While you were/are on maternity leave

What were your days like/what did you do with DC? The first couple of weeks were just getting the hang of things but now we have somewhat of a routine and I feel like the days could be more fulfilling. DS is six weeks so obviously we can't go to a ton of places but once he gets his 8 week shots I would like to venture out a little or just find some activities around the house to stimulate him. What did you all do during this time?

While you were/are on maternity leave

Went for walks when it was nice. I tried to get out once a day whether it was a walk, going to target or just food store.

While you were/are on maternity leave

Go for walks
Play on play mat
Tummy time
Visit friends and family
Go shopping- food store, mall, etc. I usually try to go at times when it is less crowded.
Read to DD

Re: While you were/are on maternity leave

DD was born the beginning of Feb last year and we had a cold winter. The first few weeks we just spent at home relaxing and playing. I treasured that time at home. As the weather got nicer we'd go out for walks and once sh got her shots I would take her on errand or to visit family and friends.

Re: While you were/are on maternity leave

DD was born on New Year's Eve and spent the first month in the hospital. So until mid February I spent every day at the hospital with her. Then when she came home it was still SO cold and nasty out that we pretty much spent most of the time at home. We took lots of naps together When it finally started getting a little nicer (anything over 50) I would take her for walks/runs, and out to stores (we spent a lot of time in Babies R Us). I also had two friends that were on maternity leave at the same time, so we had a few play dates as well.

While you were/are on maternity leave

We took lots of naps, visited family, had family visit us, cuddled A LOT!

It was still cold so we didn't go outside as much as I would have liked.

Re: While you were/are on maternity leave

We always went for walks, visited grandma's house, friends,

Re: While you were/are on maternity leave

I'm home now on leave with my 10 week old. We go fir walks, visit my stay at home mom friends, see my in laws (they are retired), run errands, go to beach

Re: While you were/are on maternity leave

We walked A LOT. Hours a day. I met another mommy on this board and we would walk our babies all day long, sit in the park, grab coffee, etc. I'd also visit my mom when she got out of work.

Re: While you were/are on maternity leave

we went out as much as possible once I could drive and was and not in crazy pain anymore from my C-section. So at around 3-4 weeks (when it was not crazy cold since he was born 2/28), we:

went for 1-2 long walks a day (which helped with my weight loss too)
playmat
went to tanger to shop/walk around
supermarket
errands
had visitors
went visiting if someone was around to visit
brought him to work & met daddy for lunch
had playdates with his 2 friends that were born 6 days before him and the other just a few hours before since were were all on maternity leave together

I was not afraid to take him out!

Message edited 5/21/2014 9:27:56 AM.

Re: While you were/are on maternity leave

DS is a December baby so I spent the first few weeks just home and going only to the dr with him an an occasional trip to BRU; BBB on a nice day.

I joined a weekly BF support group and would attend those meetings weekly; go to the baby pictures during the week. Meet up with friends (other Mom's); visit family. I think we took a music class around 10 weeks as a trial. It's crazy how fast the time went by.

While you were/are on maternity leave

She ate, slept, crapped, cried, bathed and repeat.
So day 1 we had her out and about. I'd walk around the mall with her or the park. I'd sit in the house with her and just hold her (crazy I know) just looking at her scared out of my mind. I'd talk to her as if she was understanding me. "we'd talk" about what our day was like the night, what we had planned how we were going to do it etc. LOL Kept me sane

4 long months

We had no visitors but I took her out. Doctor visits took up a LOT Of the time. Since by week one I was in the ER with chest pain and uncontrollable blood pressure. I had plenty of doctor visits. I had a lung, heart, ob and general practitioner all trying to figure out why I was trying to blow up my heart. So that kept us busy.

I took tons of photos past week 8 LOL and video

While you were/are on maternity leave

I went out everywhere. The shots they get at 8 weeks are not going to protect them from the flu or a common cold so I felt there was no need to stay in and drive myself crazy.

It was winter so I went to WW mtgs, diner, mall, panera. Wherever I felt like going.

Re: While you were/are on maternity leave

At that age DD liked looking at things that had contrasting colors. We also went for a daily walk which was her favorite time of day. We did some tummy time, went to malls, and to visit family. My kid gets cabin fever really easy so we were out socializing by 5 weeks. We tried to make outings short in the beginning bc she would get fussy after about an hour of being in her car seat or carrier.

While you were/are on maternity leave

My DS is almost 4 weeks. We go on a daily walk and try to get out of the house most days running errands. Friends and family visit us as well. He's already been to a grad party, first birthday party, and this weekend he'll go to a BBQ.

Re: While you were/are on maternity leave

I have another DD who goes to pk 3x a week so that's good because it forces us to have some bit of a routine.

Wake/nurse 7
Cereal 8
Play until DD leaves for school
Nap 9
If its nice out we try and walk to pick up DD
Lunch
Spend a lot of time outside in the yard if its nice
Nap
After second nap run some errands

Check out your local library because many times they offer great (free) classes for babies!

Re: While you were/are on maternity leave

My DS was born in August, it was very hot so I was nervous about bringing him outside. I probably stayed inside for a few weeks... I had cabin fever! Next time around I will probably be out a lot earlier, I guess depending on what time of year I give birth.

Re: While you were/are on maternity leave

I am on maternity leave now that will go into the summer months. I also have an older son. My 2nd son is only 3 weeks tomorrow but we have already been to the park a few times with DS1, the stores, walks, etc. If my DS2 is going to get sick, most likely it will be from DS1 being all over him, not walking around a store! Although, I will say that people are generally not nice when they ask how old DS is and I say the age in a store!

Re: While you were/are on maternity leave

Thanks for your input ladies! These are mostly things we have been doing but the trouble is on walks and at stores etc he just sleeps so I feel like its more for me than him. I wish I could do something that would be stimulating for him. I just saw that gymboree has a class for the tiny ones. Im thking about giving it a try. Has anyone tried that? Also...I dont have any friends who dont work and his grandparents arent retired so we only get to see friends/fm on the weekends. Im hoping for some weekday activities to keep us busy while DH is at work.

Message edited 5/22/2014 4:30:33 PM.

Re: While you were/are on maternity leave

Made bottles
Fed her bottles
Washed bottles
Repeat.

Changed diapers
Got spit up on
Repeat.

She cried and screamed almost non stop
She slept for 20 minutes at a stretch.
I cried. A lot.
I never slept.

Once every few days I took a shower.

As you can tell, I was jumping for joy when it was time to go back to work!

Message edited 5/22/2014 6:01:23 PM.

Re: While you were/are on maternity leave

We went out alot. We went shopping a lot during the week when people aren't out and spent time with family on weekends. I am not a stay at home mom, its not for me so by the end of my leave I was ready to go back.