Things to do before PFB arrives...

[Sparklesandglitter]

I know this has probably been done before but, as I am eagerly awaiting the arrival of my PFB I am getting more and more fed up of being uncomfortable, unable to wear "normal" clothes, and being able to carry on with my usual routine without a nap every few hours (and don't get me started on the inability to sleep at night!!)
So... What fun and exciting things should I be doing now to a) pass the time and b) because once PFB is here it will no longer be possible/as easy to do?
Thanks :)

Batch cook. Fill your freezer full of homemade ready meals. I can't stress this enough they were a godsend in our house!

Go have a mum to be massage. Or get a mani/pedicure

Go shopping n treat yourself to nice post pregnancy pj's/loungewear ur gonna end up living in it for a bit

Spend a day doing nothing but watching DVDs

I second all of that! I also add:

1. go to a very UNchild-friendly restaurant with your partner. It'll be the last time for a while.

2. go to the cinema.

3. swimming is lovely in the last few weeks of pregnancy - its cooling, you'll feel weightless, it's gentle exercise and you'll probably find it helps you sleep.

4. go for (decaf) coffee with friends and luxuriate at being able to chat, and be leisurely. It's harder to do with a baby.

5. massage/pedicure/haircut

6. have a lazy day at home with your partner where you have breakfast in bed, lounge around the house in your pjs, and go for a quiet stroll together - I am LOVING doing this with DH at the moment (whilst DS1 is away with family and DS2 is due in September)

Oh Yerr deffo the hair cut n colour. I had mine done 5 days before me due date. Not had chance to have it done again until the other week. Yup that's 5 months!!!! The 2 inch black root look isn't good!

Nap

Eat out at a nice restaurant in the evening

Nap

Get your hair done

Nap

Have a massage

Nap

Take long baths

Nap

Read some good books (my concentration was screwed for at least 6 months post-birth)

Nap

Have long lunch with friends

Nap

Spend some quality time with DH

Nap

Make sure you treat yourself before the last few weeks of pregnancy and don't assume your PFB will be late. Three days after my maternity leave began my waters broke and DD turned up two weeks early. Posh dinner, haircut, manicure etc all planned for the following week after a lazy first week off.

All the above are good. I especially second the nice new (dark-coloured in case of lochia leakage) pyjamas. I didn't get dressed for five days after my first. No such luxury with no. 2.

Read a book.

Go to the cinema

Have a lie in

Run out of jam (or similar) and say 'I'm just going to buy some jam'. Then go and get some. That's what I miss the most. Not the jam, but just being able to pop out.

Everything said above.

Set up Internet shop deliveries a few weeks in advance for basics.

Stock up on basics like cleaning stuff and non perishables.

Get some nappies in the next size up (unless your using reusables). I've always found the next size up at night last longer, meaning you don't have to change after every feed.

Oh and SLEEP. If you love your sleep like I do then get as much in as possible.

Enjoy doing nothing

YY to most of the above, especially batch cooking.

Most importantly is do something ON YOUR OWN. Serious alone time. I can count on one hand the amount of times I've been able to do something just by myself since having DD. Massage, mani/pedi, have long bath...

Out of interest, I'm probably far too naive thinking this but, lots of sites say to bulk freeze food for after PFB arrives. Surely if I'm looking after the baby DP can cook? Or vice versa? The same goes for baths and sleep surely? (if ff or mixed feeding)
Or am I being completely naive and unrealistic?! Thanks
And i'm just waiting to go for coffee and shopping with friends before a meal out with DP so working through the list!

Lol savoy that made me laugh!

The other one will be asleep.

You're being slightly naive :o

Batch cooking is great for those days when you've both been up all night, the baby's just pooed again and it's all over them, you and DH, the third load of washing is on, no one's dressed or showered and you can't be arsed to cook.

Basically, preparing for you first baby is like getting ready for a siege :o

Eat a hot dinner, instead of a few bites of a hot dinner, then, later, a cold dinner.

I didn't have enough space in the freezer for storing tons of batch cooking, but if you have space, do it!

Also perhaps make some nice biscuits or cake to freeze so that when you have visitors post-baby you can provide home cooking & feel like a domestic goddess without any effort.

Eat a hot dinner together with your partner. You may not be sitting down together in the evenings for a long while!

On the positive front - I don't miss weekend lazy mornings as I still get them, our DD is very calm & chilled in the mornings so today we all lounged in bed together until about 10.30am. But I realise we are very lucky in this respect...however, it's nice to know not all aspects of your life will change that much.

Have a shower, all by yourself, taking your time, not having to sing to a crying baby on the floor of the bathroom while your hormones scream "BABY CRYING, GET THE BABY, HURRY HURRY" instead of just letting you shampoo your hair for ten seconds, which your brain tries to tell you won't cause the baby any harm.
Damn hormones.

Sleep.

It's almost 3 years since I had my first and I have not had uninterrupted sleep/slept past 6am since.

Currently in the hell of 9 month sleep regression and ft work.

Sleep.

First off congratulations and all the best for your imminent arrival!

Another vote for getting your hair done! I booked an appointment for 4 days before my due date adamant pfb would be late. She arrived 8 days early and at 12 weeks old I've not been able to get my roots done which means no blonde highlights since start of April. I'm naturally dark brown so you can imagine how good I look!

Also cinema but the big comfy seats
Have a pamper day
Read any books you want and if you have a kindle/iPad download some as its fab for night feeds
Get some DVD box sets again great for feeding and when you are feeling bleurgh and just want to veg when baby is asleep

I'm sure I'll think of some more!

I remember our doorbell at 8.30pmDh answered it. It was the postman. Dh made some comment about him working late. Postman looks then we realize it's 8.30 in the fecking morning. We could have sworn it was nighttime.

Batch cooking was essential for us. I've just started again (dc2 due early october) I had no appetite when ds was born but, unsurprisingly, DH still ate like a horse. Meant he could defrost something, eat it then force some down me tempt me with "proper" cooking

Re spending your child free days:

Have a lie in
Nap
Watch a full tv programme/film
Leave the house with no handbag/small handbag and stay out for ages without having to give a definite "coming home" time (with and/or without your DP)
Wash your baby clothes again

at preparing for a siege

so true

but a lovely siege with all your favourite people

Get your hair done. Switch to a hairstyle that doesn't require 4 hour appointments for the next year.

Watch a film.

Go swimming and just lie in the pool.

Definitely batch cook. Seriously, while you're looking after the baby, your DP will be washing sick,poo and blood out of clothes. If you breastfeed, it is difficult to have an uninterrupted bath for a while. Baths aren't as much fun when you're bleeding heavily either.

I have read loads of books while DS fed or slept on me, so I'd save them all for after the birth. And order a kindle as that is easier with one hand!

Go for long meals out. It's pretty easy to go for a one-course meal with a baby, but any longer and something has time to go wrong...

On a practical note, spend a day doing everything one handed. You'll then know where to put the teabags etc so you can brew up with a colicky baby on your shoulder. And get yourself a cheap laptop table loaded with water and food for the hours you may be stick on the sofa feeding without even the remote control in reach...

And then go to the cinema. A lot.