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!

Write a diary.

Sounds daft but I honestly struggle to remember what life was like without my children. The idea of being bored....what?! Also it will be lovely to read back with your child when they are an adult expecting their own child (they really wont care at any point before that, trust me). People focus on child milestone books, but you should have your own. I really regret not writing more when I was having my lot (6!). I wrote a piece that Sheila Kitzinger used in one of her books and I treasure it as it was about DC4's birth and includes things that I would never have remembered otherwise and makes me wonder what I have forgotten about the other's births.

Here’s the video I mentioned -stretching and yoga type stuff with optimal foetal positioning in mind:

spinningbabies.com/product/daily-essentials-digital-download/

Digital download, PayPal accepted.

Rest rest and more rest. Labour can take a few days so going into it rested helps. I worked right up to birth and really regretted it.

Pack your bag and then Read / watch Netflix!
Seriously everything else can wait.
You probably won't have free time like this for the next 18 years don't waste it.

With regards to moving declutter now. If you haven't used it in the last year you don't need it. Bin, charity shop or sell everything that falls in the above category. You do not want to move stuff you don't use.
We've just moved and I must have taken about 30 bin bags worth of stuff either to the tip or the charity shop before hand.
I sent our entire DVD and CD collection to Music Magpie because I haven't listened to or watched anything not streamed for the last 3 years. All my husbands old games went to game exchange. We made over £200 which paid for some of the removal costs.

Dentist if you haven't already. Read or see friends for quiet lunch, lastvtime for a while. Yoga or swim if up to it
Relax

Go to a breastfeeding support group if you intend to breastfeed?

All I have been to always welcome pregnant women and it's useful to know how to get things off to a good start.
Also find local contacts for breastfeeding support in case you need them.

Bulk cook some meals- stew/curry/soup/bolognese sauce and freeze.

You won't get much time to cook and you will be tired after your baby arrives.

I’d definitely be organising the removal men and be paying extra for those who pack everything.
My parents used some and it was like magic with all the big stuff. The house just emptied in about half a day.
( Bearing in mind it took us about 2 years to empty, the loft, shed, garage). That was a house they’d lived in for 40 years mind.

Yes when bulk cooking, just do the meat things and use your kettle and microwave to cook pasta / rice / potatoes / couscous

Yes when bulk cooking, just do the meat things and use your kettle and microwave to cook pasta / rice / potatoes / couscous

That’s what I’m doing. I think bolognese and chilli con carne freeze well. Not everything does though. Maybe a pie or something. We have an air fryer too so can make chips as you say pasta, rice etc don’t take too long.

Might do a lasagne if I have time and space in the freezer but then it’s a lot of mince!

I don’t mind eating simple things occasionally though like a jacket potato with salad or beans or toast or just pasta with a bit of veg. DH likes meat in every meal though!

I’ll look into removal men this week. DH friend just bought a van so DH was thinking of saving money by using his van to move but it would be a big job

I re-tiled my bathroom 🙄😂 it was finished before dc arrived I must have been mad

I re-tiled my bathroom 🙄😂 it was finished before dc arrived I must have been mad

😂 Well done!

Expect some crazy thoughts around this time and also you may have some dramatic name change ideas 😂

Definitely look into removal men they really are worth every penny and the whole process is so quick. For my recent move I did the packing but they emptied the whole house, shed and garden in two hours. The whole move was over with by lunchtime. I will never go back to the stress of moving myself ever again.