3 weeks of leave before baby due - what to do

[Joppi]

I’ll be starting mat leave before due date (I know it will be 40 weeks latest for me as I have GD)

I know it’s been asked many times before, but any suggestions for what solo things to do in this time? My partner will be working during the day.

so far I’ve got cinema trips, walking, reading, podcasts, haircut, facial/massage, cafe, local socialising, tv shows!

I’ve seen batch cooking mentioned but don’t think ill be bothered with that and unfortunately I don’t have a bath so no relaxing baths are on the cards!

any other ideas would be appreciated!

And also recommendations for light hearted shows like modern family, Office US also appreciated! 😊

Sleep, batch cook (single portions), go to the cinema and sleep some more.

I thought i was going to have this and baby made an unexpected appearance at 37.5weeks! So i would say get all the "important" stuff done first. Nursery finished, house cleaned, hospital bag packed etc. If you don't want to batch cook, look into filling the freezer with some healthy ready meals you can eat one handed (we found the ones from Cook to be really good).

I very foolishly thought I'll have a few days relaxing after work first and then crack on with everything else. Only for baby to arrive and none of it got done for quite a while 🫣😂

For sitcoms, try Parks and Rec, Community, Brooklyn 99, Arrested Development. I watched the entirety of the West Wing (again) , Bridgerton and Chicago Fire whilst i was on mat leave as well 🤣

Swimming 3x a week.

What I will say is, don't waste it on sleeping! Unless you like sleep a lot

Newborns often sleep and just sleep. It's boring! I was waiting for this anxious time where it would be 'all systems go'.

Wasn't tired at all until toddlerhood, now that was an experience

“Superstore” is a great show. It’s hillarious!

Just put on your shoes grab your keys and phone and leave the house. Just like that, in 30 seconds. Appreciate it.

Swimming is good or just floating around in the last few weeks.

Look up bf support or baby social groups.

My children’s didn’t sleep until they were 2/3 years old and then not through the night.

Relax as much as you can, enjoy being able to leave the house on a whim without planning it like a military operation.

Yep, I did loads of swimming and very much enjoyed it.

Also have lie-ins. You may get an angelic baby who sleeps til 8am every day and naps like a dream…but you might get an angelic PITA who JUST WON’T SLEEP for a while. It is a gamble so just enjoy some leisurely mornings just in case!

You may not want to batch cook, but then make a plan for what/how you will cook in the first few weeks- our freezer full of food was seriously a god send. Husband was doing so much looking after us and the house and sorting other meals that I am glad I didn't make him sort dinners too. We had feeding issues, mastitis, thrush etc etc so some days were really hard - so not having to cook, but having good food to eat, was amazing.

Another who agrees with swimming.

I lived abroad in a hot country and had a communal pool in our apartment block.

I want on maternity at 38 weeks and floated around the pool 3 times a day until ds showed up 3 weeks later. It was bliss

I'd also read as much as you can and meet as many friends as you can.

You'll want those friends still interested in a few months time!

Thanks all - lots of good ideas here! @CrispAppleStrudels ill give community a go!
@Beachbreak2411 love superstore! Might re-watch.

Good advice - will stock up freezer with shortcut ingredients/COOK ready meals type thing!

Lots of posters suggesting swimming! Sorry for silly question - I’m guessing thats all good to do close to due date?

Thanks

Go to the cinema! It could be a while before you're back.

Yes swimming is fine.

The water carries your weight.

If you didn't exercise before pregnancy then just take it easy.

One of biggest things for me wasn't cinema as you can take babies to the cinema, is watching what you like on a large screen at home.

Floating almost weightless in warm water? Not having baby pulling on your back, hips, ribs for a while? Cool water on ankles and feet that have been lugging around both of you and the baby's additional packaging for months in the middle of summer?

Seriously, unless you ignore back pains coming at five minute intervals when you're in the deep end or decide to hurl yourself off the highest board in an effort to get to the bottom of the diving pool, it'll be fine.

Plenty of walking to get baby to head south and get in the right position, my MW was very pro-walking for strength in hips and thighs, she was convinced it helped with pushing. DD was born in 1 push after 4.5 hrs active Labour following induction with pessary. No idea if the walking helped but I figure it probably didn't hurt.

Other than that just enjoy chilling out, I worked right up to a few days before my induction date so didn't get much time for it.

Ok great re swimming - I used to go 3x a week so am confident in water. A friend of mine said she didn’t go close to her date and I didn’t know the reason why but sounds like it’s totally fine.

@FatAgainItsLettuceTime yes! Doing lots of walking recently and hope to continue. Doctors have said being active can encourage labour before the 40 weeks. 1 push sounds great!

For Cook meals, check out their 10% off for a year for new parents card. They also do a 14night 2x box for new parents which is well priced (for Cook!)

Take time to go through your 1000s of photos and ditch ones that are rubbish or you don't want your child to find in 20 years time.