What to do on maternity leave before baby is here!

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Hello everyone
I’m 32 weeks with my first. I had to take mat leave early at 29 weeks as my job was very physical and I just couldn’t do it any longer. I need ideas of things I can do with my time off. I still have 8 weeks left and I feel like I’m just waiting around. I am just feeling a bit bored and miserable because I’m not used to doing nothing.
Tia

Swimming, cinema, lie ins, nice lunch at coffee shop/pub. Go and visit friends for a few days. Spend some time researching all your local baby groups/breastfeeding groups/baby cinema etc. If you’ve got an NCT bumps and babies group you could pop along to that. Get your hair cut/coloured. Pregnancy massage.

Just leave the house by grabbing your bag and keys and the go. It will never be the same again.

Awww, sounds like a dream for some, but I can imagine it’s not actually so easy when it’s not really a choice! Are there any active things you can do, like aquanatal or pregnancy yoga classes or something where you meet other people as well? Also bumps and baby groups? Where I live there are some run by NCT and I’ve been a couple of times when I happened to have a day off. I’m glad I went, as everyone was lovely and it means that I’m familiar with the venue, parking etc for when I want to go with the baby. Also once I’m on mat leave I plan to pop along to a local breastfeeding cafe so I can hopefully get some tips and again have that familiarity with the venue. Maybe you could get all your Christmas presents done now as you’ll presumably be quite busy then as well?

Write a book

Watch tv, lunches out, sleeping, box sets, batch cook loads of food for freezer, seefriends, read books, go to galleries, all tiredness dependent of course.

Enjoy it as much as you can

Look into childcare if you need it post mat leave. In many areas there are long waiting lists!

Look into baby groups/classes that you may want to do once baby is here.

Shop around for utilities/life insurance etc that need reviewing or are up for renewal.

Enjoy chilling out is my biggest tip!

Following with interest as I’ve just started my mat leave now at 36 weeks! My plans so far are giving the house a good clean & finishing off last bits of shopping/baby prep. Also plan on doing some batch cooking and filling the freezer & as a pp mentioned starting my Christmas shopping and trying to get organised for Christmas!

Sure there’ll be plenty of Netflix and rest thrown in the mix too!

Sleep as much as you can. You won’t get the chance for another 10 years !

Do something for you, invest some time in yourself. Go out and enjoy the Autumn. Plus have a nice long soak in the bath. It will be a long time before you can enjoy the peace and tranquility of a soak once the babies arrived.

Yes research where all the baby groups are and when.
Research breastfeeding advice.
Wash what needs washing.
Go to the cinema.
Go out for a quiet lunch without softplay attached.
Swim, gym

I've just done my first week. I've finished painting the nursery, had a haircut, been for coffee with NCT friends, done some cooking to go in the freezer and read a book! Next week I have years of paperwork to sort out, plus all the baby laundry and I want to start something on Netflix.

\Following - but questions - are you all now on maternity pay?

I ask this as i do a very physical job but I have to go until 37 weeks due to the 90% awful stat pay... and im knackered already!!

Take nice long baths, sleep, eat hot food with two hands, drink hot drinks while they are still actually hot, housework, meet friends.

You won't have the opportunity to do any of those for quite a long time once LO arrives

Sleep and dinners with friends...I long for those two things- oh and a clean house

I loved my 5 weeks of mat leave before DD finally showed up! A mix of practical things (batch cooking, washing baby clothes, writing birth plan etc), going for walks and relaxing (books, jigsaws, naps!) - it was lovely! Are you crafty at all? I did a cross stitch for DD's nursery, is there anything like that to keep you busy?

carly I’m technically on annual leave as had loads saved up for this very purpose! My official mat leave doesn’t start until the week of my due date. I only get stat mat pay too, it’s rubbish isn’t it!

Thank you for all your replies! You’ve all given me great ideas of things to do! Xxx

I decorated my kitchen, took naps, read books, prepared for baby. You never get that time again so make the most!

Cook for the freezer. You will appreciate it in a few months.

Hi I ended up having 10weeka off before my first was born after going on mat leave at 32 weeks and little one not arriving until almost 42. It was bliss! The longest I’d had off work in 10yeara was two weeks and I was determined to enjoy every day! I was lucky to not be too uncomfortable and it was summer, I went for long dog walks caught up with friends who were already mums and worked part time, husband and I went away for a long weekend, I sorted the garden, learnt to crochet etc etc. I know it could feel frustrating to be ‘waiting’ but honestly enjoy your last few weeks of freedom!

Declutter anywhere you can ie make the house as easy as possible to look after later.
Chill and enjoy the time you have.

Things I have found you can’t do with a baby (not mine anyway)

Jigsaws (unless they’re on my iphone :) )
DIY - obviously pregnancy restricts some but if you’re able to do bits, do em
Craft. Like to sew? Knit? Papercraft? These are all not terribly compatible with a baby. You may get a baby like my nephew, who sleeps just fine and allows my sil to sew. Or you may get one like mine... bank those projects now ;)
Do a wardrobe makeover. Now is the time to ditch things you’re not that excited about being able to wear again!
De clutter is good
Like writing? Do that. I find it hard to get headspace for long form thinking
Definitely stock your freezer.
Get into preserving. Makes nice gifts, time consuming, nice to have in winter.
Do your Christmas cake
Haircut, definitely haircut
Pregnancy massage is amazing
Sort out paperwork and shred unnecessary stuff

Read any books you're wanting to get read any time soon. I've been trying to read one book for roughly 11 and a half months now but never get enough time/free hands to actually hold a book. I resorted to buying a kindle paperwhite so I could read, one-handed, in the dark whilst feeding the baby.

Cinema was my thing. If you have a showcase de lux near you they are the dogs wotsits when you're heavily pregnant, I was going every other day by the time dd finally turned up 9 days late