be: I cannot wait to meet you, all this is so worth it. 

If after reading this you’d be happy to share your own experience of pregnancy, please email me at hello@shesaidyes.co.nz to send you one of these pages (or you can send a photo of your own pregnancy journal pages).

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