What do you even do during mat leave?

I was looking into planning. I live in North/Central London. What do you do with a new born on Maternity leave? Please, I am not one to sit around and do nothing. I can take a few days a week of relaxing staying in the house, but I’m an outdoor active girlie. My son is due to be born in August, and I will be off for 13 months. I am going on holiday in March with the baby, my older 2 and friend. But like, what else do you plan? (I was 17 when I had my daughter and did not work, so although I’ve worked since having her (15 years) I have never actually been on maternity leave before!)

Show your support

When I was on maternity leave with my first the only “free day” we had to relax in the house was a Monday. Every other day we were at classes, babygroups and swimming. We formed a group of friends through one of the classes and local playgroups and would meet up outside of those at someone’s house or a cafe for a cuppa and a catch up, breakfast or lunch. When the weather was fine we’d be out in the local area walking. Honestly I used to need that Monday of nothing just to sit and relax we were so busy the rest of the time!

Same as above. Lots of baby groups, swimming lessons and walking. The hours and days (even the ones where you do nothing) fly by with a newborn. I had plans to organise and clear out my house but that didn't happen in the year I had off 😂.

We attended baby sensory on Tuesdays , tiny talk on Wednesdays, swimming on Thursdays & baby yoga classes on a Friday . So the only day we stayed in was a Monday . Then with my nct group we met up once a week for play date / coffee/ going to the zoo etc , then soon I did this with mum friends from my baby classes . Going out on walks / down the beach / zoo ( could be there all day walking around ) I’ve not gone back to work and my daughter is 15 months tomorrow. I bought a tuff tray when she started crawling/ walking and started putting toys/ messy play/ activities in to do with her etc

We go to baby groups and go for walks mostly. Definitely a benefit having at least one day where you just potter around at home as you do find yourself busier than expected. I'm planning on doing some decorating during the summer as the groups tend to stop over the holidays. On my first mat leave I went through every room in our house and had a massive clear out too

We went to children center for baby bonding sessions Swimming after three months Baby masssage Sensory classes Yes we had a busy schedule Didn’t want to come to work lol

Baby groups, daily walks, coffee shop trips