How to fill mat leave pre baby?

[Matleaveprep]

I start mat leave next week. Looking for ideas/prompts on how to spend any days before baby arrives.

I'm not good at not being busy 🫣 even finding it tough at work this week as everything is winding down. I thought by this point I'd want more chill time but it seems not. I also hoped I could to do the things which would be trickier when a new baby arrived like go for walks and explore the area but sadly finding it quite uncomfortable to drive or walk far so these things don't feel very appealing. I live rurally so most things are a drive away. There are a few pregnancy classes on around here but they're all evening things, it's the daylight hours I'm trying to fill.

• Have been cooking/baking meals and snacks for the last few weeks so that's pretty much done. Freezer is well stocked.
• Have everything we need for the baby, all washed and put away.
• Hospital bag is packed.
• Nursery is decorated.
• Birth preferences written out.
• Visited local childcare places /got on the waiting list.
• We moved last year and did a huge amount of decluttering and organising as part of that.
• Am not getting that nesting drive to clean everything from top to toe but have been trying to work my way through the 'often overlooked' jobs just so they're done.
• I currently swim twice a week, so will up that but that still leaves a lot of hours!
• Someone suggested booking a massage or something but that's still basically only going to take a tiny bit of time

Have found some third trimester stretches and things I'm looking forward to having more time for but otherwise feel like I'm going to be bored out of my mind.

Any other ideas?

If you haven't got a nursing chair [because how many people do] it's worth sitting in the chair you plan to feed in when heavily pregnant. Sit down and then get out of it. If you can do it without hauling on something then it will be the right height to be able to stand up with a baby in your arms.

If you can't, you will struggle especially if you have a c-section. So if that's the case, you may want to lay your hands on a very firm cushion. Google "seat cushion riser for the elderly" / "booster cushion" You can buy them in lots of places.

Starting week 2....no baby! Definitely bored 🤣 Trying to weirdly enjoy being bored....people keep telling me it will soon feel like a luxury.

• Planning the cinema later this week.
• Went along to a breastfeeding group but everything was closed up/noone there which was disappointing. Seems to happen a lot in my area, things are advertised online but then get cancelled or postponed and if you go anyway you'll hear about it but didn't get put online.
• dentist appointment and nursery sorted last week
• also got a new (to us) car so that's in sparkling condition. Car seat fits well. Buggy in the boot no worries
• I read about 4 books last week, and did some colouring, brain puzzles etc. Reaching saturation limit.
• Have started making a gardening plan for the autumn whilst I have time to research. Got my mum involved and she's going to come over and make sure we actually achieve the goals when it's time!
• also wrote myself a list of 2 minute housekeeping jobs so I can just do little things if I get some energy/feel physically up to it. Felt very pleased with myself at how many little things added up last week to make the house feel more put together
• lovely DH drove me to the LC so I could get a couple of swims in which was nice. Will do that again.
• I tried to watch some TV (not something I do a lot) but it's just not my fave thing to do. People recommended bridgerton, stranger things, Ludwig. The latter was pretty good, might watch the second episode this week.
• Genuinely thinking about writing the Christmas cards as mentioned by someone 🤣 we were thinking we'd do photo cards with the baby though so can't really manifest that one.

@ThatMintMember I think I was hoping baby would come early so was trying to be organised 😅 I have been around babies a LOT since I was about 6 so don't feel like there's much I don't know. Though can imagine having one is different to being a sibling/hands on aunt even if they did live with us. The positive birth book is nice huh 🥰 we did hypnobirthing so am feeling as positive/empowered as I can be whilst trying to remember what will be will be.

It’s a shame about the BFing group. Can you contact them to see if it’s still running or if they know of alternative?

How about doing Birthday cards for the next 6 months?

I got a massage, a pedicure, did my taxes, saw the dentist, got my hair done, saw the optometrist, saw a movie in AC (it was a heatwave) and did some personal admin like switching mobile phone contracts.

Basicalky, front load everything that you might need to do in the 2-3 months after the baby is here.

All good advice. Can you wash everything too like throws, curtains seat covers? Not because you’ll want it clean for baby but because you might not get a chance again for a while

@ExplodingSmittens that is totally the sort of thing which gets overlooked huh! Luckily for me my lovely mum came around and took all of ours away a few weeks ago so they're all smelling divine.

Am currently making some lavender sachets from the garden to go in the drawers, both relaxing and enterprising! Good combo 🥰

if you like podcasts, the great birth rebellion is a good listen.

@Happymchappyface oo I love a good podcast! On the list for tomorrow. Thank you!

I had 7 weeks before baby arrived as I had to finish early and it was Covid lockdown. I really enjoyed listening to music and doing jigsaws, doesn’t sound anything special but something I fondly think of now. I also did like you got myself organised doing small jobs which I was very grateful for once baby arrived. Defrosting the freezer sent me into labour but I was glad it was done.

can you research all the different groups happening in your area on a schedule? My brain went to mush when baby arrived and having something I could glance at what was on that day would have helped me get out more.

Sign up to your local library and download their app. Listening to an audio book when feeding at 3am is a great way to stay awake if you're worried about nodding off when holding the baby. Also great for flicking through e-magazines etc

Honestly just have some time to chill and do nothing as you won’t be having a proper day off for a looong time once the baby comes! It was a big realisation once baby came that I wouldn’t be able to have a whole day off for probably the next few years if that!

I read a couple of books and wallowed in self pity while feeling too hot 😂

I'd get some quality time in with your partner too! My DS is almost 4 and I can count the amount of dates we've had since on one hand. Expecting baby no.2 shortly after DS starts school and hoping to use that childcare to go to the cinema and for some meals and things before it gets trickier again.

We used to love mini golf, walks, day trips, picnics, restaurants, cafes, shopping, board games etc.

We also had started a tv series before my son was born so it was nice having something we just continued watching after he was born.

You could also put together a supermarket delivery for shortly after the birth? Can always just change the date if baby hasn't come yet. Anything you've not been allowed during pregnancy that you're looking forward to?

Sort your finances out.

Make photo books with all the photos in your phone.

Wowee time to yourself before baby is the dream! I went on mat leave on week 38 and baby arrived 38+2 and I had been in labour since 38+1 totally wish I’d had time to clean the fridge or watch a box set

@Beachbeach I really am trying to make the most of it. Just having come from quite a busy and social life, suddenly having all this time totally to myself is a bit quiet and lonely. Plus being way less mobile than I'd like to be is limiting my options from stuff I'd tend to do if I have had the odd day to myself.

Don't mean to be ungrateful for the headspace, but people's ideas have genuinely helped me fill some hours, which I deeply appreciate 🥰