To ask what you do on maternity leave?

[hagridsbeard33]

Dd is 6 months old. Once the initial newborn fog wore off a bit I started trying to get out with her. I do 1 sometimes 2 organised baby classes a week and occasionally take her swimming. We go on plenty of walks and I try to get out daily although often it is just a walk to the shops, wandering around Tesco or sitting in my mums kitchen. Sometimes though we do have days where we just stay home and do very little.

Some of the mums I met at baby group seem to have multiple things on everyday! Swimming sessions in the morning, baby yoga in the afternoon and it goes like this all week. On one hand I can't be bothered to do much more than I already am. On the other I feel like maybe I ought to be making more of mat leave as I won't be able to do these things as easily when I go back to work.

So how did your spend yours? Were you a fan of baby organised classes or did you do your own thing? Did you do nothing at all? (With my first I never even went to these classes as I was so lacking in confidence).

A couple of baby groups. Walks. Housework. Food shopping. A lot of breastfeeding. Met up with friends.

I remember someone said to me when baby was born that I need to get out everyday, be seen so everyone knows you're coping okay. I really wished I hadn't listened and put so much pressure on myself.

Sounds like you have got the balance right to me but I wasn't a huge fan of organised baby classes. Maybe consider if there is anything you would want to do just for you before you go back to work.

I found sitting around at home made me struggle with the tiredness more. In the pre 9 month stage I generally did at least one or two things a day. One day I might mooch around the local shopping centre for a while, go for a walk in the park while DD slept, met a friend for coffee and then another walk while DD slept again. I did a mix of classes or drop in library/coffee morning style things. I had a big local baby group so there was always someone to go to a class with, or for coffee, or a drink, or a picnic in the park.
From about 9-13 months I did something in the morning, came home for a nap and then did something in the afternoon then back for nap 2 and a chill on the sofa for me.
I just preferred being out and about. Neither option is better it just depends what makes you thrive more.

Echo santaonfanta about putting pressure on yourself... there are plenty of mums who like getting out of the house but don't feel like you should be doing a set activity everyday.

For DC1 i did baby sensory once a week and went to a church playgroup on another day. But there were plenty of days where we dossed about and had pj days. That's the beauty of mat leave you can do what you want!
Dc2 was born jan 2020 so we were in lockdown most of that mat leave so spent a lot of time at home anyway.

Bit of both

I did a master’s with DS and now DD is 12 weeks old and I’m doing another. Stupid! I wish I’d just lolled around all day, maybe done a class, maybe done the housework but mainly just snuggled up and cuddled them. Just do that.

A mixture! Generally nothing much organised until winter, where I really struggled as going for a walk in the pouring rain felt rubbish for both of us and I didn't like being in all day. I started a few classes then and found it a sanity saver.

My main memory of maternity leave is being so used to have a baby strapped to me that I realised I was talking to myself while doing a food shop while the baby was quite happily with DP at home!

I spent mine crying.

💐💐💐

A mix, some classes but some that were for me, Buggyfit, aerobics, postnatal yoga at various points. One or two classes for baby, met up with other mum's, National Trust places for a walk, Children's cafe, then cooking, laundry, TV tea and relaxing. Never managed to nap but would take time to do very little especially with DS2 who was/is not a good sleeper. Also audiobooks, lots of audiobooks.

Most of mine was in lockdown, so absolutely naff all for most of it.
Pre lockdown we did 2-3 classes a week and met with my NCT group, otherwise I just enjoyed Netflix and being home.

My mat leave was like yours. It was so nice and relaxed. Some of my good memories are just sitting on the floor playing with the baby, I remember that more fondly than rushing about going to classes that clashed with nap times etc. Unless you're g

I would assume that whatever the routine chosen it's chosen because that's what works for the grown up- and then they spin a story to themselves or others about what their baby needs. And I'm not criticising that in any way- I think that's the right thing! So as in the non baby world there are people who go don't stop all weekend and go from activity to activity and those that just recharge their batteries and potter around - generally that's because people frame what they do around their need for stimulation or need for lack of stimulation to function well.

So a long winded way of saying we're all different and you should do whatever works for you. I think most people are of the consensus that baby groups are for the grown ups not the babies

I'd absolutely love to do multiple baby classes a day... sadly I live in the arse end of nowhere so I'd be lucky to schedule in one a day. And that's before I even get to the fact that they're bloody expensive!

I go to two community playgroups a week and occasionally one baby class too. The rest of the time is just lots of walking tbh!

With my first I did baby sensory, baby massage and a mum and baby group. Those worked out to be Monday, Wednesday and Friday so it balanced nicely across the week. I would try to go walks every day.

with my second I did the school run, breastfed a lot and went lots of long walks. Second was a very chill, lazy baby who just like cuddles and smiling at me. So we would walk miles and miles every day catching Pokémon. The school run every day felt like plenty frankly 🤣

My favourite memories with my baby were times snuggled on the settee in our pjs, laying in bed watching bake off and breastfeeding, playing with toys on our living room floor. The baby classes we went to once or twice a week were good for a change of scenery but we were happiest and most relaxed at home. We did a daily dog walk but apart from 1/2 classes we mostly stayed at home. I loved that time.
I do, however, realise that spending that much time at home for months would send some people crazy. But that’s what’s great about maternity leave, you can do as much or as little as you like/can cope with.

I walked with the pram for miles. I don't think there's anything wrong with staying at home but I don't understand how you fill the time and the days just drag! Baby could do playmat for 15 mins, play gym for another 15, feeding etc but then I ran out of things and had to get out!

My lockdown baby - basically nothing, we just boobed in front of the telly a lot

my second baby - two organised classes a week. I also have my eldest at nursery three days a week so on her off days we will be in a park/ meeting up with friends/ playing in the garden/ going for a walk.

Don’t put too much pressure on yourself to get out every day unless you want to

I did some of both depending on how much sleep we had! I walked miles around National Trust properties within range as we are members. I did a couple off groups a week and swimming. Not a huge fan of over stimulation of baby at that age and I really did find that sleep begets sleep at that age.

DS is 6 months old too. We have 1 baby group a week then the rest of the time is a mixture. We do have lots of walks like you sometimes it's just to the shops and a wander around. On days like today where the weather is rubbish we'll do the school runs then hibernate in between and just enjoy the time playing or just snuggling on the sofa. Even when we don't do much the days seem to fly in, but that's probably because I'm dreading going back to work.

I walked a lot ! And 1 class per week . And 1 play date per week (has friends with babies same age ish ) . Apart from that , housework and played at home with him :)

P.s. he's doing absolutely fine !!!! Thriving in fact so don't put pressure on yourself to go to a million baby classes . You do you! Xxxx

First baby spent 4 months on the sofa or lying in bed cluster feeding. After I switched to formula it got better and I tried to get out for a walk every day or to the park or for a coffee. Groups never appealed to me. Second baby was spent wrestling toddler and baby. There wasn't much time to do lots although I did go to parents and toddler group.

In terms of going to loads, look around your normal life. There are people who do loads every day whether they are single, have kids or babies. Then there are the rest of us. If you are happy then do what you are doing. Please try not to stress.

I preferred to be out most of the time. Doesn't make me a better mum though.

You do you and enjoy your baby however you wish.

Mines been ever so busy. Baby classes, meeting up with friends (thankfully I made 2 incredible friends at baby classes), house work, playtime, and my mom happened to break a bone so has been off work for a few months so I spent alot of time with her.

I'm dreading going back to work, as I've had so much fun and loved every second of maternity leave.

I've been very lucky!