baby coming this week - what do i do with myself?!

[Anonymous]

To all of you seasoned moms out there: What in the world do I do with myself this week? Baby is due on Thursday and I just don't know what to do with myself! Advice?!
Thank you!

[Anonymous]

I would get my nails done, a facial or some relaxing massage, get some highlights/color, haircut, go to the groceries and roam around thinking of stuff I would like to eat (I love doing groceries). Call friends and talk for a long long time, get a housekeeper, do all the laundry and REST!

[cmkeough]

Anonymous wrote:I would get my nails done, a facial or some relaxing massage, get some highlights/color, haircut, go to the groceries and roam around thinking of stuff I would like to eat (I love doing groceries). Call friends and talk for a long long time, get a housekeeper, do all the laundry and REST!

PP knows what she's talking about!!! Ditto to all of that and enjoy the last bits of alone time - maybe even catch a movie or have a nice lunch out too.

CK

[Anonymous]

Yep, most important things are to stock up on groceries and quick-to-prepare meals, and do the laundry.

[Anonymous]

Go see all the Oscar Best Picture nominees!

Get a cute pair of nursing pajamas.

Sleep, sleep, sleep.

If you want the baby to hurry up and get here...take long walks, eat spicy foods, and have some sex with DH.

Pedicure and manicure.

[Anonymous]

Go for walks and enjoy the sun! Go to a museum or some place you don't usually visit. Or if you're at work, check DCUM obsessively.

[Anonymous]

Defin. mani/pedi, massage, hair done (and other such indulgences). I was 12 days past my due date before labor set in, and got three (yes, 3!) mani/pedi's in the last 6 days of that 12 day span (worked until 41W), plus had my hair done, a massage, etc. Yes, it was indulgent, but the best thing ever. The massages and warm water and scrubbing felt sooooooooooooooooo amazing on sore muscles, my midwives and doula and all the nurses were happy (and said so) to have nicely tended feet up in their face during 30 hours of labor, AND the extra pampering got me through the next 3 months when there is no time to think about let alone indulge in any sort of self-indulgence. You won't have time to do your hair for a while, either, so that's a good practical thing to take care of now. That, and as much quality time just talking with and enjoying your partner as you can possibly fit in. And some cooking/freezing of meals. Enjoy and GL to you!

[Anonymous]

sleep in! and cook things you can put in the freezer: soups, casseroles, stuff you can pop into the microwave and zap.

and there are things you might not be able to do for a while: haircut, pedicure, long walks with your partner, bubble baths, thank you letters to shower gift givers, fun girlie dates at the mall or at lunch.

congratulations!

[Anonymous]

SLEEP! And then go for a spa day and walk around the mall, see movies, read trashy mags, etc.

[Anonymous]

sleep

[Anonymous]

Agree with all the PPs suggestions, and also suggest taking some of that time for quality 1-on-1 with your significant other - you won't get the same chance to just enjoy each others company for a while.

Also - if you don't actually know when baby will arrive (i.e. scheduled induction or c-section), I highly recommend making some fun but easy to cancel plans for your due date. DH and I got last minute theater tickets for example, and I found that it REALL helped psychologically to have an 'event' to go to to distract me from the fact that it was my due date and I was still pregnant.

[Anonymous]

Due as in scheduled? Or due as in expected?

I'm sorry to say that my DD was 2+ weeks late with no sign of self-directed delivery. Eventually was induced. Good lord, that little girl would've stayed inside the mummy-condo for god knows how long!

I like the idea of going to movies. Sleep was forever elusive for me the last three months thanks to enormity and heartburn. If you can get in some extra shut-eye, by golly, do it!

[Anonymous]

Scrapbook! I've never done scrapbooking in my life, but I was bored silly that last week waiting for my induction. I went out to Michaels and bought a pretty scrapbook, some baby themed paper and stickers, and made up a scrapbook so all I had to do was add the pictures once the baby came! I did pages for pictures I knew we'd want, like one for the nursery, one for the first family photo, one for the grandparents, baptism, etc.

[Anonymous]

Go to movies, nice restaurants, girlie dates, etc. This is your last chance to be alone as an adult for a while. I wish I'd enjoyed that last week more, even if it meant just being perfectly happy vegging on the couch. And dampen your expectations a bit: most first babes are late, so don't completely freak out on Thurs if baby doesn't show. . Hang in there and good luck!!

[Anonymous]

cmkeough wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I would get my nails done, a facial or some relaxing massage, get some highlights/color, haircut, go to the groceries and roam around thinking of stuff I would like to eat (I love doing groceries). Call friends and talk for a long long time, get a housekeeper, do all the laundry and REST!

PP knows what she's talking about!!! Ditto to all of that and enjoy the last bits of alone time - maybe even catch a movie or have a nice lunch out too.

CK

agreed, this is good advice. you will be soooo hungry your first few weeks home ... the more you can cook and store in advance the better. also, you will want the home to be clean when you get home. nothing is more depressing than a dusty home when you are supposed to be resting. if i could have that last week back i would have hired a cleaning service and had them do the first cleaning.