What to do after finishing work at 36 weeks?

[reluctantlondoner]

Planning on finishing up work at 36 weeks... AIBU?! Simply cannot face commuting for any longer. Please help me plan what to do to make the most of the time before our long awaited DC1 joins us! DH will be at work still so looking for ways to amuse myself during the days. I am hoping I will still be feeling fit and well by then so (manageable) recommendations for fun stuff welcome too, as well as practical stuff I should do to make life easier once baby is here! In case relevant: location is East London (but can travel to other parts of London / Essex / Hertfordshire etc).

Cinema
Nap
Lunch
Long bath

Repeat

Oh get any haircuts/roots dyed/manis/pedis/waxing you want done.

Declutter your house

Batch cook things.

MuddyForest nailed it.

Sleep
Eat at non child friendly place
Go to the cinema
Read
Get your hair done
Maybe do a little batch cooking, although to be honest I did that both times and didn't need it

Pottery painting! Went at 41 weeks, and it takes a surprising amount of time and concentration. That afternoon flew by 😁

(Just be careful not to knock anything off the shelves with newly grown body parts... was being so careful with my giant bump that I forgot my arse was bigger than before and smashed three ceramic cups 😳😬 SO embarrassing....)

Stock up freezer and food cupboard
Clean house
Haircut/pedicure/any other beauty treatment
Watch box sets
Sleep
Meet up with friends
Get everything ready for baby

Enjoy yourself 😊

TBH OP I would probably spend my days drifting round Westfield, you can do almost anything there :) also pop to Primark and buy some giant pants, big shirts/tshirts, joggers/leggings/jeggings for when your maternity clothes are a bit too big but your normal clothes are just a bit too tight.

Relax...

Pregnancy massage
Go to the dentist
Go to the Lido for a swim on sunny days while it's quiet mid-week
If you are near Bethnal Green go to some pregnancy yoga classes in the day

www.yogaplace.co.uk/

Another vote for getting hair done. My baby was 4 months old by the time I got mine done. Couldn’t leave him long enough to get to the hairdresser as he is ebf so got a mobile one in the end.

If you haven’t done so already pack your hospital bags. Baby could come early and you don’t want to be caught out.

Otherwise just enjoy yourself having nice lunches, catching up with people, nesting, relaxing do a bit of Yoga/swimming etc. I had 3 days of maternity leave and then my waters broke, so enjoy as much as you can! Congratulations and good luck!

Sleep
Sleep
Sleep

(I also agree about the decluttering)

Sleep and read and sleep and read

Rest
Potter
Shop
Swim
Yoga
Hairdressers

My DD's came at 37 & 38 weeks though so you might not get that much time!

I finish next Thursday at 34 weeks so if you're unreasonable, I really am! I do have 6 weeks leave that I have to take though.. plus, I'm ready for it now!

I'm planning on a lot of batch cooking, walking, taking nanna out and about and Netflix. Enjoying an afternoon nap at the moment too, which I obviously can't do when at work and I'm absolutely shattered with missing it and being up at 5.45.

I planned on finishing work at 36 weeks with DC1 but she decided to come at 34 weeks so she scuppered my plans

I’m pregnant again with DC2 and plan on finishing at around 36 weeks again this time. I think I’ll be too big and knackered to work much beyond that

Sleep, just sleep, as once baby is here you may not sleep properly again for a very long time.

I had booked a hair appt for when I was 37 weeks but as it turned out DD was 3 weeks old when I went to that appointment! Just as well probably as my previous hair appt I was 30 weeks pregnant and I found it torture sitting in the hair dressers chair for 2-3hrs. I was so uncomfortable!

Remember to take raspberry leaf extract in those last 4 weeks too! REALLY helps labour when it happens. Brilliant stuff. My midwife said not to faff with making tea, the extract you can buy in Holland and Barrett is MUCH easier.

I finished at 36 weeks too and didn't have DS until 40+2. Make the most of doing things just for you. Do however much cleaning/decluttering/batch cooking/washing of tiny clothes that want but take time for you too. I painted the downstairs hall and bathroom but also got a haircut that would last, so no roots etc, got a manicure, went for lunch.

Sleep !!!!
Unfortunately I didn't get this time with either my pregnancies finished work at 37 weeks with my first and he was born 2 days later. And then dd made her arrival at 35 almost 36 weeks.
Things I wish I could have got done.

• Packed and unpacked and repacked my hospital bag (wasn't prepared at all with dd and OH had to pack my bag and bring it to me in hospital....he didn't do a great job despite my long list !)
• Tidied and decluttered my house and sorted out babies room, stocked changing table etc
• batch cook (I ended up living off takeaways the first few weeks they were home from hospital)
• do a food shop and buy lots of lovely healthy treats for yourself
• shop for some last minute bits and pieces and a couple of nice outfits including new comfy loungewear for myself !
• hair removal if that's what u want to do ! (Unfortunately my plans for that were scuppered and I looked like a gorilla)
• catch up with friends and enjoy a meal or 2 out in a nice child free restaurant
• just enjoy some peace and quiet and time to relax and take it easy

Plenty of time for box sets on those long days where all baby wants to do is feed feed feed !

If I were you, I would focus on getting your home organized, clean, and totally uncluttered. It will be a wonderful gift for your family when the baby finally arrives, and it will also be great exercise.

I binged watched supernatural on mat leave before my DS arrived, just chillin’ in bed eating whatever I wanted, it was bliss and I haven’t had any time like that since so enjoy it whilst you can lol

Declutter your house
spend a bit of time doing this but don't get obsessive. your house will be cluttered up with baby stuff soon.

Watch boxsets, go to the cinema, go for a night out somewhere you won't be able to take the baby, go for nice relaxing afternoons in places you love particularly if you can't see yourself taking a baby there, relax and sleep when you can.

Sort through the clothes/bedding you have and give them a wash in non bio. Obviously get the crib ready and the pram and maybe a biuncer chair. Make sure you know how to attach the car seat. stock up.on nappies, breastpads, wipes, cotton wool, nappy sacs and nipple and nappy cream. Pack your hospital bag and get a list of contact numbers by the phone. Discuss with DP what you want to happen about visitors (i.e. who is visiting you in hospital/in first week etc. - make sure your expectations are the same and he hasn't invited james and Jane from work for the first week you are home)

if you are feeling really organised batch cook some meals but other wise just get loads of staple ingredients in like pasta and rice, frozen veg and meat, tins etc.

If you are sentimental buy yourself a baby book so that you can start filling it in as soon as baby is born.

Last thing i can think of is if you are planning to bfeed familiarise yourself with the local services. There will be a sure start centre nearby. The health visitor will probably visit you soon so ask them about what's on offer. In my area i got a leaflet and it included baby groups which i decided i would attend anyway but they are particularly useful if you need support with feeding.

sorry one more thing - make sure you are in agreement about the name. Choosing a name after the baby is born is stressful. I was tired and hormonal and it made the decision 10 times harder than if we had just settled on a name before - i include middle name(s) in this.

sorry if you are a reader get stocked up on good books to read while night feeding

I planned to stop at 36 weeks. DD arrived at 34. Scuppered. 🙄