How do you like to spend your time on maternity leave?

[Chuckle94]

I’m back to work in January and I’ve realised how fast the time is going. I don’t do anything like baby groups or meeting other parents and I’m always worried my baby is missing out. I don’t know anyone else who has a baby either. How do you spend your time on maternity leave?

Renovated the bathroom! No baby groups here either, massive CBA.

Currently on my second maternity leave. I don't bother with baby groups. Last time I had PND and they honestly made me feel so much worse. I chill as much as I can during the day. Nap with the baby, cook, clean, meet friends and family for coffee etc. I'm really trying to just go easy on myself and enjoy it this time. Some days I don't leave the house and that's ok too.

I hated being stuck at home, and mum&baby groups are not for me, so we went hiking. DS in a sling, changing kit, picnic, bottle of water.

DS spent his first year on the Ridgeway, walking the Kennet & Avon, wandering around the new forest. It was bliss. 😊

I watched a lot of Netflix whilst the baby napped on me when she was very little. Then we did one or two baby classes per week as she got a little older. That felt like enough of an achievement.

I did every baby class going and saw my NCT friends weekly... but I don't think it was really important to my baby, I just needed to get out the house & be around other adults!

Well most of mine was spent in lockdown so online baby classes, then in person ones when they reopened, lots of walks, meeting up with mum friends, watched a fair bit of tv.

I never did baby groups either.

Slow morning, out by 10am, I'd either walk into the city, do a small supermarket shop or go visit someone. Back for 12.30 for naptime then back out about 2 til 5, walks, visits, etc. Always back and settled for Pointless starting at 5.15!

My maternity leave was spent in lockdown. Some online and some in person baby classes, met a few friends for lunch etc. I had a pretty chilled baby. I'm due my second in June and not sure I can be bothered with baby groups this time, I wasn't massively keen on them and they can be quite expensive.

I might do mum and baby fitness classes this time around.

this sounds just like me!

I tidy up after the older one, do bits of cooking and cleaning, run errands, occasionally go into town... It's not exciting. I don't nap, but the baby's six months old, now, so our sleep situation isn't that desperate. I only ever get twenty or so minutes at a time to achieve stuff in before I've used up the baby's patience and good will so days are generally quite choppy-feeling.

I also watch a LOT of documentaries!

First mat leave I did loads of activities, baby groups etc.

Second mat leave, with a 3-year-old in the mix, I spend almost every free day just chilling out at home.

Sometimes we go to the big supermarket, sometimes to baby cinema. But most days I do as little as possible. Life is hectic enough!

I absolutely love baby cinema

I get a bit stir crazy especially as I have an older DD and I find if we stay at home it's a bloody nightmare and the days are so long and excruciating. So days I have them both we are out almost all day. Days with DD2 we usually do a baby class as I need some sort of structure and otherwise just catching up on house stuff, Netflix, meeting friends for coffee or lunch, etc.

Oh yes and DD2 and I nap together a lot. Did the same with DD1 too

Forcing myself to get out and about as it always made me feel better and broke up what I feel are very long days

Mum and baby groups aren't really me but I found some of them ok. Had to try quite a few.

If I was dressed, showered, clean tidy house and dinner was prepped for the evening i would feel that was a massive achievement in itself

Planning the week so I always had something on
Lunch / coffe dates with a handful of friends/mum and sister

Swimming weekly. I found a baby sensory swim which we've both enjoyed followed my lunch at Morrison next door afterwards

I've eaten out a lot. Pub meals, cafes and Morrisons etc but I've found treesying myself to something yummy great for my mental health

Walks on the beach - lucky to be 10 min drive to the beach

Netflix when baby naps

Home for late afternoons when I do go out as have an older child secondary school age so it's nice to be at home when she gets in

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That's about it! X