Pregnant and out of work? How do you fill your day?

[NicciLovesSundays]

Im 24 weeks pregnant and havent been working since August 2018. Im starting to feel bored, frustrated and worried about how I will get into work in the future. I already have quite a sporadic work history because of illness.

Anyone else in the same/similar situation?

What about volunteering to keep up your skills and gain new ones?

@VaselineOnToast I have started volunteering one night per week but most of the other options that appeal to me would involve a police check and by the time that comes along I worry that I would be fit for nothing. Not sure how volunteering will work in the initial stages of motherhood either - im hoping to breastfeed and will have limited opportunities to access childcare, none of my family are closeby so will have no informal support. I havent ruled it out completely and have been talking to my partner about how we can make that work by changing his work schedule a little when the baby comes along.

Im finding it frustrating that a lot of the maternity related things I can access (yoga/pilates etc) are in the evening when public transport is limited/non existent and this is the time I usually have with my partner.

Its the day times I find myself getting very bored....

My latest DBS check took 4 days... doesn’t necessarily have to take ages.

Do you drive? Maybe lessons if not?

@GeorgieTheGorgeousGoat you could be right about the DBS checks so ive just registered my interest in volunteering with 2 organisations.

I dont drive and dont really want to but given how limited the public transport is I might have to bite the bullet and learn.

I second learning how to drive! I just got my driving license and was doing it throughout my first and into my second trimister. I also work a full time job so was actually more stressful for me than anything else, but if you're not working, it's a very good and useful way to spend time given you also need to study theory at the beginning!

@secretlyhermione how long did it take you to learn and pass your test? Will it not be quite difficult to learn as my bump gets bigger and mobility is reduced?

@NicciLovesSundays I attended the classess/passed the theory test before I conceived and started taking practical lessons probably a week before I conceived, so was doing the driving mainly in my first trimester/into my second. I did it over 5 months, but consider also that I am working full time so had to schedule around work which means it was spread out quite a lot to take into acount work/travel etc. If you're not working, you would definitely be able to do it in I think half the time, if you focused on doing a few driving lessons a week. I get what you mean about the bump though... I passed last Friday and was 19 weeks and have a very small bump so teacher didn't even know I was pregnant till I told him! I don't think it should be a problem, but I do have to admit it is a tad stressful, although it does take a lot of time so would ease the boredom! For the bump it should also be fine, I remember reading that others were also doing it towards end of pregnancy, so as long as you feel comfortable.