To ask what you wish you had done?

[rentingSucks]

My DP and I are planning on starting to try for our first baby in about a month's time.

AIBU to ask what you wish you had done before trying to conceive? Fun and serious suggestions are welcomed!

Appreciated not having a small human depending on me for everything.

I love my son but I miss sleeping, eating with 2 hands and going to the toilet without him having to come with me!

Trampolined more, while I could take my pelvic floor for granted

There are certain holidays I wish we had done first, places you would want to go to without kids. Its not impossible to do now, they are 8 and 5 so happy to stay at grandparents for a few nights if needed but it makes things harder!

Gone to some of the Greek islands that you have to ferry to.

Being able to do things on the spur of the moment. Like tonight, you could just say, "lets pop out for dinner".

Enjoyed my flat stomach more. I exercise and I'm in pretty good shape, but the skin on my stomach will never be the same. I know I'm supposed to embrace and rejoice in the wonder that my body grew a baby but, you know.

Sleep

oh and maybe buy a designer bag...selfishly spending money on myself

Travelled more.

I'm with @AgentProvocateur. Trampolining, pogo dancing, jump squats, sneezing and ideally a really bad chest infection with hacking cough are all things you should be enjoying without pissy knickers while you can.

Another vote for travel ✈️

Appreciated lie ins more.

Went to adult only places on holiday more. Loved The peace and quiet!

Got fitter, and practiced not sleeping. Maybe joining the SAS should be included in antenatal classes?

It's not a regret, rather something we did which I'd recommend to you. We travelled loads to long haul destinations before TTC, places that would be difficult to take a small child. I figure we can easily do UK, Europe and short haul flights once our baby arrives

Had more sex. We were incredibly lucky to conceive the first time we tried for a baby.

I didn't much fancy sex when I was pregnant and when there's a tiny human about you can't 😂

Started sooner. We have fertility problems.

Went on more holidays - things abroad / exploring / relaxing where we could just do what we wanted whenever we wanted.

Travelled a little more (although still have had great fun doing it with 2 DC's, not quite as relaxing or as free!) and probably had one more "relaxing" holiday, we've travelled around a lot of America with the children and had some amazing experiences but none of which were particularly chilled out!

Explored more nice places to eat around the area we lived (again just not as easy now, esp now we're separated!!)

Just enjoyed the ability to be able to clean/go to the loo without interruption...!!

Other than that, we've enjoyed doing things with our DC's and those are the only things I can think of really!

I wish I had looked beyond the baby years.

Wish I had realised how quickly they grow up.

Wish I'd have waited a bit longer, I was 27, 28 and 29 having mine.

I wish we’d done the kind of travel that would be unviable with an infant, like the Wowcher mystery holidays and city breaks and long haul.

I also wish we’d spent more on ourselves. Maybe splurged on something designer.

I did have a hobby though, and I’m glad for all the years I enjoyed it and am excited to get back into it!

Completely decluttered the house and ensured plenty of storage.

Completed any decorating.

Maybe joining the SAS should be included in antenatal classes?

Sleep more, after years of getting up in the middle of the night umpteen times my body has programmed it’s self to carry on doing this, I would love a big long no interruption sleep.

Also agree with trampolining, after children it feels like my insides are going to fall out with every bounce.

Finally I wish I had gone to more restaurants not child friendly pubs or fast food outlets but proper grown up restaurants I miss eating lovely grown up fantastically cooked food and adult conversation to match.

Wish I hadn't done a Phd and had started working sooner. Most of my friends started working long before me, got on the housing ladder sooner, have upsized considerably since then, and are earning more than me. Financially, my Phd was a waste of 6 years!

@RobertSmithdoesmyhair
But it's your baby and eventually it will probably have been worth it .

I'd not have kids. Or stick at 1 (maybe 2).

Lots of nice, slow meals in smart restaurants and as many pissed Sunday afternoons in the pub as possible

More adventurous holidays, more lie ins, more Sundays in the pub and maybe an year or two overseas.

People always said to me about making the most of lie ins, go on adults only holidays, etc, but I don’t think you do, because until you’ve had children, you can never understand how precious these things are. Now I have children I look back and wish I had done these things more, but it makes me so sad when I think about being able to do them again, as it means my children won’t be with me 😢. So I would say, just enjoy the simple things, and don’t feel that you are missing out and need to find things to appreciate.