Can You Start a New Hobby While Pregnant?

During pregnancy doesn’t seem like the ideal time to start a hobby, does it? In reality, pregnancy is one of the best times to start a hobby! Starting a new hobby while pregnant is great for your mental health and provides something that you can continue after birth during the newborn phase (trust us, that time for yourself is worth it).

The struggle comes with finding the right balance between life and your hobby as well as finding a hobby that integrates well into your life and interests. For example, now is probably not the time to start deep-sea diving – but, it might be the ideal time to start quilting or reading.

Making Time for a New Hobby During Pregnancy

It’s all about balance during pregnancy – the balance between what you can do and what you want to do, at least for yourself. Between morning sickness and nausea during the first trimester and being completely uncomfortable during the third trimester, we moms find ourselves dealing with an unintentional rearranging of our schedule to cope with the not-so-glamorous parts of pregnancy. One of the ways I was able to cope was by starting a new hobby.

During the times when I would sit and watch TV, go on long road trips, or even the nights and mornings when I couldn’t sleep due to discomfort and insomnia I would work on my hobby – quilting. Was I good at it? Not really. But it provided me with something to focus on outside of being pregnant and eventually I did get better and made a blanket for my son.

7 Simple Hobbies You Can Start While Pregnant

After you’ve determined that you’re going to make time for your new hobby, you have to choose an appropriate hobby to start! Your hobby should be a mixture of something that can easily travel with you, is okay while pregnant, and doesn’t have huge start-up funds.

These are a few that we recommend trying out:

#1. Quilting

I start with quilting because I found it very relaxing during my pregnancies – although I never continued the hobby afterward. Quilting can travel easily with you and there are tons of kits online that provide everything you need plus easy-to-follow directions.

#2. Photography

With everyone essentially owning a smartphone and the camera quality being what it is, photography is a great hobby to start and easy to start right now. Watch some Youtube videos to get some pro tips before you jump in or just experiment to see what you personally like. Plus, once you’re a pro in smartphone photography, you’ll be able to take amazing photos of your baby once they’re born!

#3. Yoga

More specifically, prenatal yoga. Yoga is a fun hobby to start while pregnant and really gets you stretched and relaxed during your pregnancy. You should always consult your doctor before starting yoga and inform your yoga instructor. Luckily, yoga is also possible during the newborn stage so you’ll have a hobby you can easily continue.

#4. Reading

Reading is a hobby – or at least it takes up as much time as one. Reading is a great option for soon-to-be moms that want a hobby that can go with them wherever they are. A book can easily travel with you or sit by your favorite reading spot – or, if you’re more into reading on the go, you can look into a Kindle or get Kindle Unlimited for your phone. Audible is a great option too if you’re not interested in reading a book.

#5. Cooking or Baking

Now might be the perfect time to start cooking and baking! Not only will you enjoy your creations, but you’ll be able to experiment with both complicated and simple recipes. This will help you post-partum when it’s hard to find a designated time to cook full meals, especially in the beginning. Tiktok has a few amazing and simple recipes thanks to all the creators.

#6. Video Gaming

Don’t knock it until you’ve tried it. With the diversity of video games and video game styles, you’re very likely to find a video game that you love. For example, if you need something to preoccupy your time with without the violence of what you see on TV, I recommend investing in a Nintendo Switch and checking out Animal Crossing. Or, if you like games with slightly more adventure and action, try out Legend of Zelda.

#7. Embroidery

The amount of fun embroidery patterns that exist is just amazing – you can find a pattern for nearly anything and everything. Embroidery is a great hobby for expecting mothers as it’s easy to learn, easy to carry with you, and doesn’t require you to dedicate an entire room – or a lot of time – to do. You can embroider as you go and finish when you can.

How to Find a Hobby That’s Right for You

It’s very possible that none of the hobbies listed above interested you at all – and that’s okay. Part of finding and enjoying a hobby is choosing one that interests you and not everyone is going to have the same or even similar, interests even if you’re an expecting mother. For example, not everyone is going to love crafty hobbies. You may prefer physical hobbies like walking or yoga.

Do some research, watch some Youtube, or scroll through Tiktok. These are all great ways to be introduced to hobbies you didn’t know existed. And, if you find one you like but you’re not sure if it’s okay during your pregnancy, reach out to your doctor or midwife. They’ll be able to help you decide if it’s safe for you and your baby and if you can participate both in early pregnancy and in late pregnancy.

Still not sure about which hobby is perfect for you during your pregnancy? Comment your thoughts down below!