Pamper Yourself: 10 Things to Do Before Baby Arrives

Get out of the House

• Go to the movies. You may not be going to the theater for quite awhile once baby arrives, so treat yourself to a date night with your husband or a fun girls' night out and see a film.
• Plan a picnic. A wonderful way to enjoy a beautiful day and spend time with your friends and family, a picnic is an especially good idea if you have other children, as it will keep them entertained and allow them to expend their natural energy! You'll all benefit from the fresh air and enjoy the break in your usual routine.
• Catch up with friends. Pregnancy is a great time for getting together, since some moms simply don't feel like entertaining for some time after baby is born. When your every moment of sleep is precious, having a house full of people may be beyond you. Likewise, you may not even feel up to being entertained yourself.
• Have a good laugh. Laughing is good for you as it stimulates the release of endorphins (happy hormones) into your bloodstream and helps you feel relaxed.

Have Fun with Retail Therapy

• Shop! Many pregnant women put off buying maternity clothes until they are literally forced to shop for something to cover their growing bellies. But buying maternity wear need not be a depressing outing where you are presented only with elasticized waists and unappealing underwear, as many designers are now bringing out chic, fun lines of maternity clothes.
• Buy your nursing bra. Now is also the perfect time to get fitted for a nursing bra, which will not only support you and keep you comfortable during pregnancy but will also serve you well once your baby arrives. This is one chore you don't want to put off—after all, who wants to be trying on bras with a crying baby for company and leaking breasts?
• Accessorize. Another hot tip is to buy the minimum of maternity clothes (which will be redundant once you have your baby) and concentrate on accessories that you can use indefinitely.

Visit Your Hairdresser

Your changing hormones, both during and after pregnancy, will affect your hair. If you are one of the fortunate ones, your hair will look and feel great during your pregnancy, but don't be alarmed if your once crowning glory becomes thin and brittle. To keep your hair looking beautiful, visit your hairdresser and have a deep conditioning treatment or just try out a new low-maintenance style that requires the minimum of fuss once your time becomes a premium.