[Pip]

Well, I officially started maternity leave this week, as am 36 weeks, and am now wondering what to do with myself!

labour bag (mine + baby are packed)
started cooking stuff for freezer
babies room is sorted and baby stuff (monitors/car seats unpacked and tested)

is there anything that you wish you'd done when you were on maternity leave before babs arrives ??..

at this point, I'm considering re-grouting the shower..!

all tips/suggestions gratefully received!

[nippa&pippa]

A quiet & relaxing time to yourself in a bath....once baby arrive, it is hard to get 10mins peace in bath......

[irishliz]

Sleep, catch up on reading and watch lots of good films. And did I mention sleep.:)

[mgbridges]

I didn't really believe my mum, MIL etc when they told me to wash everything that was new prior to baby wearing it. Wish I had as he had a horrible rash early on before I cotton on to why. Even now I still wash everything new that I buy for DS and he is now 6yrs old.

The big thing to do on Maternity Leave is stuff for you and your partner. Meals out, trips to the cinema (we went to see the first LOTR movie on my due date), go to the theatre, have friends over for takeaway (can't see you wanting to cook a big meal right now), visit your favourite places etc. There is soon going to be a third person in your relationship so make the most of your 'couple' time.

Other than that stuff for you... long soaks in the bath, reading, watching films, meeting friends for lunch/coffee, catching up on all your email correspondence or even write the odd snail mail letter.

Finally - you do have batteries and film in your camera don't you? :)

Good luck and enjoy!
Anneliese

[jubjub]

Go and get a pedicure/manicure if thats your kind of thing... maybe even a leg wax and new hairdo? I insisted on getting my hair done a couple of weeks before baby was due so I looked half decent in piccies! :laugh

If your cats are interested in the babies cot/bassinet. put balloons in it (obviously not when baby is in there!), if they jump in they will get a fright and it should put them off jumping in with baby...

go out for a nice slap up meal with DH (is this your first??) somewhere posh and not child friendly, cos unless you get a sitter, then you wont be in one fo those for a while :)

Ermmmm.. what else.... like the others said, sleep as much as poss (difficult with a big bump) but take all the putting your feet up time as you can get!

[peebles16]

Go and get a pedicure/manicure if thats your kind of thing... maybe even a leg wax and new hairdo? I insisted on getting my hair done a couple of weeks before baby was due so I looked half decent in piccies! :laugh



Absolutely when I had my first wee one even the midwifes commented of my perfect do :yes Have you got a birth plan sorted out yet - or at least how you'd like it to go?? Planned your route to hospital etc if you are going in?

Grouting shower not bad idea I was building flat pack furniture and painting bedrooms when I went into labour first time - took 'nesting' a bit too far :)

Slap up meal would get vote from me too as was months before I could eat in peace without wee one attached...

All the best and put your feet up and demand to get spoiled :D
Karenx

[Sam B]

Everything everyone else has says, but particularly hairdo and stuff as you will inevitably feel like a deflated ballon with hairloss for the next few weeks after the birth, and anyway of looking glam is good. Also you can get special body massages for preggers women at some beauty places. These are very nice, as is reflexology.

Go out lots and meet friends etc - even book in activities for after due date, because if you go over, the time DRAGS and you often haven't arranged anything cos you thought you'd be otherwise engaged.

ENJOY!

[Familyofmonkeys]

Finally - you do have batteries and film in your camera don't you? :)



And make sure your OH knows where camera is too!! When I had first baby the midwife had to remind OH to go and fetch camera (he was completely spaced at the time) and he couldn't remember where in the house he had put it so he was bumbling through all the cupboards making a mess :roll In fact he was sooo spaced at the time he didn't realise that half the piccies he took were lovely, but as I was sitting starkers in our bath with baby they were not exactly suitable for showing all the relatives :laugh

Other than that.....

If there are any (minor) niggley jobs you want done round your home now is a good time. You might find you get all nesty when your due date is looming and you want everything done NOW (or maybe that was just me)! I spent the last couple of days of pregnancy painting skirting boards and putting up pictures that OH had promised to do, but hadn't got round to.

And like everyone else said.....sleep, relax in bath etc while you have the chance. Go out for some nice long walks without frequent stops for changing nappies and hungry baby.....will get head in good position too :)

Make sure you drop hints to everyone what your favourite chocolates are, or your favourite perfume etc....otherwise you will end up getting a ton of newborn sized baby clothes as gifts (that barely get worn) and not alot for poor old mum who has to do all the hard work!!

[Moorf]

You can "do lunch" during the week with your mates from the Boonies :D

[Tia Maria]

It sounds like you've prepared for the baby coming early, have you prepared for it coming late?

Many of my friends went 2 weeks overdue and found it unbearable, so have lots of things planned to keep you busy if you are late, (or get the cod liver oil ready!).

Have you put together a 'new baby' email list? I did one for the OH, so he could just click on 'baby group' and easily send the good news & photos to everyone.

If you do make a birth plan, make sure you've considered all the options not on it! Births rarely go to plan, so its good to know about as much as possible as making decisions in labour is near impossible.

Play Xsketch lots! :p

http://xsketch.com

Cheers

Tia

[nippa&pippa]

Got good tips there now, Pip...just chill out before birth as you won't get much rest after birth, but remember you got friends is happy to help you (inc me!) if you need help after birth.

BTW Fancy coming over to my house soon?? and poss meet up with Moorf at my house or moorf's house as well? for chill out time! (if i can find way to get rid my kids :laugh )

[sizzlingbadger]

A couple of people I know recently didn't even get to their maternity leave, having the babies both 4 weeks early :exit

If you're not already drink raspberry leaf tea and eat lots of hot curries, seems to work well bringing the baby early :D

Good luck enjoy these days and the early baby days even more :nice1

[The Hodges]

Hi Pip

No tips, i'll be getting tips off you in a few months time. Hope all goes well cant wait to hear how it goes.

Clare xx

[Moorf]

You can watch Jeremy Kyle on telly at 12.30 each weekday :o

[thezorbster]

My friend gave birth 2 days after starting maternity leave and had to drive herself to the hospital (in labour) as her partner was so drunk because he'd been out with his mates so ban your husband from drinking! (and make the most of your time as a twosome - nice weekend away somewhere?)

Good luck!

[Debbie]

I had to start my leave early and then my boy was late so I was so bored but one good tip I did follow was to write the envelopes and as much of the announcement cards as possible, (but make sure you keep the pen you used with them). I ended up having to stay in hospital after the birth so finishing them of gave me something to do there as well.
I wish I had had my pedicure as come the day my feet were disgusting and I wish I had a bikini wax, It would have been a much better job than the nurse did with the disposable as they wheeled me down for my C-sec.
Most importantly rest and enjoy quality couple time.
Good luck. Debbie

[Georgebulldog]

Come & pack my bags if your bored, also my house could do with a tidy if your getting that nesting feeling :)
I want to do so much but just don't feel able to
Best of luck to you & take it easy

[Pip]

Thanks all - v.much appreciated and some great suggestions/tips

Helen/Sophia - def up for lunch - maybe one day next week ? (Sophia, I've got a huge pile of real nappies my sister put in the seven seas boxes, that I can't make head or tail of how they work - don't laugh!, so might bring with for advice!)

like the tip about telling people my fav chocolates, but think that I've eaten far too much chocolate already :wah .

Have started pregnancy swimming class at Burwood which is x2 a week and is great fun. Made three lots of meals for the freezer and started cleaning the windows! (although have also started watching Dr Phil...:D )

dread the thought of going overdue (this is only day 4 of leave) - think I'd go crazy if that happened..I'm already on the raspberry tea and once I hit 37 weeks (sat) will be on the curries, long walks and all the suggestions I've had...:laugh

I know I should just be patient.. but I'm an aries and can't help it!

will probably e-mail people, rather than send cards (I know - Lazy!, but also much quicker) and am heading back to the UK in mid july for a month, so friends/relatives can meet him in person. - although that said, - it does sound like a good way to fill time, so might re-think that one!

and of course, will keep you all posted on progress! and no doubt spend as much time on this forum as I used to before we moved here!

George - hope you start to feel better soon..hang in there! Clare - happy to pass on any tips - let us know how its all going. (although i reserve the right to pass on complicated questions to Sophia, as my resident childcare expert/agony aunt :D )

[nippa&pippa]

Helen/Sophia - def up for lunch - maybe one day next week ? (Sophia, I've got a huge pile of real nappies my sister put in the seven seas boxes, that I can't make head or tail of how they work - don't laugh!, so might bring with for advice!)

George - hope you start to feel better soon..hang in there! Clare - happy to pass on any tips - let us know how its all going. (although i reserve the right to pass on complicated questions to Sophia, as my resident childcare expert/agony aunt :D )

:laugh :laugh

Bring real nappies with you in Eliot's size (he is around 7-8kg now/8months old) and we can have fun practice on him :p