11 Things To Do On Maternity Leave/Just Before Baby Arrives

Lists, Maternity Leave, Pregnancy
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So you’ve just started your mat leave, and have an indeterminate amount of time before your baby is due… It could be days, a week or a month, or more. I had 3 weeks, but baby H arrived 1 week before her due date. This got me thinking, I had loads of things I wanted to do in those 3 weeks, some I managed others, I didn’t. But I did prioritise what I did and how soon I did it! Of course sleep as much as you can…

things you must do before baby arrives on maternity leave 1. Go out for dinner with hubby and/or friends. Dinner is the keyword here, yes, you can go out for dinner with a newborn, but, once routines kick in it’s much more difficult. We’ve tried, and failed miserably. Yes, we were the couple with the screaming baby. Yes, you were looking at us like we were mad, appalling parents taking our baby out after bed time, but most of all, we did see the glances between diners in the pub saying “how inconsiderate are they!” I’m sorry, we tried, we failed, but we’ll probably try again in a month or so.

2. Go to the cinema. Unless you have a babysitter or go to a baby cinema screening, you won’t go again, ever. So take advantage see anything and everything, get popcorn, sweets, hotdogs and huge drinks.

3. Read a book. I wish I’d done this. I think in retrospect I could have during all the newborn feeding, but I didn’t… So please if you’re pregnant read a book for me!

new mummy  read a book on maternity leave 4. Be spontaneous. Go out, just decide on the spur of the moment to do it and go. It’s near impossible with a baby… Once baby is here there’s a cycle of checking for poos, milk, nappies, wipes, muslins, more muslins, and, oh yes change that nappy again…. And finally yes, you’re about to leave, ah no, it’s milk time again!

5. Lie in. Yes I know with a huge bump it’s incredibly uncomfy to sleep, but if you can stay in bed, even if you’re sitting…. do it. Just enjoy sitting and knowing you don’t have to be anywhere else.

6. Coffee and cake. Meet other nearly new mummies and new mummies for coffee. Take in all the advice those new mummies have, look at their little teeny tiny babies and know that in a few days or weeks, that will be you. I remember that feeling so well: surreal, a little daunting but very exciting.

maternity leave new mummy coffee and cakes 7. Organise – make photo albums of past holidays, tidy up, pack your hospital bag time and time again.

8. Clean up your phone, make sure you have as much room on it as possible. Even if you have a super expensive super-duper camera, you will use your phone camera and video ALL the time. You’ll use all the space on it, REALLY, you will.

9. Quick Meals. Make meals you can freeze and heat up in the oven or microwave…. Yes, everyone says this, but when you’re immersed in all things baby, and realise it’s 9pm and you’ve not eaten since 12, it’ll be the easiest solution. Ok, frozen pizza and chips might work too. Or a food delivery from Granny!

10. Have ‘you’ time but also you-and-your-other-half-time. Relax. Walk. Do things. Go for a walk, or shopping, or to the swimming pool, really do whatever you like, as yes, you can do all these things with a baby, but it’s nice to do them and say, “I wonder if this will be the last time it’s the two of us.” Yes, a walk near the end of pregnancy is uncomfy, but it helps. It’s exercise and being out of the house getting fresh air will be good for you, remember you might be stuck inside in a hospital ward or room for several days very very soon! It’s probably a good idea to take your other half with you in case it does bring on labour, but also so you can have a chat.

11. Have a night away. I’m talking about when you’re 37+ weeks pregnant, so the VERY end. Stay in a hotel, have lovely dinner and a huge breakfast, relax, and just be the two of you. Ok, you might have to take a dozen pillows with you, but this is one thing I think hubby and I didn’t do. Even if we’d booked into the hotel 10 minutes down the road, we probably should have had one last get away right at the end. We went away at 34 weeks and had a lovely time, we even had the car seat and hospital bag sat in the back. Yes I was paranoid, but we did go to Scotland, 6 hours from home!
There were loads of other things I was going to do, some I did, some I didn’t, but I can’t remember them all now. These are the ones I remember, so, I’ll take it these are the main ones… If you can think of any others, please comment! 

Lyn x

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33 Comments

  • Reply
    Julie
    September 18, 2015 at 9:00 pm

    Quick meals, definitely. And before baby arrives it is a good idea to freeze some meals to have a quick and easy crock pot prepared meal when you have no time outside of something attached to you hehe.
    Julie recently posted…Gratitude and Goals Sept 18, 2015 #GratitudeGoalsMy Profile

  • Reply
    Aimee Foster
    September 19, 2015 at 10:04 am

    This is a great list for mums-to-be, I wish I’d read this before my first baby. The thing is, before your first baby you just don’t realise how much your life is going to change! If I could go back in time if do all this and more at the end of my first pregnancy! x

  • Reply
    All about a Mummy
    September 20, 2015 at 9:14 am

    Definitely fill your freezer completely will meals you can chuck in the oven; cottage pies, lasagne, casseroles, fish pie – anything you can bung a load of veggies into so all you need to do it chuck one dish in the oven! #sundaystars
    All about a Mummy recently posted…Siblings: SeptemberMy Profile

  • Reply
    Cindy Leclerc
    September 20, 2015 at 2:49 pm

    It’s hard work to grow a baby. Put your feet up and rest — without feeling guilty.
    Cindy Leclerc recently posted…Why is My Baby’s Umbilical Cord Bleeding?My Profile

  • Reply
    Something Crunchy Mummy
    September 20, 2015 at 8:08 pm

    Great list and one every pregnant mum should read. Thanks for sharing on #justanotherlinky xx
    Something Crunchy Mummy recently posted…My Sunday Photo 20/09/15My Profile

    • Reply
      newmummy
      September 20, 2015 at 8:50 pm

      Thank you, and thank you for hosting x

  • Reply
    Mummuddlingthrough
    September 20, 2015 at 8:31 pm

    If only we knew then what we know now eh?! I would add to this list…

    11. Bathe. In style. During the day, with Candles, bubbles, too much water, music, a book.

    I had a few days when my eldest was at nursery before Baby G arrived and I did this every single time I was alone at home. It was heaven! X MMT
    Mummuddlingthrough recently posted…Confessions of an anti-microbial MumMy Profile

    • Reply
      newmummy
      September 20, 2015 at 8:50 pm

      I know! Hahaha sounds fab! X

  • Reply
    Farmerswifeandmummy
    September 21, 2015 at 7:58 pm

    Oh to go to a hotel without having to fill the car with baby stuff. I can’t ever imagine this getting any better haha
    I say sod the meals. You’ve had a baby. Reward yourself with Chinese for 6 months 😉 #MaternityMondays
    Farmerswifeandmummy recently posted…#MaternityMondays Week 38My Profile

    • Reply
      newmummy
      September 21, 2015 at 9:48 pm

      Hahaha yes! Actually we didn’t really get any meals ready before, well I guess partly cause she was early and I’d have made them in that last week (cough, cough), but if I’m honest I don’t remember eating or what we ate. I think we had some of those 2 meals for £6.
      Thanks for hosting x

  • Reply
    Marie Wright
    September 21, 2015 at 8:05 pm

    Number 8! So true…I am constantly battling the need to check my stage in settings!

    • Reply
      newmummy
      September 21, 2015 at 9:53 pm

      It really is! I tried to start backing up at the end of every month…. But some months I’ve filled it in days! It’s impossible. But it’d be terrible to be in that position in the first couple of weeks. X

  • Reply
    Mummy's Blog
    September 21, 2015 at 8:08 pm

    Ha, I don’t think I’ve managed to read a single book since my daughter was born…and she’s nearly 18 months old!
    #maternitymondays
    Mummy’s Blog recently posted…Pregnancy Diary – Week 20: Anomaly Scan and Gender Reveal!My Profile

    • Reply
      newmummy
      September 21, 2015 at 9:48 pm

      I’ll keep thinking about trying then x

  • Reply
    Adele Clarke
    September 21, 2015 at 8:54 pm

    Some great ideas here! Wish we’d done more before our daughter arrived; it’s next to impossible now that I’m pregnant with number 2!

    I’m hoping to get a kindle to read during night feeds this time. With my girl I always ended up bidding on random stuff on eBay then wondering what the hell all the parcels were that turned up the following week! Top tip: get a kindle, it’ll save you £££s on internet shopping!

    Adele x
    Adele Clarke recently posted…Star Site: YoshiMy Profile

    • Reply
      newmummy
      September 21, 2015 at 9:50 pm

      Hahaha yes, I did that too! I’ve never used ebay so much in my life, or amazon. Everything seems like a bargain when you’re sleep deprived…. 🙂

  • Reply
    San
    September 22, 2015 at 6:44 am

    And things to try to do after! lol . I think the most important thing is to have time to yourself and with the hubby. Sometimes you forget who you are and not just a mum! xx #twinklytuesday
    San recently posted…London Transport MuseumMy Profile

  • Reply
    Becky, Cuddle Fairy
    September 22, 2015 at 8:45 am

    I love these tips – cleaning up your phone is a great one & one people wouldn’t think of. Also, having dinner out & relaxing – just chill out & enjoy sleep lol #TwinklyTuesday x
    Becky, Cuddle Fairy recently posted…The Baby Sleep SiteMy Profile

  • Reply
    Coombe Mill - Fiona Cambouropoulos
    September 22, 2015 at 9:32 am

    All of these are must dos! Great post #Twinklytuesday
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  • Reply
    beth
    September 22, 2015 at 2:59 pm

    This is a great post for first time mums/dads to be. I found it quite difficult to do those things during my second pregnancy as I still had another little baby to look after.

    Thank you so much for linking up to #justanotherlinky
    beth recently posted…Jumping In Muddy PuddlesMy Profile

  • Reply
    Heledd - Running in Lavender
    September 22, 2015 at 9:05 pm

    Great advice for your any new mum to be!! The only issue is when you’re on your second of third child most of these suggestions are not an option. My advice, like yours, is do as much as you can when you can!! You don’t get that alone time back ; )

    Thank you so much for linking up to #SundayStars xxx
    Heledd – Running in Lavender recently posted…Vlog Club {My Top Five Chick Flicks}My Profile

  • Reply
    Mudpie Fridays
    September 23, 2015 at 8:57 pm

    Great list of things, I use to love sitting in bed knowing I didn’t need to do anything if I didn’t want to.. inevitably I would but its a nice feeling having the control! #TwinklyTuesday
    Mudpie Fridays recently posted…An Early Halloween Treasure HuntMy Profile

  • Reply
    Laura @ Life with Baby Kicks
    September 24, 2015 at 6:13 am

    Batch cook! Just leave the house on a whim! #maternitymondays
    Laura @ Life with Baby Kicks recently posted…The Other Side of the Blogging Copying StoryMy Profile

  • Reply
    You Baby Me Mummy
    September 24, 2015 at 4:29 pm

    Ah yes, I long for the chance to do any of these! Ha ha! Thanks for linking up to #TheList x
    You Baby Me Mummy recently posted…8 Photos Of HappinessMy Profile

  • Reply
    Lisa (mummascribbles)
    September 24, 2015 at 9:11 pm

    All of these…and I hardly done any of them! I worked up until two weeks before my due date and then he ended up being breech and I had a csection a week before my due date! Therefore I ended up with a week to myself!! I wish I’d had a bit longer to enjoy that time! Thanks so much for linking up with #TwinklyTuesday
    Lisa (mummascribbles) recently posted…Get personalised with JD SportsMy Profile

    • Reply
      newmummy
      September 24, 2015 at 9:38 pm

      Awwww, I was so glad H gave me 2 weeks. I’d only brought my mat leave forward (well used a week of leave) at the last minute…
      Thanks for commenting x

  • Reply
    Claire
    September 26, 2015 at 8:36 pm

    Whast a great list of ideas! I really wish I had done more of the self care ones! I was so busy getting ready for baby that I forgot to make the most of my last few days as a free woman!! 13 years later I’m still waiting to read a book and have a lie in!! ;0) Thankyou so much for sharing that with me on #busydoinglife it’s great to have you linking up!
    Claire recently posted…Save The Children Club: The Philippines edition (Review)My Profile

  • Reply
    samantha
    September 28, 2015 at 1:35 am

    The day I went into labor with my 6 month old I had a lunch date with my husband and did my grocery shopping. It wasn’t until after I ate dinner and went to the hospital I found out I was 9 cm dilated. She came a week early, but I guess I waited until the last second to do all the things I needed to do before the baby came. Great tips!

    #busydoinglife
    samantha recently posted…Our Favorite IOS Apps for KidsMy Profile

    • Reply
      newmummy
      October 1, 2015 at 9:40 pm

      Glad you fitted those in? I was slightly similar 🙂

  • Reply
    Smallstuffandme
    November 15, 2015 at 8:55 pm

    Great tips there. I hammered the cinema during my last couple of weeks of pregnancy- mainly because I got to sit in a big, comfy supportive seat and stuff my face!
    Smallstuffandme recently posted…Review: Minnie Mouse hat, scarf & gloves set from Character.comMy Profile

  • Reply
    Crummy mummy
    November 15, 2015 at 9:35 pm

    In the last week before Little B was due I spent the whole week doing special things with BB when Misery Guts was at work as it would never be just the two of us ever again… #TheBabyFormula
    Crummy mummy recently posted…#MySundayPhotoMy Profile

  • Reply
    mummuddlingthrough
    November 16, 2015 at 9:39 am

    Popping back again to this fab post from #thebabyformula
    mummuddlingthrough recently posted…The magic formula: Milky memoirsMy Profile

  • Reply
    My 2015 review / 6 months of blogging  - New Mummy Blog
    January 1, 2016 at 7:57 pm

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