Does anyone else feel weird about maternity leave?

[ThatGentleScroller]

I have just logged off and set my out of office for a year’s time for my maternity leave. Full of a range of emotions, I feel excited, but also sad that I will miss my team, my career is on hold and nervous about what I’ll do before baby is here. To be honest, I’ve had a fairly relaxed last day and have been bored. How did everyone else feel? What sort of things did you do to keep busy before baby is here? I am a bit worried I’ll feel lonely and also have had bad pelvic pain so I’m not able to be super mobile or active.

I’m 38 weeks so hopefully it won’t be long!

Honestly find it joyous! I usually work up until my due date.

Enjoy two weeks of quiet, watching what you want on TV, do meditation.

I'd use those two weeks to clean, sort baby bits and batch cook. Make your Xmas Cake?

It's really wierd logging off for the last time but that time before DS1 arrived turned out to be one of the loveliest times of my life, DS was very overdue so I was quite fed up with waiting but it's a perfect opportunity to just please yourself before everything becomes about the baby. I had SPD but just about managed to get out for a waddle every day, took lots of naps, washed and dried all the cute tiny clothes and watched a few series I wanted to watch. I would also reccomend going to the cinema and having some grown up meals out. I didn't go to the cinema again until DS was old enough for kids cinema! A few days before DS was born I got a very strong urge to nest which managed to override any tiredness or pain and I ended up scrubbing everything, my house was the cleanest it's ever been.

Wishing you all the best!

I worked until a week before my due date and ended up going a week over, so had 2 weeks to myself and it was glorious. I probably should have been productive and batch cooked, meditated or something, but I had 2 weeks to chill and watch trash TV - got on top of housework and had lovely coffee dates with family and friends.
Enjoy and I hope everything goes well for you xx

Definitely go to the cinema, have a look round the shops (if you can) nap, read if you like reading. It will definitely soon be harder to do that.

@ThatGentleScroller This is very spooky to read! I have also just logged off for the last time, I'm also 38 weeks and also feeling very weird!

Just had a little sob tbh. I think it's because I know I can definitely do my job, but I don't know that I can definitely do this baby stuff.

Know exactly what you mean about feeling lonely - my team is amazing and I'm really going to miss them. ☹️ Can see myself logging on just for a chat.

I felt like this when I finished at 39 weeks and then had a strange two week limbo waiting for baby ... But since he arrived I have barely given my job a second thought 😅 it's wild how fast and completely your priorities change!!

With DD1, i turned on my out of office at 37+5 and she was here by 38w so I wouldnt worry about being bored as you might not have long to wait! Take each day as it comes, rest, batch cook, make sure your bag is packed, get out for a walk, pregnancy massage, go to the cinema and enjoy the air-conditioning!

Is this your first?

I finished at 36 weeks and had 3 weeks of cleaning, sorting, binge watching, batch cooking and doing puzzles. I loved it! Enjoy the peace, try and catch up on sleep as much as you can and just enjoy the time doing what you want when you want for a little while before it all changes.

I finished on Friday baby was born on the Sunday. I had a week of baking planned and spent the early hours of Saturday night Sunday morning whilst in early labour switching baking ingredients for convenience foods for the food shop booked for Monday.
It was 10 weeks before I had chance to bake the long craved for scones and clotted cream!
This time around I've been off since 7 weeks pregnant and it was weird at first but I've adjusted to the different pace!

With my first I started mat leave the day I had to go into hospital unexpectedly to be induced. Worried about work, mat leave etc. I think for me with all of my children I’ve worried about mat leave because im used to being on the go all the time and was worried about what I would do! With my second I learnt from my mistakes 🤣 started mat leave at 37 weeks and enjoyed almost 2 weeks of chilling, tidying and tv watching before another unexpected induction. With my twin DC I went off at 32 weeks, absolutely buzzing and had 4 weeks to myself before having them. Taking it easy and having all the naps. Best thing I did because I was exhausted. Really enjoyed and appreciated my own time. Organised my life, my house and relaxed . Something I don’t have now🤣 Once they’re here you won’t think about it at all, I love my job but worst part was finishing mat leave !

I loved it! I was self employed so didn't get much time off throughout the year, try to relax!! You'll have plenty to do when babys here x

Congratulations OP!

I hate late pregnancy and I’m rubbish at waiting so have never had time off before babies were born (worked until day before planned induction with number one, then to due date with numbers two and three, who were both born at 40+1). If I wasn’t so impatient then I would love to have a couple of weeks off to potter and sit in silence and do all my favourite things!

I do love maternity leave though. I like my job, but my maternity leaves have been the absolute best days of my life. Baby three is eight weeks old and I’m so sad that this will be my last one! Hopefully you will enjoy it too!

All the best x

The support and advice and uplifting comments I’ve had on this thread have been amazing. Thank you all for your advice and making me feel normal. I appreciate it!

I’d do yoga, meditation and relax your body for birth. Gentle walks, I’d do some reading, bit of cleaning/sorting. Rest, watch a box set.

I worked until 39 weeks. However I had a failed ECV 2 days before my scheduled last day of work, and was booked in for an ELCS 36 hours later, meaning I didn't actually make it to my final day. I still went to work the day after the ECV/day before the CS though, as I just wanted a day of normality. I was SO emotional at work and I cried when I left. I think when your career has been your priority it's normal to feel weird about it being deprioritised. I'm now a week into maternity leave/mum life and I'm just about managing to switch off from work mode - I am going in next week to show off the baby though! Enjoy your downtime before baby gets here.

Expecting baby 2 and I’ve got to say.. seriously enjoy it!!! You will never get to complain about being bored again, so relish the boredom and the freedom to do pretty much what you want to do whenever you want to. As someone else said, go to the cinema or other adult places. I can’t tell you how much you will miss getting to just be YOU with no one needing you 24/7.
I’m taking more time off pre-baby this time. DD in nursery and getting to watch all of those shows and films everyone has watched whilst I’ve been living under a rock for the last 3 years 😂 I can’t wait.