You can’t wait to meet your little bundle, so the nine months before your baby’s arrival seems like an eternity. Don’t worry, this exciting time will be filled with a laundry list of important things to do.

Sarah Nah, 29, recalls that the months preceding her son’s arrival were split between gynae visits, getting baby essentials, as well as arranging to hire a confinement nanny.

“It’s worse when you have to juggle all these tasks with a full-time job. My hubby and I spent practically every other weekend during my second trimester clearing them.”

Nah adds that it is just as important to include some time to rest and relax. “For me, it was as simple as getting my hair done just a week before my delivery. I felt more refreshed after that.”

In time to come, you’ll be listening to Itsy-Bitsy-Spider, Twinkle, Twinkle Little Star and Five Little Monkeys Jumping on the Bed for months on end.

So, set aside time for some fun during your pregnancy. After all, you won’t have the luxury of time or energy to do so once baby arrives. Make sure to:

1. Listen to all the (explicit) songs you want If you’re a heavy metal, rock and roll or rap fan, you should listen to such music to your heart’s delight. Don’t hold back on the explicit versions, either. In time to come, you’ll be listening to nursery rhymes like Itsy-Bitsy-Spider, Twinkle, Twinkle Little Star and Five Little Monkeys Jumping on the Bed for months on end.

2. Get a new hairdo It might be a good idea to lose your long tresses, especially if you’ve decided not to shower during your confinement. Besides, you’ll also want a simple hairstyle that needs minimal care, especially since baby would love to grab handfuls of it in no time.

3. Have a meal with your folks In time to come, you won’t be able to take your parents out for dinner whenever you want to. This is also a good time to pick their brains for parenting wisdom and also to reminisce about your childhood.

4. Dine at an atas restaurant Check out as many posh restaurants as possible ― before high chairs, crayons and activity sheets become a fixture whenever you dine out as a family. When you have to deal with your cherub’s hangry wails, you’ll soon appreciate that the loudest sound you used to hear all night was the clinking of wine glasses!

5. Head to the spa Indulging in a little prenatal massage can do wonders to relieve any pregnancy anxiety, joint pain and even contribute to an easier labour. Just make sure to find a massage therapist who's certified in prenatal massage.

6. Book a staycation Call your girlfriends and turn this into your second bachelorette party — minus the alcohol. Stay in, get your nails and hair done because once your mini-me is here, you’ll feel as if a mini-tyrant who demands your constant attention has taken you hostage.

When you have to deal with your cherub’s hangry wails, you’ll soon appreciate that the loudest sound you used to hear all night was the clinking of wine glasses!

7. Organise a short getaway Getting away from the hustle and bustle of Singapore need not cost a bomb when you organise a day trip to Johor Bahru or a weekend in Bintan or Batam. There, you can treat yourself to a good meal, massage and even shop till you drop — or better yet, do all three!

8. Keep a pregnancy journal You’ll want to record the many firsts your growing foetus and you will be experiencing during this magical period. So, some of the milestones you’ll want to document are your foetus’s first kicks or their first sonogram because you’ll miss really them once baby arrives.

If a putting together a journal seems like too much work, pen your thoughts in a letter instead. Pass this to junio when they’re older, so they’ll better appreciate what you and your hubby went through to bring them into the world.

9. Track your pregnancy with Instagram If you prefer taking pictures over putting your thoughts in writinig, then start a visual journal on Instagram, instead. Fill the account with photos and videos how you prepared for your delivery. On baby’s first month, 100-day or birthday celebrations, invite your friends and family to relive these special moments!

Photos: iStock

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