What maternity leave is like

After only four days, the sun has come out and the sky is a cloudless blue. This is what I wanted. I’m just waiting for it to warm up enough to sit out there and bask. Maybe I’ll go to the library and pick up some really light reading.

I was advised to go out every day, rather than fester in the house and go mad for lack of speaking to humans, and I’ve managed to do that so far. Some shopping, a dental check-up, the farmers’ market, and an appointment to have my eyebrows shaped, which I’ve been meaning to do for ages. Next week I have plans for three of the days, but still need something to do on Monday and Friday.

Yesterday I went to the NCT Bumps & Babies coffee morning at Pizza Express. There was only one other bump there, but plenty of babies, from about three weeks old. I was relieved to notice that plenty of the mums were happy to breastfeed there, and also happy to listen to lots of positive labour and birth stories for a change. The Doom & Gloom Triumvirate [intervention, formula, disposables] barely raised its ugly head. Someone even thrust their baby at me, and I dandled it on my knee for a few seconds before it realised that I didn’t belong to it, when it screwed up its little red face and bawled. I have chosen not to take this personally.

Meanwhile, back at the house, I’ve got loads of chores done. Most of it is subtle, behind-cupboard-doors sort of stuff, so Pete probably thinks I’ve just been napping. It’s not an unreasonable assumption, considering that’s what I’m usually doing when he gets home. Our NCT teacher told us that getting eight hours sleep each night was good preparation for labour, but I’ve been sleeping badly for nearly nine months now, and I know I’m probably never going to get eight hours all at once ever again. The afternoon nap with all the windows open and Radio 3 on is a pleasant supplement, though.

Despite being absolutely bloody enormous by now, Bernard still finds room to kick vigorously, and enjoys several bouts of hiccups a day, including a special midnight one designed to ensure that we need our nap the next day. It’s hard to equate my internal creature with one of those cute little bundles that I met yesterday. Hey, we’re going to have a cute bundle! Wow!