on maternity leave pre-baby and just can't get a bloody thing done, is this normal?

[Gemzooks]

Finally started leave at 38 weeks, DS is in nursery 3 days a week, and during these I just roam around the house eating chocolate and falling asleep on the sofa. supposed to be preparing for the homebirth and tying up loose ends, bank stuff, getting the house organised. Is anyone else the same? I had these great dreams of all the things I would finally have time to do but Murder She Wrote is now my biggest highlight!

Please make the most of this! When no. 2 arrives you will have no time, believe me...

you're right, I know.. I'm just normally quite busy and active with a protestant work ethic and hate being lazy, oh the guilt!

If you feel that badly, maybe do 1/2 hr or so in the morning and then head back to the sofa?

I was the same - have the same work ethic & feel guilty if I'm not being productive, yet the moment my mat leave started it was an achievement to go to the local shop for a magazine and a bar of chocolate .

Don't know what happened and still wish I'd "made more" of the time because my god, you have to hit the ground running when the baby arrives, it's like jumping on a speeding train... to a good destination...

I found it more effective to decide on one task per day, the night before. Then at least I'd get one thing done.

I was exactly the same - I used to drop DS1 off at nursery and then come home with all good intentions and then waste the day MNing, sleeping or watching crap tv

I had 4 weeks four weeks of this before DS2 came along - to be honest, I don't really regret it as I needed to rest and just have some time to chill out before the chaos of 2 young children

But you are doing something important - you're resting!
I would take a serious look at your to-do list and cross off everything that isn't absolutely essential. I was a bit of a loon the second time around and went into a frenzy of cleaning - the shower curtain, every bit of the wordwork, you get the idea. You know what, the house looked like a bomb had hit it just a week after I'd delivered.

thanks all! this makes me feel a bit better! after all, it might only be a few days more..

I've been on maternity leave 5 weeks now, I wore myself ragged in the first week and really messed my back up so I've done a lot of sofa-sitting and chocolate eating since!!

Gemzooks I have found preparing for a homebirth quite tiring in that there's a lot to think about and get ready, stuff to get and I've had to write lists for my husband etc. I am glad we are doing it but there's a lot more to think about than a hospital birth, (I've not had a hospital birth this is just my experience so far, others may find that takes just as much prep so sorry if that sounds off in any way) so being ready for it has been my priority and everything else has taken a back seat to eating all day and watching telly.

This is completely normal! I had all these ideas of things I was going to do on maternity leave and didn't do a single thing except go for a few walks to try and move things along. Honestly make the most of it, you will be even more tired after the baby is born so it is your body's way of letting you know you need some down time. Good luck!

I'm exactly the same and 3 days before my section, still not achieved everything I planned to do; have turned to B&Js Chunky Monkey to comfort me. Prefer "Diagnosis Murder" to MSW - actually I tend to watch both. Cx