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!

We don’t have a bath! 🛀🏽

We had the bathroom done last year (to sell the house though, we are moving soon) -!: we put in a big wetroom shower instead of a bath and I have missed it a bit especially with aches and pains

Deffo pack bag i had my little boy 2 weeks ago and was 38 +1!

Definitely do a bit of batch cooking to pop in the freezer.

I did this whilst I was overdue with DD and was so easy to just pop in the oven/slow cooker. Save yourself some time and buy pre-chopped onions/veg!

I think we had meals made for around 3 weeks after DD was born so gave us time to get into the swing of things before we started properly cooking again 😂

I think we had meals made for around 3 weeks after DD was born

Oh wow! I don’t think I’ll have as much as that but will make a start. Was thinking of putting them in freezer bags in individual portions if I can to make things easier 🤔

Maybe a day out like cinema and dinner with partner as will hardly get to do that when baby is born

Pack hospital bag and then rest and sleep as much as you can! It's your last chance 😂

Maybe a day out like cinema and dinner with partner as will hardly get to do that when baby is born

Partner is at work but it is his birthday on Monday so maybe I’ll see if he wants to book the day off. He might not as he’ll be taking paternity leave soon anyway plus it’s weird to think baby could have arrived by then!

Eat a hot meal with 2 hands and appreciate every mouthful!

Lazy days to relax, maybe a visit to the hairdressers or nails done, then a few evenings out with DP or friends at restaurant/cinema (that's what I really miss after DCs, we never go out after like 5pm anymore ). If you absolutely have to keep busy I'd cook some meals for the freezer - I did this and it was so nice to have proper food every day once baby arrived with no effort!

Well I’ve been fairly productive today I feel...

I had a midwife appointment, went to the pram shop to pay off the balance (plan to collect it after baby has arrived), did some laundry, cooked dinner (bolognese) and also a few portions of bolognese to freeze, also cooked a chilli con carne which we can have with rice or tacos on Saturday and the rest is in the freezer, also sorted out a return on a gift for MIL that was a bit complicated, washed up and tidied the kitchen and bounced in my ball a bit. Feel that was quite productive but I am aching now 😬

Yesterday I didn’t do as much but I did clean up, steam clean the kitchen and bathroom floors, go shopping for some essentials I needed for my hospital bag and baby and also to pick up some things for DH birthday on Monday in case I don’t get chance to go out again (it was snowing here today!)

Oh and did some internet shopping 😬

Chill and enjoy the time. I finished work with my first at 36 + 5. I unknowingly started early labour at 37 so felt rubbish, things were starting to get painful, dd arrived 37 + 4.
Id made food for the freezer in the silver takeaway tubs so they could go straight in the oven.
In hindsight, more rest time beforehand would have been nice, but the freezer meals were invaluable in the stress of it all (family visiting from far away mixed with a return to hospital for medical reasons)
I'd collect the pram before baby arrives, unless there is a specific reason you haven't.

I am trying to balance getting stuff done with resting so will sleep as long as I want eg yesterday slept til half 12 and today til half 10 and then had my midwife appointment but try to fit in some bits of being active where I can. Think I feel better if I’m doing something but I’m definitely tired so if I need to rest more in the coming days then I will.

Packing bag takes about one hour.
And that’s stretching it!

I pattered
I sorted
I organised
I relaxed

I’d walk up to meet my husband at the tube every evening and we would go for a bite to eat and a walk.

I loved every minute

I went ten days over, perhaps I was too relaxed and content!

I am enjoying it now. Work is already a distant memory!!

I think they say you are more likely to go into labour when relaxed though 😊

hospital bag
wax, mani, pedi
box set binge

snooze

basically anything that you will NOT have time or inlcination for once baby is here.

@delboysskinsandblister

Box set binges defined first my first four weeks with my baby!

Have a practice at putting a teddy bear in the car seat. Dh and I struggled to adjust the straps for an eternity in hospital with dd going bonkers . I wish I had practiced!

Other than that, just watch Homes Under the Hammer.

I had my last day yesterday, so next week is start of maternity, have loads of appointments next week and a 2 year old to run around after, my c section is booked for 2 weeks and 4 days time!

I walk lots...sleep lots...have a bath daily (bliss....book or Ipad with a film on)!

2 weeks into mat leave thought and im rather bored. The house gets blitzed every 2 days (im that bored)! its never been cleaner :D

Rest, read, have your hair done. Make some meals for the freezer, you will be so glad you did.

I’m definitely watching TV. Started watching Modern Family and the Affair recently. Not sure about the Affair. Want to catch up on Greys Anatomy too!

I can barely walk with PGP and it’s snowing here now so I haven’t been out much. And annoyingly we don’t have a bath now or I’d be in that more...

I’m definitely cleaning during the day but also sleeping late. It’s nice to have a bit of time to do not a lot to be honest

Might see if I can get DH to clean the car tomorrow and then actually fit the car seat

Batch cook!!

And spend a day or two chilling out watching a film and drinking hot drinks. You will not be able to do that very often afterwards

I did some cooking yesterday to go in the freezer and I’ve been watching films 😊