Started Mat leave today...

[qj17]

Now what?
So I'm nearly 37 weeks and today is my first day of Mat leave (well annual leave until my due date of the 24th July) and I already don't know what to do with myself!
I desperately need to pack my hospital bag but I don't know where to start 🤦🏼‍♀️. Plan is to try and take it easy but I haven't slowed down so far in this pregnancy so it's hard!
Anyone feeling the same or have any advice?

I started two weeks ago at 35 weeks, I was so struggling a lot with tiredness at work.
My first few days I really felt like I needed to do something but now I just laze around in bed in the mornings, give myself small jobs to do. Really trying to enjoy my last few weeks before becoming a mum!
I found I was making myself so tired and quite stressed by thinking I had to do something everyday.

Sleep. Sleep. Sleep. You will need it!

1. Pack your bag! Today! Google it, there's lots of great lists online.
2. Get out for a walk everyday. You'll feel better being active
3. Do any other baby shopping you haven't had a chance to do yet
4. Do something nice for yourself everyday, ie bath, hairdresser, meet someone for lunch

Ok...
Spend today relaxing, have a nice lunch, maybe some easy housework to keep on top of things if you can
Sit and write a list of what you need in your hospital bag (I still have my list on my phone if you would like me to post it to give you an idea)
Then tomorrow/Wednesday you can go to the shops to buy anything you may need for your bag. Then pack.
If you're anything like me you'll relax better when you know it's done!
Then I just used to spend my days going for little walks for fresh air, maybe meeting my Mam/friends for coffee and pottering round the house so DH and I could relax when he got home from work.

Go to the cinema!
Sleep!
Batch cook meals for the freezer.
Google hospital bag and pack!
Watch a box set or 3.

I watched a lot of Netflix series it was great 😀 I did go out for a small walk everyday to the shops even if I didn't need anything just for a bit of exercise

Pack your hospital bag
Smash through your washing/ironing baskets
Get plenty of sleep
Spend your time doing the little things that will change drastically - wandering round the shops (you can still do this but have to factor in an extra 3 hours for constant feeds and nappy changes lol!), having a long bath, being able to drink a whole cup of tea before it goes cold, going for a wee in peace 😂

Do all the things that will be difficult to do if you have a clingy baby who won't let you out of their sight for a few months.

Get a good long relaxing haircut
Maybe eat out a few times over the next few weeks, day or night.
Wander round the supermarket aimlessly with only a shopping basket and your purse.
Long baths
Long showers
Go to a garden centre (see supermarket above)

Sleep.
Read a book.
Go for a bath.
Go for a walk.
You probably should pack your hospital bag.
Cook yourself something delicious and enjoy having the time to eat it.
Go to the cinema.

Yes to getting your hair done if you can. I’ve got a 5 month old and am cutting my hair myself!

I was the same! Went on mat leave at 37 weeks, I didn’t slow down, stayed busy with lunch plans, shopping and (luckily) packing my hospital bag! Had my baby at 38 weeks and he is my first! So get prepared!

There are loads of useful threads on here about hospital bag packing so I'd say crack on with that first. Yy to getting a haircut!

If you have a freezer then getting some meals prepped and frozen will be handy for once the baby comes and you can just defrost something that isn't pizza! I made and portioned a lasagne that was perfect for eating one-handed with a fork (a skill you will hone quite quickly!).

Then series and biscuits to your heart's content 😊

Thanks everyone some fab ideas here! Had my hair done on Saturday so that's a tick off the list, going to go for lunch with a friend today and plan to tackle the hospital bag!

Read a book.
Have a lovely long bath.
Drink a hot coffee or tea
Go out on a whim. Just think "ooh, I fancy doing X" and go and do it.

Go to the cinema.
Sit down with no one touching you.

I'm not quite on maternity leave yet (3 weeks to go!) but I'm WFH today and planning to just watch Wimbledon all day.