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Pregnancy

Talk about every stage of pregnancy, from early symptoms to preparing for birth.

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Original poster

What to do with my maternity leave?

36 replies

Blondie1991 · 19/01/2015 16:12

Hey
I'm 35 weeks now and officially on leave. As this is my first baby I've alot of free time and OH works evenings. I've ordered a swimsuit as I'm going to try and get to the pool some mornings just to make sure i get out of the house. Also Ive ordered some books from amazon. Ive a busy job and am looking forward to some well deserved rest before little one makes an appearance.
I was just wondering if anyone had any suggestions of what else i can do to entertain myself until baba arrives? Is there anything that you did or wish you had done?
Thanks :)

OP posts:

Are your children’s vaccines up to date?

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duckbilled · 19/01/2015 16:15

Go to the cinema, if you go in the afternoon there will be other people in their own, so won't feel strange. Just remember and get a aisle seat for the frequent toilet trips!
I did this lots in the two weeks before dd arrived

Thurlow · 19/01/2015 16:17

I remember very clearly being bored

Getting the house in order, batch cooking, sorting clothes and having everything prepared is always good. But mainly I read a hell of a lot and went for lots of walks. Just chill!

twentyten · 19/01/2015 16:19

Watch all the box sets you love. Set up internet shopping. Catch up with friends. Sleep!!

Firstimemummy15 · 19/01/2015 16:21

I did some batch cooking, made sure nursery was sorted and clothes washed and folded for baby - I have made up changing baskets - 1 for the nursery and 1 for the lounge (nappies, wipes, creams, etc). Caught up with friends with coffee and cake making sure I got out as much as possible - only so much Jeremy Kyle you can watch! Most of all enjoy it and sleep when u feel like it without feeling guilt!

gincamelbak · 19/01/2015 16:24

I have just made a wash bag for my hospital bag. Going to do some batch cooking and sleeping a lot.

Original poster

Blondie1991 · 19/01/2015 16:28

Oh i never even thought of changing baskets firstimemummy such a good idea as our nursery will be upstairs very handy to have everything downstairs too. Making a note of that.
Im a terrible cook just as well my better half looks after that or we'd starve but definatly going to try and batch cook something edible. Plenty of time to learn now lol
Thanks for all your suggestions :)

OP posts:

FlossieTreadlight · 19/01/2015 16:28

Sleep, read, luxuriate in silence and the freedom to do what you want. Cinema, bath, swim, be alone. Enjoy

Bonsoir · 19/01/2015 16:29

Agree with batch cooking and freezing and generally getting on top of everything so that you have no worries once your baby has arrived.

LittleBairn · 19/01/2015 16:29

If you have any long books you were planning on reading start it now.
I would make up some nice meals to put in the freezer for when after the baby comes.
I would organise the whole house giving every room a spring clean, do a charity shop drop off and get my whole house in order.
Wash all the baby clothes.

Admittedly not that fun but I'm on bed rest and sooo frustrated I can't get thse things done as I know it will make a difference.

LittleBairn · 19/01/2015 16:30

If you don't cook then doing things like stocking up on snacks might be useful for feeding time.

Zahrah5 · 19/01/2015 17:02

I am planning to pack up all my workwear/office clothes and shoes and send them up to attic.

Will rearrange my closet with lots of casual wear, jeans, sweats,maternity and not maternity, comfy shoes, casual bags. Can't wait!!!

Eminybob · 19/01/2015 17:27

There was so much I wanted to do - get a pregnancy massage, manicure and pedicure, batch cooking, read some books.

As it happens DS was 2.5 weeks early so I only got half of my pre baby mat leave and didn't get to do much

Christelle2207 · 19/01/2015 17:55

Get your dp to pay for one of those mum to be spa days. Spa days will be a thing of the past soon (sorry). Definitely batch cook and make sure freezer is full of other easy stuff to heat up when baby comes.
And have long baths and enjoy the silence. I'm about to start my 2nd mat leave and am very jealous- this one will be spent running after a restless toddler. I had a total of 4 weeks last time before baby came and it was perfect. 5 and I may have got very very slightly bored!

Mrscog · 19/01/2015 19:15

I had 6 blissful weeks off with DS1. My days went something like this - 8-9am get up, bath,
10am leave house to either - go for nice walk, shopping, meet up with friends/family, eat a delicious cake in a cafe I lust after, midwife, or if weather was bad settle in for morning of hobbies - reading, playing piano, art/crafts, sorting/tidying
1pm return home and prepare then eat lunch.
2pm put TV on and light hearted programme of choice.
2.30pm drift off into deep nap,
5pm wake up,
5.15pm cook dinner for DH's return home at 6pm.

It was seriously the BEST 6 weeks of my life! Currently 27 weeks with DC2, having 4-5 weeks off before their arrival but seeing as I can only ship DC1 out from 9-3 to pre-school it's not going to be the relaxing sabatical of a lifetime that it was with him!

Original poster

Blondie1991 · 19/01/2015 19:59

I know Im looking forward to these five weeks as I know ill never have time like it again.
Definitely will consider the spa idea, never been before but some pampering sounds amazing.
Going to teach myself some simple recipes its high time I learnt that particular life skill.
Shopping tomorrow to buy storage boxes etc to sort out the house. So that should entertain me for a few days. Im quite into cleaning atm, mad for the smell of bleach please someone tell me that's normal?
Thanks for all your suggestions

OP posts:

Everydayaschoolday · 19/01/2015 20:12

I went to the hairdresser - they'll be lots of baby and mum photos happening soon :) and I went for a tidy-up wax - but this is a purely personal choice and if that's not your normal thing, then I don't necessarily recommend starting now . Cinema, a meal out, baby-item shopping, and yes, nesting like you are now best wishes OP.

HolyTerror · 19/01/2015 20:18

Forget organisational stuff or housework! For god's sake, go out and enjoy yourself in ways that will become more difficult for the next while! Think about what you love doing that will be next to impossible with a small baby. I went to the opera and theatre a lot, and lunchtime classical concerts, met DH and my friends for lunch, and sat reading in cafés. (DS was over a fortnight late.)

Autumn2014 · 19/01/2015 20:20

you could join a mums and tots group. I help run one and we have lots of mums and bumps come along. then when baby is born it won't feel so scary turning up at a group for the first time. and everyone will be so excited to meet your new baby!

boring things: organise your photo online, get prints printed for albums, file paperwork, buy people's birthday cards and presents and write/wrap them in advance, get a birth announcement template done online ready to order when baby arrives, organise your wardrobe, paly with your travel system, practice putting the car seat in the car...

Autumn2014 · 19/01/2015 20:21

get the car MOT/service done

Original poster

Blondie1991 · 19/01/2015 20:23

I was actually thinking of a wax everydayaschoolday but i find i cant lie on my back without feeling uncomfortable and a bit dizzy so think it would turn out to be a disaster. Lol. Went and got colour done at the weekend but considering treating myself to friday blowdrys, slightly unnecessary but nice to have a wee treat :) Thanks for your help

OP posts:

Jackieharris · 19/01/2015 20:24

Buy several packs of nappies & wipes.

Make the effort to see your friends, you might not again for a while!

Research the local baby groups.

Go to the cinema, galleries, museums, anything not child friendly.

If you are a "terrible cook" start practicing. You don't want your dc growing up on chicken nuggets do you? Get some simple cookbooks and start learning!

ChickenMe · 19/01/2015 20:25

Marking place really as I am dreading being bored. So far I'm going to batch cook and hopefully either swim or go for walks. Shame about the time of year as I'm a keen gardener and enjoy the outdoors. Obv may be a bit large for gardening anyway but shame there's no opportunity to catch some rays!!

Original poster

Blondie1991 · 19/01/2015 20:30

Never thought of the mum and baby group before Autumn must investigate whats in my area. Was going to go to one after baby arrives so actually quite a good idea. Would be lovely to meet other mums to be, as none of my friends are pregnant atm.
Holy Terror that all sounds lovely, looking forward to going swimming. Think the chlorine will help satisfy the bleach craving. I sound mad saying that.

OP posts:

skitter · 19/01/2015 20:37

I thought of all the stuff I loved doing that would be hard to do with a baby or young children child and did that. I went to the cinema a lot, to small un-child friendly cafes, met friends on their lunch breaks, browsed in bookshops, went for walks, went to the theatre (I was feeling well, but this may be hard if you are tired), had long weekend brunches in places that would have been harder with kids, went to a spa. It was great! I still did some of these things once ds was born, but not at first, and then less often, and it was different to the feeling of doing them alone or just with dh or friends, without needing to get home to feed the baby/relieve the babysitter. It was such a precious time for me. Enjoy!

Mrscog · 19/01/2015 20:40

chicken you might suprise yourself - I managed a 4 hour garden blitz in the middle of Feb with DS when I was 39 weeks pg!!!

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