Best way to deal with being antsy?

[Spring Sun]

I am 38 weeks 5 days, and I know a lot of you are way past me so I am not complaining. I am just SOOO excited to have this baby, meet her, love her, and stop being pregnant. All this energy of excitement is really building up in me, though, and is starting to turn into nervous energy.

What ways do you manage it? How do you stay positive?

One activity or special thing a day? We are going to the butterfly pavillion today. And my mom is coming in on Thursday. I think we could go to the water park Friday. What are other things that don't require a lot of walking or sitting?

Anything else you do that helps?

[wombatclay]

I think having something planned for each day is crucial. It doesn't have to be fancy, but just something firm that's "going to happen". It gives a sense of control, and anticipation fulfilled, and all that.

Art projects for the babe (or for the big sibs) can be fun... starting a journal for the babe, letting the big sibs make handprint covered shirts for themselves to wear after the birth, plaster casting kits for hand or footprints, paper machie belly casts (my 4yo dd loved making a belly cast on herself ), beaded bracelets and necklaces (I made one with amber for the babe along with a birth necklace for myself, but beading is my current fav hobby and the girls enjoy it too), etc.

You could also make some sort of food item each day and feed the post partum freezer or pantry. So perhaps bake cookies one day, bread another, make and freeze yogurt fruit smoothies into ice cube shape to pop into your mouth after the birth/while nursing/when you need a sweet fix, cook up some rice to freeze or make a cheese bake style dish to chop into serving sizes and freeze.

[sky_and_lavender]

My due date is one day earlier than yours, Spring Sun. It's just during the past couple of days that most activities are starting to see outrageously difficult for me. Prior to that, whenever I was feeling antsy (or crazy with RLS), I'd do something useful, like wash the floors or the kitchen, or wash the new prefolds one more time. Now it's so hard to do everything, yet I can't stand laying around!

Anyway, this afternoon I'm going to make a pp meal to freeze. I don't care how hard it is--I'm doing it!

I agree with WombatClay--seems like having things to look forward to is useful. Social activities might be good if you have people to be social with. This is kind of a lonely time, and interaction with positive others might be a nice boost.

[spiritedmama]

I am avoiding people. I am so sick of the "when are you gonna have that baby", "wow, you are huge", "I DIDN'T think you'd make it this far" and random other comments from people......I am staying home and trying to find peace and get my house ready. Maybe that is why i am feeling crazy....Maybe I need some projects too.

[SUOMI-SOFIA]

Clean!

[Koalamom]

I just sat at home and watched alot of TV. Yeah, I know- pethetic.

But also I found it easy to pass the time when I had some goals. I had a goal to read from the bible everyday, and when it was time to have the baby, I had a very spiritual birth I would consider. I think the daily reading helped make it so. I wouldn't have changed a thing.

I tried to really enjoy my time with my 2 yr old. We ate out at different resturants together for lunch during the week. Mama and daughter time out. I am so glad we did that now.

[texaspeach]

I'm trying to do different stuff just to have something to look forward to and get me out of the house.

If I had my way I'd hole up inside and be a hermit but that's not going to do me any good. I'll probably get my toes painted one more time at some point. Tomorrow I may go see a movie by myself. Tonight I had knitting group. Friday there is another knitting group I go to. I've been reading a lot and have more books to pick up at the library. I'm probably going to the art museum at some point, we have a membership so it's free and always 68 degrees

I SHOULD clean, but doing more than the bare minimum is more than I can handle at this point.

[Raene]

Originally Posted by spiritedmama

I am avoiding people. I am so sick of the "when are you gonna have that baby", "wow, you are huge", "I DIDN'T think you'd make it this far" and random other comments from people......I am staying home and trying to find peace and get my house ready.

Me too! It was a big mistake yesterday to go shopping at the place where I work. I was interrupted on every aisle by a different co-worker asking all about how I felt, how I was handling the heat, when the actual due date is, etc. It's more annoying that people who haven't had kids think the baby is actually going to pop out right on the due date or something. I came home in a bad mood and told DH no more shopping...from now until the baby comes that's going to be his job. I don't want to talk to anyone about pregnancy any more!!!

[spiritedmama]

I hear you raine! don't you wish people could find something a little less obvious to talk about other than YOUR body? So, clearly I am about to push a baby through my vagina, let's talk about YOUR vagina. I think that would make people uncomfortable!