Help think of things to do during my "confinement" before I actually lose the plot!

[Thandeka]

I am in my first official week of mat leave bub due on 5th feb. Pretty much housebound because of the snow and ice. I have 4 weeks left and think I may lose my mind if I don't come up with some things to keep me sane! Oh and am horribly uncomfortable in most positions and would quite like this baby out now! poor dh is bearing brunt of it at mo as he is only person I talk to and I only get to see him in evenings! Help me think of things I can do to help keep me sane! I do have a bit of a list already such as:
cook freezer food for meals after bub is born
watch boxsets I got for Xmas
knit my scarf
read the last in my pile of babybooks
buy reuseable nappies
practice my breathing and birth positions
perineal massage
baths
practice using the steriliser, buggy,carseat etc so it isn't impossible when sleep deprived!
Maybe some stress relieving meditation
see some pals who are also off work at mo for coffee lunch
oh and do the big pile of freelance work I need to do before bub gets here!
Sleep lots and lots
write final version of birth plan

Actually that list is better than I thought but am in such a grumpy fuddle that I have an excuse for not doing most of that list! What else can you do in the last month as all I seem to be doing is having a massive whinge on mumsnet! And normally am such a happy positive soul!

The only advice I have is to enjoy your final weeks of freedom never to be seen again!

This is what boxsets of DVDs were made for. Crack your Xmas ones open.

I watched all of 'Six Feet Under' when waiting for DD to make her appearance. A bit morbid perhaps, but great!

the ONLY thing I would do on your list is SLEEP

Yup. I agree with sleep too. I often say if only someone had told me that things would have been so much easier....

My baby is due the day after yours. I'm finishing DIY jobs, cleaning windows, washing baby clothes and doing a scrap book about the pregnancy (scan pics, bump pics, hospital letters, etc etc). Also I've booked internet delivery supermarket shops for next few weeks (remember to put phone number in mobile for last minute cancelations should you be in hospital).

Booked people to come and do yearly services on burgular alarm and boiler.

I've been doing slightly obsessive sorting out of cupboards too!

Good luck!

If I had my first maternity leave again (bliss!!), I would be sitting on the sofa with an enormous bar of chocolate, reading my favourite books and then watching box sets/films that I really want to watch. I would then follow that with lesiurely coffees with friends and a couple of pedicures/pampering sessions - you won't ever get this 'you' time again - ever - so make the most of it!!

I am finishing work in about 6 weeks time - I will be doing the school run for the older two twice a day, and then coming home, trying to entertain my toddler, doing housework and cooking meals for the freezer - the thought of not 'having' to do anything would be utter bliss!!!!

I take it this is your first? You will never agin complain about being bored (not for at least 18 years I recon!) so make the most of it!!!

Yup totally my first (and currently thinking my last although this may change!). Hehe I know am being all wallowy and self indulgent but have drunk a cup of raspberry leaf tea and am now considering sticking on my new wii fit plus game to try it out (only the very gentle stuff mind!) also for the smug satisfaction of it telling me off for being overweight and then in 5 weeks time i can climb back on and hopefully have undergone dramatic weightloss!

Pre write thank you cards for baby gifts. Just leave a space to put in the guft they gave you.

I found that if I set myself a task to do which I didnt want to do then I could lie on the sofa and wallow quite happily whislt putting it off

Sounds like what is on your list will keep you going for at least a few weeks! Find another project to do incase you run out of things, perhaps another knitting one or something like that.

I spent about 20 hours doing a holiday photo album on Photobox - it drove me crazy in the end, and shouldn't have taken that long but the system isn't exactly that quick. I've run out of projects now that's done, I've done all my jigsaws and my freezer is full, so may have to resort to doing another holiday photo album and DVD box sets.

Wish I had time to go and buy some painting supplies or something like that but my due date is tomorrow, so by the time anything like that is delivered, it will probably never get done. Too scared to go shopping in town by myself cos of the ice.

Put photos in albums. That's all I managed to do before DS turned up 2 weeks early, on first day of ML.

See if there is an NCT "Bumps and Babies" coffee morning near you and venture out if your dare to meet potential new friends.

Look into new baby things to do near you - swimming classes, Surestart, baby massage, baby yoga, Baby Cafe.

Closer to the time, do an online supermarket shop and save the list to get it delivered again a fortnight or so later.

Thandeka I'm due around the same time as you. One of my tasks is to sort all our extra wedding photos (ie.the ones people gave us - as opposed to the ones that went into our proper album) into a nice album. I've got envelopes and boxes of pictures everywhere. God knows, if I don't do it now, I never will!

I am also sleeping in for as long as I can in the morning and watching Neighbours and Gilmore Girls (my two guilty tv pleasures) ever day when I get up - in my pyjamas!

I'm also going to practice online Tesco shopping so I can get a list all set up for post-baby - haven't done it before so might take a few attempts to establish a good system.

Another thing I'm enjoying (which might make you sick, depending on your cringe-factor) is lots of needy cuddles with DH in the evening. I worry we'll be so distracted by the baby that we'll forget about each other and he might prefer to cuddle the baby in the evening over me so I want to stock up now. Am I pathetic?

Yes, I third the online shopping thing. Its a life saver!

Thandeka you could always keep yourself occupied writing inappropriate Facebook updates on our thread in Pregnancy! I've just found it again and had a good giggle.

go to the afternooon shows at the cinema

meet friends for long lunches

go swimming

spend hours on mumsnet whilst alternating with internet shopping

Prioritise the scarf (can you knit whilst watching boxed set?) Baring in mind that if you dont finish it before the baby arrives you probably wont touch it again for about 2 years by which time you might have changed your mind about the colour