Prepare for Survival - a checklist for mums-to-be

If you're in your third trimester and have just started maternity leave, people will be telling you to get lots of rest to prepare for the impending lack of sleep. However, you can't really store sleep up, unfortunately it just doesn't work like that! So my advice is to prepare, prepare, prepare, that way you will have less to think about when the inevitable sleep deprivation does kick in. Makes sense?

Here are a few suggestions of things I prepared (or in some cases wish I had prepared!) in the few weeks of my maternity leave before Rosalie was born:

• Bulk cooking - I made vast quantities of easily frozen, defrosted & re-heated meals, such as bolognese sauce, chili-con-carne, aubergine & lentil curry, fajita and burrito fillings.
• Bulk baking - Bake a few treats too, such as cakes and sausage rolls. It was the run-up to Christmas when I was off so I made several dozen mince pies!
• Baby gifts - lots of people will want to buy your new baby a gift, and if they haven't asked what you'd like already, you could start a list so that if people enquire after the birth you won't have to use your baby brain!
• Laundry supplies - Once your little one arrives, just doing a load of washing will seem like a major achievement for the day. Be prepared with stocks of non-bio detergent and stain remover spray and powder.
• Birthdays & Occasions - Look 2 or 3 months ahead in your diary and buy all the cards and presents for upcoming special occasions; or at least plan what you will buy. Stamp cards so all you need to worry about is getting to the post box (the fresh air will do you good!).
• Announcement & thank yous - Consider designing / organising your birth announcement and thank you cards ahead of the birth - I knew we were having a girl so designed the cards but left the name, date & weight blank ready for me to fill in.
• Formula - I've said this before and I'll say it again, even if you plan to breastfeed, get some cartons of ready-to-feed formula in; breastfeeding is hard, and you might need the respite.
• Dry shampoo - a great way to ensure you look presentable for guests.

Once you've done all that, then you can put your feet up, and enjoy that last cup of actually hot tea!

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