What to do on maternity leave before baby arrives?

I’ve been trying to find a balance of resting and being productive. Are there any small jobs or chores you’ve been meaning to do for a while that you’d now have time to do?
I’ve been meeting friends or family for a coffee or a walk every now and again to get out of the house, doing the food shopping.. just anything to keep busy and be a bit distracted really!
I’m also binge-watching a few series that my husband would hate me having on in the evenings 😂

Batch cooking freezer portions for easy balanced meals when baby is here and get ahead of upcoming general life admin for when your brain is affected by severe lack of sleep

What do you mean by life admin? Xx

Rest! Get sleep🤣
Make sure everything is ready

I’m in the exact same boat!! First day today, due 11/11. Everyone keeps telling me to just chill and take it easy. I’m already climbing the walls!

I am week 5 in and just been chilling doing the odd job here and there. Binge watching TV and eating haha

SLEEP😜 I went on maternity and that night I went into labour so I got no time to relax at all 🤣 Im sure it can be boring but I’d really make the most of sleeping, being able to relax and do nothing, binge watch shows, read, bake, batch cook meals - I wish I had a bit of time to do all this before my life got very busy 🤣

If you've been texting any mums here, it may be a good time to meet in person before baby comes.
Having other mums due similar time is very useful.

I am also getting ready for Christmas. I would never start this early but I know once baby is here, I will be too tired and I will forget to do things so I am trying to be ready.

I've made a list of things I want to do the 2 days a week my son is in nursery 😆 it includes sorting my wardrobe, having a sort out under stairs, doing hospital bag, .... general bits I just never find time to do at weekends 😅 I have 3 weeeks so I'll probably get all that done in week 1. 😅

I've been doing cleaning, reorganising clothes, charity shops, batch cooking, life admin (I.e dentist apts etc) budgeting, and reading lots on forth trimester/parenting books as there's zilch brain power once the baby comes 😅
Also have a 2 year old so am enjoying allllllll the quiet and rest on days she is at nursery lol!

See, I think this is where you can see the difference between a first-time mum and those that already have children. Those that already have children now presented with the opportunity of free time just for themselves are like 🥳🤣 and have no trouble with having not much to do (or getting on with seemingly boring tasks that they never have time to do). Seriously, now is time to get used to a slower pace of life that comes with having a baby, bank that sleep, meal prep, find some good audiobooks, have long baths etc.

If this is your first them maybe watch YouTube videos learn how to bathe, put to sleep etc.

Cooking for postpartum is a great idea. But in general it's just good to rest, prepare mentally, bond with baby etc. At this stage you shouldn't probably do too much physically.

Same here! First day of maternity (due on Monday) and I’ve honestly hated it. Really disliking the lack of routine, feel really lost and miss work.

I ended up painting the stairs trim, put up a blind and doing some chores round the house.

I’ve booked a tip run for 9.30 tomorrow just to give me something to do… what a wild life I’m currently leading 😅

I honestly haven't a clue. I started mat leave (annual leave first) at 35+4. 36 weeks I did washing and got all her clothes sorted. Just generally doing some extra house work bits, built some lego. 37 weeks I was in hospital for a week trying to get her to turn head down.
38 weeks I came home and spent the week trying to keep her head down and prepare for 39 week induction.

I didn't really have much of a plan of what to do other than sort the house out but by time I was home again at 38 weeks I was to tired to really do any sorting and tidying (luckily hubby has been nesting 🤣) I've spent lots of time on the yoga ball and walking as much as I can. So I caught up on tv and played games while bouncing on the ball.

I'm so bored I'm like, do I start defrosting my freezer? Cleaning the oven? But then I can't find the energy to do it and I can't sleep because I'm so uncomfortable so I just stare through the TV and moan at my husband that I'm bored when he comes home. It's ridiculous 🤣

Take the opportunity to do errands out the house like popping to the shops!

I hate to be that person who says it but really just make the most of the peace! I'm due baby no. 4 and I'd love to go back for a day where it's just me, I really do miss my life where I could leave the house without packing up bags, I miss it when I could go for a dog walk or go for a coffee without worrying about who's looking after the kids or worrying about taking them with me.