Make a Memory with me: documenting pregnancy through photos

When I fell pregnant with my first child in January 2022, I was overjoyed. For as long as I can remember, I have wanted to be a mother. I was the broodiest in my friendship group at school, and dreamed of being a young mum. Of course, life often has other things in store, and at 34 I was slightly older than the average age of a first time mum when I did become pregnant. 

As soon as I saw those two lines on the pregnancy test, I knew that I wanted to enjoy every moment of my much longed-for pregnancy (morning sickness, acid reflux and snoring aside, of course). I read every book, listened to every podcast, and followed every mummy influencer I could find on Instagram. I thought about names, bought teeny tiny baby clothes and assembled flatpack nursery furniture. Pregnancy was very much my Mastermind subject. 

My changing body in particular was magical to me. I loved dressing my bump – first in leggings and oversized jumpers to disguise it, and then proudly in wrap midi-dresses from the second trimester onwards. I decided to document the various changes in my body with selfies in the mirror, so that one day I could look back on it and see how it had grown. Capturing these moments in a Popsa Photo Book seemed like the perfect way to reflect on this life-changing and special moment in my life – a testament that I could show my daughter one day.

Watching my body change

Some of my friends had expressed regrets to me over not appreciating how their body looked when they were pregnant, refusing to have their picture taken at all. I knew that I didn’t want this to be me – after all, I might never be pregnant again, so I should soak up every second. I decided to take a photo of my bump every week or so, so that I could almost watch it growing in real time. Almost every image was taken from the same angle, in the same mirror in my living room, providing a continuous background so that I could see my changing shape. It’s amazing not only to see it grow but track it with the seasons too, as it gets bigger as the year progresses from winter through to late summer. 

The first photo I took of my “bump” was mere hours after seeing my pregnancy test result. Despite the fact I was at most six weeks pregnant, I was convinced that I could see a tiny bump. I always laugh when I look back on this now, because of course, there was nothing of the sort. I also asked my partner to photograph me during our final trips away together before our daughter arrived, and I took a Polaroid camera with me on our babymoon. As my bump got bigger, I loved taking photos of it from my point of view, with a book resting on it, or a coffee. Videos of my daughter’s kicks also became a favourite thing to do. As well as photographs of my changing body, I also took pictures of our scans, including a 3D one where we can see her face for the first time. Tiny socks on a washing line, a newly assembled cot – it was all photographed for posterity.

Turning the photos into a keepsake  

Once my pregnancy was coming to an end, I realised how many images I’d collected - moments that felt deeply personal and fleeting, yet incredibly significant. I didn’t want them to live only on my phone. Creating a Popsa Photo Book allowed me to bring those moments together in one place. I chose a simple, timeless layout and arranged the images chronologically, so the story of my pregnancy could unfold page by page. Seeing the progression of my bump, alongside scans, Polaroids and small details from our preparations, made the experience feel tangible in a way digital images never quite do. Designing the book was a chance to slow down, reflect and thank my body for everything it had done. It transformed nine months of photos into something lasting, a physical reminder of a time that passed far quicker than I ever expected.

Looking back on nine months

Seeing the journey of my pregnancy in book form is particularly moving to me as it marks the end of one chapter of my life and the beginning of another. My postpartum period was not an easy one, and in some ways I want to just give a massive hug to the woman I see in these pictures, because she is not aware of what life will throw at her. I became a single mother just weeks after giving birth, so for me, these memories are even more special, as I am almost certainly not going to have any more children. The relationship that I have with my daughter is especially important to me, and it’s incredible to see how our bond began with her in my tummy. I can’t wait to show her these images one day and for her to understand that we have always been in on this adventure together. 

I would encourage any other women who are newly pregnant to pick up their phone or their camera and start snapping their pregnancy journeys too – it’s a magical, transformative period of your life, which you’ll no doubt want to look back on with your children later in life.