Things to do before giving birth...

JSP

Hi,

I was just wondering if any of you had an worldly advice you could give me.

My best friend is due to give birth in the next month.

She is really special to me and I want to help her as much as possible (without interfering).

She is now on maternity leave and I was thinking of taking some time off to help her get ready and spend some quality time with her.

Does anyone have any great advice of things that we/I could do to make having the baby and time after as enjoyable/ as easy as possible.

I'm already thinking of having a mammoth cooking day so that we can freeze lots of meals for after baby is born.

Also thinking of a mini pamper day, to paint her nails and get her birth ready.

Any other ideas would be welcome.

Thanks for reading.

newcook

How about making her a ‘cheque book’ that says ‘this cheque entitles the bearer to…’ then have things such as:

3 hours babysitting
1 hour cleaning
2 hours sleep while you look after baby
A soak in the bath while you look after baby

Etc, etc!

that way, she can call on you for your help without feeling bad about asking, and you wont feel you are interfering!

mildred1978

JSP wrote: »

Hi,

I was just wondering if any of you had an worldly advice you could give me.

My best friend is due to give birth in the next month.

She is really special to me and I want to help her as much as possible (without interfering).

She is now on maternity leave and I was thinking of taking some time off to help her get ready and spend some quality time with her.

Does anyone have any great advice of things that we/I could do to make having the baby and time after as enjoyable/ as easy as possible.

I'm already thinking of having a mammoth cooking day so that we can freeze lots of meals for after baby is born.

Also thinking of a mini pamper day, to paint her nails and get her birth ready.

Any other ideas would be welcome.

Thanks for reading.

Should she require any form of intervention during birth (ventouse/forceps/c-section) they'll remove all nail polish.

newcook

I would also imagine a pedicure would be more desired as its probably been a few weeks since she's been able to trim nails, get rid of the dead skin and massage the feet (which are also probably sore, achy and water retented!)

shortdog

I would advise just letting her relax as much as possible, possibly a trip to the cinema? Couple of meals out, girlie DVD night, slow meander round the shops, the sort of things that become quite difficult in the first few months with a new baby. A haircut? Massage (but make sure the place can do pregnant women, not all can).

glitter_fairy

Thats so nice of you.

A nice lunch out or in.

Going for coffee

going to the salon

make a cake and take it round with a dvd

Things she wont have time for in the early days of a new baby.

I found I got really bored while on mat leave

sweetme

I'd say pedicure too. What a lovely friend you are!

Chakani

1. Have a wee in peace
2. Have a shower in peace
3. Drink a cup of tea while it's hot
4. Eat a meal while it's hot, using both hands



Seriously though, I was bought a voucher for a pregnancy massage when I was 8 months pregnant last time, and it was the best thing ever - I was so achy and stiff, and hadn't slept properly in ages, and it was just so nice and relaxing, I went home and slept for hours afterwards.

Sus1e

mildred1978 wrote: »

Should she require any form of intervention during birth (ventouse/forceps/c-section) they'll remove all nail polish.

I had a C-section and they didn't remove my nail polish - in fact the nurses were so taken with my blue toe-nails, they asked where I got the polish from!

Nicki

I think a day stocking the freezer would be a fab idea.

The other thing which I would have LOVED when I had all 3 of mine was if a magic fairy had come round earlier in the day I was due out of hospital and made sure that there were clean sheets on my bed and all my laundry and ironing was up to date. I had elective sections twice and did change the beds and have everything up to date the morning I went in for each, and thought I'd be coming back to an orderly house, but didn't really reap the benefit as when I came out of hospital 5 days later, there was a mountain of dirty clothes again and the sheets were 5 days old from DH sleeping in the bed, so due another change! And, he and my kids and parents (who were staying to help with the other kids when I had my last section) had scoffed every last biscuit and piece of home baking when I got home last time too, even though I had cooked up a storm beforehand

RadoJo

mildred1978 wrote: »

Should she require any form of intervention during birth (ventouse/forceps/c-section) they'll remove all nail polish.

I had two of the above and didn't have my nail polish removed - glad of it too as it took ages to do when 8.75 months pregnant!