First day of mat leave - what to do?!

[AliceRR]

I am on my first day of mat leave and not sure what to do with myself although it was nice to be able to stay in bed when DH got up and went out to work in the cold!

What are you doing?

Any advice!

Obviously baby could come any time now so I might not have very long home alone before baby comes

Things on my list:

Pack hospital bag (tbf I need to do this now as I’m 38+1). I have washed most of the baby clothes and stuff and have most things, just need to pack it

Sort out / wash additional baby clothes and gifts I received from work on Friday and my baby shower yesterday as some might go in the hospital bag and plan was to wash everything up to age 3 months

Clean - might just do it bit by bit as I have PGP and can’t be on my feet for long

Hypnobirthing digital course I purchase last week

DH bought me a crochet bunny kit that I want to try to make

Shopping for baby and maybe a couple of other bits for baby bag like disposable knickers and need nighties

Plans for new house - not buying yet but getting an idea of what I want and where I can get it from for a good price etc

Exercise - I keep meaning to do this but have barely exercised due to PHP. Bought an exercise ball so will try to use that

Sort out other stuff as we are moving end of March but not really in the mindset for this yet

Read / watch Netflix!

Pack the bag! Baby 2 arrived at 9.30 am on the first day of my Mat leave at 38+0 and labour was 3 hours! Admittedly that’s unlikely with your first!

I can’t believe you haven’t packed your bag yet! We went to antenatal classes and I was the only one who hadn’t packed the hospital bag by 33 weeks! Also batch cook some dinners and stick them in the freezer ready for baby coming.
I got all the nursery & baby stuff washed & put away ready. Everything except for the pram was set up and ready. I also sorted every cupboard in the house because I knew I’d never get the time again, especially once baby was here! But I don’t like sitting around, I think most people just rest and get some sleep in.
I loved nesting and I’m glad I got it done.

Apart from stuff for baby make sure and totally indulge yourself because it will be hard to find the time when the baby comes!

Lie and rest on the sofa and watch movies/read books/mags.
Get a foot massage and pedicure and any other lovely treatments.
Go for a fancy lunch on your own.
Batch cook meals to freeze (if you can be bothered!)

I loved going on maternity a few weeks before due date as was able to get so much nesting done as well as lots of self-care.

I had my eyelashes dyed, it was a while before I had the energy to apply make up again.

Also you should sleeeeeep. All the time. You never know when you'll go into labor and you'll want to be rested for that ordeal

Good luck

Cinema
Read
Sleep
Get a massage
Swimming

You will not see opportunities for any of the above in months!

DS was late so I had 6 weeks to fill and I look back at that time as some of the best weeks of my life!

By all means do practical stuff but balance it with some nice stuff for yourself too.

Yes, enjoy the rest. Arrange lunch dates with friends. Dance around the house (because you can). More sleep. Breakfast in bed. You get the general idea...

You could do all the prep suggested. My waters broke at 37 weeks no bag packed, no crib built, wardrobe being delivered that day. It was great though because it meant my parents DB, SIL and PIL went to our house while I was in labour, built the crib, built the wardrobe, cleaned the house top to bottom, washed and put away all of DS's clothes 😁

Batch cooking is what I done. That and just generally taking it easy.

Sleep please please just rest and chill and try and be as relaxed as possible. I wished id relaxed more pre baby arrival!

I had nearly 9 weeks off before baby arrived...it was summer and I spent much of it lying on a lounger and reading books. Napping outdoors also. It was bliss. 6 years later and I can't remember last reading a book that didn't involve the twating gruffalo

I'd second a pregnancy massage. I had one at 37 and it was amazing!

You have the sweats a lot and leak milk a bit in the first month or so, do you have enough bed sheets and a mattress protector?

We have a protector but only one sheet currently that fits our bed as we recently got a king size! I do wash my sheets BTW I just tend to take them off, wash and dry, and then put them back on. So maybe I need more sheets for our bed!

You've had loads of good advice already but I would make a start on the practical things. Get your hospital bag done. Consider packing a second bag with extra nappies and baby grows in case you have a longer stay. Keep that one in the car so it's handy when you need it. Do build the bed too, you will kick yourself later otherwise. Batch cooking is a very good idea, wish I'd have had some frozen meals to grab in a hurry.

Also consider things that will be difficult to do for a while with a newborn, like going to the hairdresser, going out to see a show in the evening, any evening activity you enjoy basically.

I was only on mat leave for a couple of days before my waters broke and I was so relived to have my bags ready.

Forgot to mention, get a lidded thermal teacup if you don't have one already, so your brew will stay warm and you are less likely to spill on baby.

I was thinking of a massage 🤔

And some cooking is a good idea

One more, see if your local library have an app for free ebooks and join up. If you are breastfeeding it's handy to have something on your phone to read.

Sorry me again, download an app called Hoop to find local baby groups and activities to go along to when you are on your feet again.

Yes lots of great suggestions!

I don’t really drink tea and coffee but DH does do that might be one for him! I have told him he won’t be drinking hot tea while holding the baby!

I have lots of books on my kindle and audiobooks as well which might be easier when BF so should be ok on that front

I do need to pack my bag. I am just washing clothes now. I washed all the newborn and 0-3 I had plus things like blankets and hats and bibs and blankets and now I’m washing the ones I got as gifts from work and my shower so all my stuff up to three months will be done so I can pack baby bag for hospital. I have packed baby stuff but now having some new stuff I might swap some around.

I have cloth nappies too and think they’re also supposed to be washed before so might do those too although I have disposables for the hospital

I would pack your bag first and then get stuck in to the hypnobirthing stuff. It made a massive difference to my second birth so would be high on my list of priorities.

Pack your bag then get your feet up!!

I'm starting Mat leave in March and CANNOT wait! My DS will still be in childcare 3 full days a week so on my list for those days is:

• pack hospital bag
• Sort baby's room
• go for coffee on my own with a book
• sleep
• watch crappy tv
• sit
• have a bath
• go to the shops alone (if I can be bothered)
• meet my DH for lunch
• sleep some more

Honestly, just take as much time for you as you can. My DS came early (only a week), but I started mat leave at 38 weeks with him so only got a week and I was gutted! I had so much me time planned.
This time I'm going at 36 weeks and hoping I get some time on those 3 days to just relax as I know it's going to be full on once baby is here, especially with my toddler at home too!

Pack your bag then binge watch a box set while scoffing lots of your fave food!

I am 38 + 1 so I may well not have long either!

I have some baby clothes in the wash and will sort out the baby bag today

Meanwhile I’m watching Loose Women 😬

Sleep and watch TV. Get your hair and nails done. Go to the cinema. Get a massage and a facial. Drink hot coffee. If I had my time again I wouldn't run around cleaning everywhere and exhausting myself, I would have treated myself to all the things I wouldn't be able to have for months!

I’d go and have a bath and a sleep