Those on mat leave

[sweetiehuni]

What do you do to keep busy x

Before I had my baby i sorted the house out, then spent most of the time on the sofa binging on Netflix. Now my baby is here, I'm constantly busy! x

Yeah I meant before baby shoulda said that x

I'm assuming you've not had your baby yet, in that case relax, nap if and when you can and watch tv/shower/bath in peace. Oh and eat with two hands and enjoy hot cups of tea!

All of these things will soon be luxuries and near impossible

I'm in week 3 and soooooo bored!! I never thought I'd be bad at being off work lol
I find I am really lacking motivation to do much at home as I'm really short of breath so I've signed up to a short free online course to kill some time and keep my brain active!

Netflix and biscuits!

1 week over and been off since 37 weeks. Spent first week cleaning, sorting, went shopping for nursing bras doing what i thought was last minute stuff.
Now I sleep in clean round wash up, wash on etc. Tinker with plants (put some in and water etc).
Might go food shopping if i feel like it.
Might cook stuff for freezer
Go for a walk
Lunch with friends.
DP has been off a few days so we go out if i feel up to it on those days.
Would have gone cinema but nothing on i want to see at min.
Read book/play on internet on here or entering competitions etc.

Batch cook and fill the freezer in case you get a Velcro baby and can't cook for 3 months!!!

Honestly it feels like the longest most morning period of your life but if I had that time again I would 100% just enjoy the me time! Have nice long baths, treat yourself to whatever, whenever. I wished mine away and it was the last bit of proper me time I would have had so I wish I'd have savoured it more haha (not that I'd change mom life for the world of course!)

@lancslass17 Thanks - you have just reminded me that cinemas have air conditioning!!

1st, I got 3 days after I finished work before my waters went.

2nd, I was still working. Went in for a scan with my consultant at 35 weeks. Had to phone work to say put me down as sick for the rest of the day. DD2 was born by CS the next day.

So not much really

Go food shopping, it's so stressful once you have a baby! (Buy plenty of biscuits and cake whilst you are there!)

Enjoy the silence, you will forever constantly have one ear listening it for a crying child.

I'm on day 1 of mat leave and have had a massive cleaning spree and sorted out some baby things.
I fully intend to put my feet up tomorrow though but feel better knowing I'm a bit more organised.
After that if I get chance I'll do lots of reading, watch some films and catch up with friends. I'm nearly 38 weeks though and DCs 1&2 both came a little early so will make the most of the time.

Both times I spent the run up to them being born getting as much DIY done as I possibly could. I didn't have mat leave before they were born (it started the day they were born both times), but with DD1 I used my annual leave so I was working 3 and later 2 days a week only for the last tri. The other 4-5 days were spent nailing, screwing, and painting. I guessed I'd get very little done once the baby arrived so wanted everything buttoned up. I wasn't wrong! No DIY (or much else past 'survival') for a year after DD1. DD2 was different as we were building an extension. I had to crack on around preschool and naps as I was project managing it and doing a large share of the work (I'm a carpenter). Those were stressful times! Thankfully DD2 was a much easier baby, and was happy to watch me from her bouncer.
It would have been very nice to rest more, but I just couldn't knowing there was stuff to be done. So regret I missed out on that but know I couldn't have changed it IYKWIM?
I spent as much time as I could out with friends. I was the first to have DCs so very glad I did this as post birth I was alone during the week, and unable to get out in the evenings for a long time.

First dc was born early before I'd even finished work!
This time I finished at 39 weeks and went 2 weeks over. It was a bit boring! On the days I didn't have my toddler I went to the gym, went swimming, went for walks, had coffee/cake/lunches out, read, did cooking and baking, and spent many hours googling "How to put yourself into labour"

Seconded on the cinema! Hubby and I have hardly been since DC1 arrived a couple of years ago. We/I did quite a few cinema trips while waiting for baby's late arrival. Staff were lovely and gave me booster seats as a foot stool and I even got a free drink when we went on my due date! (There were loads of awesome films on the summer DC1 was born and it was excellent escapism from a stressful pregnancy... we're not mad cinema junkies I should add!)

Think yourself lucky, I was supposed to have 4 weeks off before my due date but baby arrived 2 days after I finished work. I achieved nothing I wanted to before. Idea was to spring clean and tidy the house room by room, meet friends for lunch / dinner, go out for walks, batch cook meals for the freezer, organise nursery, binge tv shows and NAP!!!