Maternity leave tips

[ChickenBhuna]

Hi all ,
I've started my maternity leave slightly earlier than expected as I just wasn't coping in my work environment no matter how many ammendments were made.

So I'm home , I'm sitting and very tempted to drink tea , overdose on custard creams and just veg.

I really don't want to though. I don't want to gain lots more weight and let my mind tun to mush in the next month. The only daily routine I'll now have is getting my dd to and from school and obviously housework.

Do any of you have any tips for a heavily pregnant woman to stay active and fit for the birth? I have back pain so it'll have to be gentle.

Thanks.

Walking, swimming. Take up a craft. Read books.

Jeremy Kyle

Long soaks in the bath

Read

Walk out, mooch around town

Get housework done to keep active and make it easier when you bring the baby home

I didn't enjoy the first week as I felt a bit worthless and not needed with work and stuff.... now 3 weeks in I'm loving it

I'm planning to listen to lots of podcasts and finish the crochet blanket I started for the baby :)

I've taken a few weeks to warm to it too (had originally expected to finish at 35 weeks but I got signed off unexpectedly at 28 weeks... now 35.5 weeks and technically on annual leave). I found after spending my first couple of weeks feeling guilty/bad for not being at work I found my own rhythm- going out for a walk every morning, aquanatal at the leisure centre once a week and have started cooking food that I normally wouldn't have the time to. I've watched a couple of box sets on Netflix, enjoyed 2 hour baths in the middle of the day and am just trying to balance keeping active/house clearing with taking time to just relax 😊

(Also meant to add that I have back pain too- last week I had a pregnancy massage as a treat and whilst the massage itself was excruciating it has done wonders for my back afterwards and it's much less of a problem now... maybe consider 'treating' yourself to one of those?) 🙈

I left work at 33 weeks using annual leave. I spent the first 3 weeks running round after DS (aged 4) and was finding it hard work. I'm now 36 weeks and he started school this week leaving me some time to myself. He's only been doing a couple of hours. He stopped for lunch today and I've walked the dog, had my eyebrows done, batch baked some cakes for when I have visitors afterwards and am just having lunch before picking DS back. Looking forward to next week when he does full days and I can attack the housework (as much as I can!)

Thank you everyone, I was feeling like a bit of failure due to "giving up" just a few days before I was due to go anyway. Your responses have made me feel better.

I will most definitely do more walking but unfortunately don't own any maternity swimwear and swore I wouldn't spend another penny on clothing I'll only wear for a few more weeks!

Craft and reading sound good too.

I felt the same re swimwear and was overjoyed to find a maternity swimming costume in the Tesco sale for £8 in my size, winner! You'll probably still feel a bit odd for the first few days but I'm sure you'll find your own pace and things that appeal to you! 😊