What can I do to make maternity go quicker?

[ChickenDippers123]

I'm 29+4 and I'm taking maternity from 30 weeks due to having gestational diabetes, inflammatory bowel disease and bad SPD.

I'm just wondering if anyone has any tips for what to do on maternity that aren't too expensive (really can't afford spa days etc) that will help my maternity go quicker? I feel like every day is taking a year right now. I'm having a C-Section hopefully around 38/39 weeks so I haven't got TOO long to go but I am very bored.

So far I have done the nursery, packed most of my hospital bag, finished his clothes shopping, bought almost everything I need to except a few little bits which I'm going to wait until I get paid to get, started stocking up on nappies etc.

I'm 30,000 into the edits of my book but I'm going to be finished with that within the next two weeks, and even that I'm having to do in sections because my concentration is rubbish!

Any other ideas to stop me going insane?

Also sorry for posting here, the pregnancy boards are pretty quiet!

I used to go swimming each day and I felt it really relaxed me / certainly made recovery easier and helped me sleep. I also did a lot if housework. Made online photo albums. Decluttered.

Could you do something like an online course/ ECDL or a language?

Buy a few bits and have a proper spa day at home. you'll be glad you took the chance!

You can do Level 2 distance learning courses in Business/Healthcare subjects for free at the moment. I'm doing one during the kids nap times to counteract the CBeebies effect...

I went for a swim every morning to get me out of the house, light housework, napped and read (mostly library books (

Is there a (not too strenuous) DIY project?

Filling the freezer with wholesome food

Seeing old friends

I decluttered my house when my husband wasn't home . I tidied everything and enjoyed a few films.

I went for a walk every day. I also got a clothkits doll and made it and started knitting, although I finished the doll but not the knitting.

Batch cook so you don't have to worry for the first few weeks after giving birth. Read books, catch up on any movies you want to see. And generally just enjoy having some time to yourself! Love my little boy of 14 weeks but you don't get much time to yourself!

Knitting!

Museum/gallery visits each week?
Swimming and aquanatal sessions.
Family visits.
Gentle walks to new places.
Batch cook.
Read, read and read more.
Antenatal groups?
Sleep.

I made a bit of a ‘last weeks’ pregnancy non advent calendar. Filled it with ideas/tasks and treats.

Do something not for the baby

Are you well enough to be out? If so day trips every day. Libraries, museums, cinema, wine bars.

Watch films will lots of gore, violence, swearing and sex - you'll likely watch Peppa Pig on repeat for the next 4 years I think that's probably just my life

If you have to do a tax return, start doing 2019-20's now. Your future self will thank you! If you're a writer but having trouble concentrating, how about a few shorter writing challenges. Exact numbers of words. Dialogue only. Smutty fanfiction.

Research some holiday destinations for the summer? That's always nice in February.

I’m going to invite you back to this thread after your baby is here & you’ll kick yourself for complaining about all your free time 😂

Get an Xbox and some games that’s what I did when I started mat leave at about the same time!

Cinema
Swimming
I tidied every cupboard of the house
eBay/marketplace stuff you don't use/need
Nap
Read
Eat cake
Small bits of DIY

Batch cook
Stock up on all the essentials (for you and baby) so you don’t have to worry about running out of anything
Walk/swim
Rest
Rest
Rest
Nap
Rest
Watch some boxsets

Did I say rest?

Play the sims you will literally lose hours and hours of your life.

Fill an online shopping trolley with essentials to get you through the first week when baby arrives - easy stuff to bung in the oven, pre-prepped salad and veg, and I ate a lot of yogurts and chunks of chocolate brioche at 2am
Research stuff to do when baby arrives if you like to keep busy. I had tons of baby groups etc written in my diary so I always had somewhere to go if I felt like it

Declutter your house
Clean everything to within an inch of its life
Buy a tumble dryer and dishwasher if you don’t already have one
Stock up on non perishable essentials
Take baths
Lie in
Nap
Take baths
Lie in
Nap
Take baths
Lie in
Nap
Take baths
Lie in
Nap

Sleep
Sleep
Sleep

From sleep deprived mum of 10month old

@1second YES!!!!

people would tell me to enjoy the time and put my feet up and relax. Wish I listened to them sooner.

I finished up at 35 weeks and was bored stupid.

I sat on my arse and watched a lot of Netflix. I went to cinema. Went walks. Went lots shopping. Went to gym.

Wish I had sat on my arse and watched more Netflix coz I never get a chance now lol

Things that are difficult to do with a baby.

I did elaborate baking projects- things with my own puff pastry and sourdough bread and stuff

Cinema

Meals out in nice places. I'd go on a monday or tuesday lunchtime and take a good book. I know a table for one isn't for everyone though

Ante natal yoga really helped my back bad and hips as well and if I'd had the time I'd have gone to ante natal aquafit

Everything I thought of has already been said but if I were to have an extended pre-baby maternity leave I'd want to do the following:

• Lots of walks or cheap exercise like Yoga or Swimming (if your SPD allows)
• Extreme decluttering (Babies come with a daft amount of things and you wont have anywhere near as much time to do it after)
• Washing and arranging the first few months of clothing
• An online course / training of some description
• Antenatal groups - Particularly if this is your first and you want to breastfeed then there a lot of groups you can go to so you can learn in advance - I wish I'd known more about breastfeeding prior to having my baby.
• Relaxing / watching Netflix etc - try to actively enjoy the time
• Sleeping in - This is literally the only thing I miss about my pre baby life!

Oh and massive amounts of batch cooking / food prep for the freezer. If you're having a section it's likely to be a good 2-4 weeks before you really feel like being properly up and about and cooking.

I did a lot of sewing, obviously you might not want to buy a sewing machine and all the kit if it’s not something you want to get into but something like cross stitch or embroidery can be picked up really cheaply, you could make something for the nursery 😊
Also agree with filling the freezer with meals, I didn’t listen to this advice and wished I had! And of course sleep! X