Killing myself with impatience! Bored on mat leave waiting for baby...

[HopeWish]

I am 37 weeks exactly today with baby no.1!

I am getting increasingly impatient knowing that I could go into labour any time, but that it’s probably not likely for a few weeks...
My hospital bag is all packed. Baby stuff all ready to go, names picked and I’ve started maternity leave.
The problem is I am just so excited about this baby that I am thinking about it constantly. We haven’t found out the gender so my mind is constantly racing wondering if it’s a boy or a girl, what it will look like (sonographer at 36w appt said it has lots of hair), when I will go into labour, what the birth will be like etc.

I guess I had hoped back when I first found out about the pregnancy that COVID would be over by now and I would be able to enjoy mat leave trundling around with my mum or sister buying last minute bits for baby, going out for lunch and just generally relaxing. The reality is that we are in a tier 4 area and I am alone at home all day whilst DH is at work.

I am doing the housework (very exciting) and have started cooking some more exciting meals for dinner now that I have the time, but I am finding myself getting bored and lonely and constantly hoping for baby to come soon!

Has anybody got any good ideas for distracting my mind? What do people normally do during these weeks before birth?

Hey op, congratulations 💐 when I was on maternity leave I started batch cooking some meals and freezing them ready for after DD was born. I wasn't sure how I feel physically, and I wanted to make sure DP had meals he could just defrost and eat if I had to stay in hospital longer than needed. I was so relieved I did, as for the first two weeks I couldn't face standing and cooking in the kitchen as was so tired. I had a big spring clean and binge watched Netflix the rest of the time 😂

Ohhh I just remembered, I also started little craft projects. I bought some plain wooden boxes and painted them up and decorated them as toy boxes for my DD

@Whyistheteacold

Thanks for the ideas! I just remembered that I have a crotchet project (baby blanket) I never finished so I might do that for a bit. The batch cooking is a good idea too, although DH really likes cooking so he might not want me to freeze him a load of meals.

@HopeWish I wish that my OH liked cooking 🙄😂 you could also try to shave your legs if you haven't already done so... That killed a lot of time for me 😂

I would do lots of batch cooking too. You will likely need help when the baby comes so dh might not have much time to cook or just be too knackered. I also gave the house a good spring clean and binge watched shows on Netflix.

This is so sweet @HopeWish I remember you from a TTC thread and now look you are desperate to have your bambino :)

Anyone local for a walk?

Write birthday cards or order them for the next 3 months, valentine's card for DH, mother's Day card for your mum.

I asked this today and got told to chill and read a book as book reading won't happen once baby is here.

Facetime a friend and get some chats in before you go off the radar?

Just making stuff up now...you could make little packages of your favourite things for when you are having a really tired day. If you are going to have visitors you could put together a little tea and biscuit kit in a cup so they just need to book the kettle and help themselves.

Clean the fridge.

Label the drawers etc you have filled.

Have a you day- long bath, blow dry your hair, face mask, paint your nails.

Check your cupboards for dates on food.

You tube a pregnancy class of some sort yoga or dance.

If it helps lots of mums talk about relaxing and chilling out and then going into labour so try (easier said than done) not to be impatient as you want the body all relaxed and loose and ready to give birth lol

Your situation sounds exactly like me at the moment I started Mat Leave the week of Xmas (currently 38 + 4) and whilst having my DH at home for the Xmas week has changed the routine up a bit I know that from next Monday, I'll be back to wondering when baby will arrive and it'll be the only thing on my mind all day.

I've started trying to structure my days. Nesting has kicked in massively but I get tired quickly so have made a list of things to do cleaning wise and aim to do 1-2 of these per day in the mornings then spend the afternoons watching TV and I've started a baby scrapbook which is keeping me busy too. Plan for next week is batch cooking meals to freeze also.

Good luck I'm sure our babies will be with us before we know it!