Pregnancy can feel incredibly long while you are living through it, especially when you are tired, uncomfortable, worried about birth, or simply counting down the weeks until you finally meet your baby.

But once it is over, there may be little moments you unexpectedly miss. The growing belly. Feeling your baby move. Quiet evenings before the newborn stage begins. The anticipation of wondering what your baby will look like.

Years ago, I asked other mothers what they wished they had done differently during pregnancy. Their answers were surprisingly varied. Some wished they had taken more photos. Others wished they had relaxed more, exercised, spent more time with their partner, prepared better for postpartum life, or simply appreciated the experience while it lasted.

Having gone through pregnancy myself, I understand many of those feelings. So if you are pregnant right now, here are some meaningful and practical things to do during pregnancy so you are less likely to look back with regret later.

A quick note before we begin: pregnancy is different for everyone. You do not need to create a “perfect pregnancy” or complete everything on this list. Take what feels useful and leave the rest.

1. Take More Pregnancy Photos Than You Think You Need

This was one of the most common regrets mothers shared with me.

You may not always feel beautiful while pregnant. Your body is changing, you may feel swollen or exhausted, and posing for photographs can be the last thing on your mind.

But years later, you may be very glad you have those pictures.

You do not need an expensive professional maternity photo shoot.

Take simple photos at home. Photograph your belly from the side every few weeks.

Take pictures with your partner and older children. Capture ordinary moments rather than waiting for the perfect outfit, location or hairstyle.

Even a few casual phone photos can become incredibly meaningful later.

You may also want to record a short video when your baby is moving strongly enough for you to see the kicks from the outside.

Those little movements that feel so normal during pregnancy eventually become memories.

Related:

14 things to do to your baby in his first year so that you will not regret14 things to do to your baby in his first year so that you will not regret.

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2. Write Down the Little Things You Think You’ll Remember Forever:

Pregnancy contains so many tiny details that are surprisingly easy to forget. You may think you will always remember:

• the first time you felt your baby kick
• the foods you constantly craved
• the strange dreams you had
• the nickname you used for the baby
• how you felt when you saw the first ultrasound
• the moment you found out whether you were having a boy or girl
• your partner’s reaction to the pregnancy
• funny things older siblings said about the baby

But life becomes incredibly busy once your baby arrives.

Keep a small pregnancy journal, make notes in your phone, or record occasional voice notes.

You do not have to write every day. Even a few sentences each month can become something precious to look back on.

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3. Spend a Few Quiet Minutes Connecting With Your Baby:

One mother told me she wished she had spent more time simply appreciating her baby while he was still inside her. I loved that answer.

Pregnancy often becomes a long checklist of appointments, shopping, preparing the nursery and worrying about labour.

Sometimes we forget there is already a little person accompanying us everywhere.

You might spend a few quiet minutes touching your belly, talking to your baby,

praying for them, listening to something peaceful, or simply noticing their movements.

You do not need to turn it into another task.

Just allow yourself occasionally to enjoy the strange and beautiful fact that your baby is with you before anyone else has even met them.

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4. Make Time for Your Partner Before Life Changes:

If this is your first baby especially, life as a couple is about to change dramatically.

That does not mean negatively, but newborn life can temporarily revolve around feeding, changing, soothing and trying to sleep whenever possible.

Several mothers told me they wished they had spent more intentional time with their partners before the baby arrived.

• Go out for dinner.
• Watch a movie together.
• Have breakfast somewhere you love.
• Take a short getaway if your pregnancy, finances and circumstances allow it.
• Or simply order food after the house is quiet and spend an evening together without discussing baby equipment.

It does not need to be a big “babymoon.” The point is simply to enjoy being together before your family enters its next chapter.

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5. Rest Without Feeling Guilty:

This one sounds obvious until you become a mother and suddenly realize how rare uninterrupted rest can become.

Several mothers I asked wished they had spent more of their maternity leave doing absolutely nothing.

• Reading
• Watching television.
• Sleeping.
• Sitting outside with a drink.
• Taking long showers.
• Doing whatever made them feel relaxed.

Of course, pregnancy itself can make sleeping difficult, and some women have jobs, children or responsibilities that make rest hard to come by.

But when you do have the opportunity, you do not need to feel guilty for slowing down.

Rest is not laziness.

Your body is already doing an extraordinary amount of work

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6. Stay Active If Your Pregnancy Allows It:

This is one of the things I personally wished I had taken more seriously.

For most people with uncomplicated pregnancies, regular physical activity is considered safe and beneficial. Australian guidance recommends working toward 150–300 minutes of moderate activity each week, depending on your health and circumstances. Walking, swimming, pregnancy-friendly yoga or Pilates, strength work and pelvic-floor exercises can all be options.

But pregnancy is not the time to compare yourself with fitness influencers or force your body through pain.

If you were inactive before pregnancy, you can usually begin gradually. And if you have pregnancy complications or are unsure what is appropriate for you, speak with your doctor or midwife before starting or changing your exercise routine.

Even a comfortable daily walk can make you feel better physically and mentally.

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7. Learn How to Do Pelvic-Floor Exercises Properly:

Pelvic-floor exercises are easy to ignore because you cannot see the muscles working.

But pregnancy and childbirth place significant pressure on the pelvic floor.

Regular pelvic-floor exercises during pregnancy can help support the bladder, bowel and uterus and may reduce problems such as urinary leakage.

If you are unsure whether you are activating the correct muscles, a pelvic-health physiotherapist or healthcare professional can teach you.

This is one of those small habits your future self may genuinely appreciate.

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8. Eat Well — Without Expecting Perfection:

Pregnancy nutrition can easily become another source of guilt. You do not need to eat perfectly at every meal.

Morning sickness, food aversions, exhaustion and cravings can make pregnancy eating unpredictable.

Instead, aim for an overall pattern of nourishing food: vegetables and fruit, wholegrains, protein foods, dairy or suitable alternatives, and plenty of fluids. Pregnancy, Birth and Baby also emphasizes that you do not need to literally “eat for two.”

Take any supplements recommended for your pregnancy. In Australia, folic acid and iodine are routinely recommended, although individual needs differ, so supplements should be discussed with your doctor, midwife, pharmacist or dietitian.

Do your best without turning every meal into a test you can fail.

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9. Keep Up With Your Prenatal Care

Some pregnancy memories are about enjoyment. Others are simply about looking after yourself and your baby.

Attend your recommended prenatal appointments and ask questions when something worries you.

Talk openly with your healthcare professional about medicines and supplements, symptoms, vaccines, food safety, mental health, exercise and anything else you are unsure about.

Avoid alcohol during pregnancy and seek support if you need help stopping smoking or vaping.

Australian health guidance advises avoiding alcohol during pregnancy and states there is no safe amount of smoking or vaping during pregnancy.

You never need to feel embarrassed about asking for help.

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10. Prepare for Labour — But Accept That Birth May Not Follow the Plan:

One mother told me she regretted reaching labour feeling completely unprepared.
Learning about labour before the final weeks can make the unknown feel less intimidating.
You might learn about:

• stages of labour
• contractions
• pain-relief options
• induction
• assisted birth
• caesarean birth
• breathing and relaxation techniques
• what happens immediately after birth
• when to contact your hospital or maternity unit

You can also write down your birth preferences. But think of them as preferences rather than promises.

Birth can change quickly, and needing a different kind of delivery does not mean you failed.

Preparation should give you knowledge and confidence, not create another standard you feel pressured to meet.

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11. Prepare for Postpartum Life — Not Just the Birth:

This is one of the biggest things I would emphasize now. Pregnancy preparation often stops at: “How will I give birth?”

But birth lasts a relatively short time.

Postpartum life lasts much longer.

Before your baby arrives, think about practical questions such as:

• Who could bring food?
• Who could help with older children?
• Who could do school runs or shopping?
• Who could you call if you were overwhelmed?
• What household jobs could temporarily be ignored or delegated?
• Could you freeze a few meals?
• Where will feeding supplies, nappies and baby clothes be stored?

Preparation does not eliminate the challenges of having a newborn, but it can remove some unnecessary pressure.

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12. Learn About Postpartum Mental Health:

Postpartum depression is not something a mother can simply learn to “avoid.”

It is a real health condition, and it can happen even when someone has done everything “right.”

What you can do during pregnancy is learn what signs to watch for and know where you would seek help.

Postnatal depression can include persistent low mood, hopelessness, anxiety, difficulty enjoying things, trouble concentrating, sleep difficulties beyond normal newborn disruption, or difficulty bonding with the baby.

Treatment and support are available, and getting help early matters.

Mental-health difficulties can also begin during pregnancy, so if anxiety, sadness or distress are affecting your daily life, talk with your doctor or maternity-care provider rather than waiting until after the birth.

Knowing this information beforehand may make it easier to recognize when you need support.

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13. Prepare the Essentials, but Don’t Feel You Need Everything:

It is very easy to believe a newborn needs an enormous amount of stuff. They usually do not.

Focus first on practical essentials:

• a safe place to sleep
• appropriate clothing
• nappies
• feeding supplies relevant to your plans
• basic bathing and changing supplies
• an appropriate car restraint if you drive
• a few blankets or wraps as appropriate
• postpartum essentials for yourself

You can buy other things later once you discover what you and your baby actually use.

Preparing enough to make the first few weeks easier is helpful. Trying to create a Pinterest-perfect nursery before the baby arrives is optional.

What do you really need for a newborn

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14. Make a Few Freezer Meals:

This was another answer mothers gave me years ago, and I still think it is one of the most practical suggestions.

When you are caring for a newborn, even deciding what to cook can feel exhausting.

You do not need a freezer containing 50 beautifully labelled meals. Even five or six familiar dishes can help.

Think about meals that reheat well:

• soups
• casseroles
• pasta sauces
• curries
• cooked meat dishes
• muffins or breakfast foods

You can also stock simple pantry and freezer staples. Future exhausted-you may be very grateful to pregnant-you.

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15. Do at Least One Thing That Makes This Pregnancy Feel Like Yours:

Not everybody wants a gender-reveal party.

Not everybody wants a baby shower.

Not everybody wants maternity photographs, a belly cast, a babymoon or a detailed pregnancy scrapbook.

And that is completely fine.

The mothers I originally spoke with regretted different things because they valued different things.

One wished she had taken maternity photographs.

Another wished she had gone swimming.

Someone wished she had attended a concert.

Another wished she had bought comfortable maternity clothes and a body pillow.

The lesson is not that you need to complete a pregnancy bucket list. It is this:

Do at least one thing that you personally will be glad you experienced.

• Maybe it is a maternity photo shoot.
• Maybe it is a quiet weekend away.
• Maybe it is planting a tree for your baby.
• Maybe it is writing them a letter.
• Maybe it is eating dinner with your husband while talking about what you imagine your baby will be like.

Your pregnancy does not need to look like anyone else’s.

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Things You Don’t Need to Regret:

There is another side to this conversation that I think is important. You do not need to regret:

• not loving every minute of pregnancy.
• Not looking glamorous
• Not having a baby shower.
• Not documenting every week.
• Not having the perfect nursery.
• Not exercising as much as you hoped because you were sick or exhausted.
• Not having the birth you imagined.
• Not feeling instantly bonded to pregnancy.
• Not being endlessly grateful and happy.

Pregnancy can be beautiful and difficult at the same time. Sometimes simply getting through it safely is enough.

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A Simple Pregnancy “No Regrets” Checklist:

Before your baby arrives, you might like to:

• take a few bump photos
• record your baby’s movements
• write down favourite pregnancy memories
• spend intentional time with your partner
• rest whenever you reasonably can
• stay active if medically appropriate
• practise pelvic-floor exercises
• eat nourishing food and take recommended supplements
• attend prenatal appointments
• learn about labour and birth
• prepare a small postpartum support plan
• learn the signs of postpartum mental-health problems
• prepare essential baby items
• freeze a few meals
• choose one special thing you want to remember from this pregnancy

That is enough.

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