90 Things to Do When You're Overdue

Last summer, I was pregnant with my first baby and due mid-August. I had everything ready to go by week 38, but when I found myself still pregnant after 40 weeks, I was practically pulling my hair out trying to find ways to keep myself busy so I didn't go crazy waiting for labor to start.

In Lieu of Lauren's previous post of "10 Ways to Treat Yourself When Pregnant," here is a list of ideas I compiled to keep yourself busy in those last miserable weeks of pregnancy when you may just punch the next person who tries to give you advice on how to induce!

90 Things to Do When You're Overdue

1. Read a Parenting Book or Two. "What to Expect: The First Year" or "Heading Home with Your Newborn: From Birth to Reality" may be viable options.

2. Take a bubble bath. Always a good idea even when not pregnant!

3. Get a manicure or pedicure. Some people have sworn they went into labor the next day. While it didn't work for me in that way, it worked wonders in many other ways!

4. Eat something spicy. Or not-so spicy.

5. Go over your list of baby names one more time.

6. Write a letter to your unborn baby.

7. Call up an old friend. Maybe to let them know you're pregnant.

8. Write in your baby book/pregnancy journal.

9. Learn how to time your contractions. Try THIS site.

10. Write a birth plan. In mine, I included such things as: I'd like my husband to cut the umbilical cord, I'd like to have skin-on-skin time with my baby the first hour after birth, and I'd like to try different birthing positions at the hospital.

11. Get your hair done. You deserve to have nice hair before it gets all messed up again in labor!

12. Get a pregnancy massage. Or have your husband do it!

13. Go for a bumpy ride. Literally, like in a car.

14. Go on a pregnancy forum and talk with other ladies in your shoes. TheBump.com or HelloBee.com are some great sites where you can ask a question and receive a response within minutes.

15. Watch some of your old DVD's. Or better yet, some of your old home videos!

16. Organize all your old photos. Hard copies or digitals, scrapbook them, or make online photo books and have them printed out.

17. Check out a matinee movie. It really is true that it will be a lot harder to find time to see a movie with the hubby once baby comes.

18. Wash all of your baby's clothes and other fabrics you have. Then you get to re-organize them in the dresser/closet all over again!

19. Try a new recipe for dinner. Maybe include #4.

20. Make a rice sock for labor. I didn't do this, but HERE is how you can.

21. Do some DIY arts and crafts. Check out our upcoming DIY posts, or visit this web-site HERE for more DIY ideas.

22. Pack, or double check, your bag for the hospital. Check out our list HERE.

23. Buy a new nightgown.

24. Go on a walk.

25. Go get some ice cream.

26. Start gathering ideas for your birth announcements.

27. Make a list of addresses for your birth announcements.

28. Clean out your car. Would you want your newborn breathing in the air in that thing with the current condition it's in?

29. Buy a nursing bra/tank. Or make your own HERE.

30. Shave your legs. If you can still manage it! I was glad I did this. Don't forget the upper part.

31. Visit someone else with a new baby and practice.

32. Start giving people who say, "you're still pregnant?" funny responses. Such as, "I'm trying to hold it in so I can finish my to-do list!" or "I had it yesterday but I'm trying to shoplift this basketball so could you scram?" (PregnantChicken.com has many more and is a hilarious pregnancy blog).

33. Try a new nail color. Maybe while doing #3. Paint your toes a crazy color to show off during labor! (I really did get compliments on mine!)

34. Call your mom just to chat. If you haven't heard it a million times already, ask her about her birthing experience.

35. Clean your baby's room (again). Go over a nursery check list, such as HERE.

36. Buy a cute baby item for yourself to celebrate reaching 40 weeks.

37. Finish any projects around the house/clean the house (again). Clean things you usually don't think about (dust the T.V., clean out the microwave and stove, etc.)

38. Look up celebrity baby bumps and newborns due around the same time as you. Make fun of how bad they look/ cry about how much better they look than you.

39. Exercise in some way. Even if you just jog up and down the stairs a few times, which some people swear will help induce.

40. Charge your camera batteries.

41. Make a playlist or pandora channel for labor.

42. Buy a pack of diapers. While some people advise not stocking up, I say the opposite. Just don't go overboard on a certain size since you really don't know how long your baby will be in them. A few packs of newborn and size 1 to get you through the first couple of weeks at least, and you'll thank yourself later for not having to run out to buy more diapers right away.

43. Make a cake.

44. Call your best friend.

45. Play with your pets.

46. Give your husband a massage. It's up to you what kind.

47. Floss.

48. Go to lunch with friends.

49. Buy any birthday cards or presents you'll need for the first 2 weeks after baby is born.

50. Make a smoothie.

51. Learn more about breastfeeding. Kellymom.com is a great web-site for this.

52. Go dancing. Good luck.

53. Make some meals that you can freeze for after baby is born so you don't have to cook.

54. Make a belly cast of your belly if you feel so adventurous. Read about how HERE.

55. Buy some nice underwear. After you've finally recovered from labor and have stopped having your postpartum period, you may actually want some underwear that aren't granny panties. It will be nice to have those handy when you finally want to feel sexy again.

56. If you have older kids, make "I'm a big sister/brother" shirts for them.

57. Discuss labor plans with your husband. Take an online labor class with him if you haven't already. Grill him until you think he's ready!

58. Schedule your newborn photo shoot.

59. Make a countdown chain to induction date.

60. Have sex! I know, I know, right now sex may be about as appealing as watching paint dry, and the sexiest item you might be sporting these days are those granny panties. But hey, if it helps induce...

61. Get a new scented lotion for labor day. You will always associate your baby's birth with that smell from now on.

62. Give your husband a list of reasons why you love and appreciate him. He may really need this reassurance about now!

63. Take a picture of your overdue baby belly and angry face!  

64. Pack your baby's diaper bag. HERE is a list of things you may want to include in it.

65. Make a list of last minute things to do/people to call when you go into labor, before you head to the hospital. Post the list next to the door!

66. Read about positive birth stories.

67. Start a blog. About whatever you like!

68. Videotape your baby making your belly move.

69. Make a list of everything you will miss about being pregnant.

70. Have someone inspect your car seat for safety. The local fire department can do this for you, or there may be times set aside at your local hospital where you can have it checked by specialists.

71. Rent a dorky 80's movie.

72. Listen to a book on tape.

73. Send out those "Thank You" cards you know you still need to do.

74. Think about your postpartum birth control options.

75. Make a list of everything you can't wait to do when you're not pregnant anymore.

76. Take a practice drive to the hospital.

77. Look through your old baby books and photos. Keep some on hand to compare your new baby with.

78. Get your friends and family to bet on newborn stats. Such as: baby's weight, height, birth time, birth date, etc.

79. Make sure you have some postpartum help lined up.

80. Buy stamps for birth announcements.

81. Go garage sailing.

82. Learn a new skill. Like, say, juggling.

83. Have a game night with friends.

84. Sew anything that needs fixing.

85. Start a baby web-site.

86. Practice your relaxation techniques. 

87. Buy things you will need in bulk. Such as toilet paper, paper towels, and most importantly, maxi pads!

88. Have a romantic dinner night with your honey.

89. Think about child care options. Plan who will watch baby if you go back to work and budget in the costs.

90. Give birth!