This week last year, I was walking laps around my house, around the block, around the mall and just about everywhere else. I was massaging every square inch of my ankles and feet. I was ordering the spiciest burritos on the menu at San Jose’s. I was watching TV in a squatting position and mopping the floors full speed. I was doing all these things because I was 39 weeks pregnant and completely sick of it. At one point, I burst into tears and sobbed to my husband, “I don’t want to be pregnant anymore!!” The last few weeks of pregnancy can seem so long, be full of so much discomfort and you’d think they would cure any women from wanting another child. The only think you can do is try to think of creative ways to pass the time so you forget you are so close to your due date.
If the nesting urge has hit, it’s a good time to throw yourself into those home projects with all of your focus. If you’ve cleaned everything in sight, start organizing. After all, you probably won’t get a chance to do so for the next year! Need some ideas? How about going through your makeup bag? Throw away everything that is discolored, broken, smelly or ugly. Make a list of items you want to replace. Wash and dry all of your brushes. Wipe out the make-up case before restocking. Or, when is the last time you cleaned the baseboards? Dust is always getting swept from the corners of the rooms, but the baseboards are often neglected. You may not even notice how dirty they are until you see your baby picking dust bunnies off of them and tasting them. Grab a sponge and some warm water with just a little bit of soap. Some women swear they went into labor because they were crawling around on their hands and knees, so it can’t hurt, right?
If you don’t feel like cleaning, rent a bunch of movies and have a movie night with your husband or your friends. Make some popcorn and add in your favorite movie snacks. You could always watch all the movies on my list of favorite pregnancy-themed movies here.
Another fun way to distract yourself is to take a mini-weekend vacation somewhere nearby, also known as a babymoon. Even if you’re in the next town, spending a night or two at a hotel can really help you to relax and have fun. Pick a hotel with a pool, since the water will make you feel weightless and relieve a lot of the discomfort common in late pregnancy.
What are some other ways you like to distract yourself and relax?