PREGNANCY
TEST GEAR
Mums-to-be Bucket List 1. Eat the entire confectionery contents of a corner shop. 2. Go to the cinema, loads. 3. Get a completely useless, expensive beauty treatment. 4. Treat yourself to a beautiful, very small, impractical bag.
I lived in fear of the BabyBjorn. Never mind that it’s hands down the most convenient way to carry a newborn. There are so many straps and buckles, I was afraid I was going to hang myself or that the baby would slip out through a leg hole onto the road. The lesson: Try out the gear you fear before you have the baby so you’ll have the hang of using it by the time he’s arrived. Return any stuff you don’t like before you break it or baby spits up on it, whichever comes first.
ME TIME Allow yourself some ‘me’ time Try to give yourself some down time between leaving work and the baby’s arrival.
Ideally, you’ll have finished your baby shopping and can concentrate on the important things like sleeping, reading and watching Mad Men – those simple pleasures that are soon to become precious luxuries. Oh and triple checking you’ve packed your hospital bag. Make the most of your baby nap gap. Forget Facebook and Homes Under The Hammer – use your baby’s nap times to do something constructive. Whether it’s writing that novel, researching your amazing business idea or teaching yourself how to knit, maternity leave is the perfect time to let your creative juices flow.
Spend the day in your PJs Why? Because a) you can and b) you deserve it!
5. Take a day trip ALONE. MAKE MUMMY FRIENDS Brand-new parenthood can be lonely, especially after your help has departed and you’re facing time alone with a helpless baby. So if you see another pregnant woman at Starbucks every day, strike up a conversation.
WILL YOU GO TO WORK OR STAY HOME? Another vital issue when it comes to choosing new mommy friends is whether you’re planning to go back to work or stay home. Here’s the problem: If you’re going to stay at home, no matter how much you bond with the working types, you’re not going to see each other much once leave is over. So it’s best to find a mix of both mums you’ll see at the playground every day, and mums you can walk with on weekends. Working mums can really benefit from friendships with other working mums because they often have the same schedule and experience similar issues.
project-baby.co.uk
l NOV/DEC 2017 l 17