What to do with "free days" before giving birth

[Howdidido]

So 39 weeks. Just finished work. Thought I'd just want to slob around but actually feels like such a waste. What sort of things did you do with your "time off"?
Limitations:
Got everything ready for birth And baby (I think!)
Can't walk very far
Weather's not great.
I've had the obligatory lie in. Have to pick up DD at 5.

Honestly - slob! Take advantage of the peace, watch a boxset and eat your body weight in chocolate/cake!

But maybe that’s just me 😜

If there are any films you fancy seeing at the cinema, now is the time. Likewise restaurants, go to them now.

READ

Watch films from beginning to end.

Enjoy hot drinks that don't go cold :)

Get batch cooking - maybe not super fun but honestly, time you can spend taking care of future you!

I went mad with cleaning! My mum came over once when I was in the loft sorting out god knows what and went mental, I barely fit through the trapdoor.

Regretted it because I went into labour the next day and didn’t give birth until 3 days later. I was knackered. Definitely rest, eat nice food, watch all the box sets you haven’t caught up on, sleep lots, have long baths etc. Good luck!

A bit of pampering maybe, get a hair treatment and/or cut in, mani pedi? Or diy versions if money is tight. As pps have said, meals out, takeaways in, long baths, pregnancy massage. Really indulge yourself

Echoing PPs - nap, Netflix and batch cooking.

I quit work at 26 weeks, theh sat on the sofa pretty much til birtth

I watched all the OBEM and Emma willis programmes, all the bake offs, and basically sat in the last month analysing every last twinge

Oh, and have more than one lie in!

Cinema

Have a long bath.
Watch something super junky on tv. Friends, IT Crowd, Friday Night Dinner. NOT one born every minute
Eat and drink lovely things.
Write your Christmas cards!
Sleeeeeep.

I can't have a lie in as need to take DD to nursery.
I don't know, I'm happy to slob a certain proportion of the day but u know that I will watch box sets and eat cake when the baby comes too! 😁
I feel like I'm wasting days that are truly my own... the last ones for a while!

Slob about but frequently make last minute decisions to go places and leave the house within 30 seconds. You'll never do this again.

This sounds like a silly one but one I did when I had absolutely exhausted all other options and was very bored (and I was glad I did it!)...

I pre-wrote birth announcement cards as much as is possible before the birth. So addresses and stamps on envelopes, recipients names in the cards etc.

When baby was born all I did was quickly added name of baby, DOB, weight and time of birth and posted them with a pic.

I know posted birth announcement cards are old fashioned and that my idea sounds ridiculous but it worked for me! Just an idea

I had my hair cut.
Met up with friends.
Went to the cinema a few times.
I mainly I did nothing. Watched stuff on netflix, prepared my favorite food and stuffed my face. No regrets.

Batch cook and freeze meals too.

Ah it's at least number 2 so you can't do that anyway.

(Today DH took DD but work wise that isn't possible every day!)

Well I gave up work at under 36 weeks and a whole week before Xmas stretched ahead. We were spending it just the two off us. Day 1, rewaxed the wooden floors and dusted, Day 2, cleaned the windows inside, washed ironed and rehung the lace curtains, Day 3 - went shopping, prepped pheasant casserole for Xmas day, had friends for supper and glad when they went as couldn't get comfy in chair. Day 4 labour started. Day 5 at 36.3 babybarrived in the wee small hours of Xmas morning. There was so much still to do.

Batch cook loads of food.

DD (4) is at nursery (feels like a total unecessary expense but i know it isnt!)

Do some batch cooking.
Research quick easy meals.
The more headspace you and your dp can save around food and meals, the better.

Other than that, plenty of rest and relaxation.

Save the box sets for after baby is born surely?
Visit places you really want to do/see. Local national trust, art gallery, museum etc. Theatre show.
Cinema.
Meet up with friends and have a nice warm leisurely drink without having to make a sharp exit with a screaming baby.
Enjoy a restaurant meal with your OH.
Rest.
Batch cook some meals you can eat with one hand.
Go shopping. Swimming?

Batch cooking is the one thing on my list I have avoided- because was knackered after work every day. Ok. I will crack on with that.

I did a huge clean out and it was wonderful. Closets, drawers and kitchen cabinets. I'd work at my own pace through the day, making sure to finish what I started, and I found it helped massively with getting a good sleep. I was also really happy to have things cleared out of useless tat and tidy before my son was born.