What to Do on Maternity Leave Before Baby: 8 Practical Ideas
The most useful things to do on maternity leave before your baby arrives are rest, sort a few essentials and arrange help for after the birth. Once the hospital bag, leave paperwork and basic baby setup are covered, choose things you enjoy. You do not have to fill every day or finish the nursery before you are allowed to relax.
Updated October 2026
Some mums have weeks at home before their due date; others finish work shortly before the birth or are already caring for children. Use the ideas below as a menu, not a checklist you must complete. Your energy, budget and care team’s advice come first.
A simple plan for the time before baby
| If you have… | A useful priority | Something to enjoy |
|---|---|---|
| A low-energy day | One phone call or a short list, then rest | A favourite show, book or chat |
| A little time and energy | Pack the hospital bag or organise a meal | A local outing or a friend’s visit |
| Several days at home | Spread essential jobs across the week | Leave afternoons or whole days unscheduled |
1. Make room for rest
Start by taking the workday pressure off. You may feel ready to do plenty, or you may need a slower pace than you expected. A quiet morning, a sit-down lunch and an early night are perfectly valid uses of leave.
Avoid turning rest into another performance target. You do not need to “bank” a particular number of hours of sleep or follow a perfect routine. If tiredness, pain, anxiety or trouble sleeping is making daily life difficult, talk to your GP or midwife about support.
Try choosing one optional task for the day. If it does not happen, move it to tomorrow or ask someone else to handle it. Sorting a cupboard is usually less urgent than looking after yourself.
2. Confirm leave dates and payment paperwork
Workplace parental leave and government Parental Leave Pay are different things. Fair Work’s parental-leave information explains employment entitlements, while Services Australia explains payment eligibility. Check your employer’s policy, any applicable award or agreement, and your own circumstances before planning your income or leave dates.
If you are eligible, Services Australia says you can claim Parental Leave Pay up to three months before the birth. It will not pay you before your child is born. Supporting documents, including proof of birth, are needed before payment can start. Use some quiet time now to check your Centrelink access through myGov, prepare information and discuss any shared days with the other parent.
Put these details in one place: your leave start date, who to contact at work if plans change, the expected payment arrangements and any forms still outstanding. Our guide to telling your employer about pregnancy is a useful starting point for that conversation; use Fair Work for the current rules.
3. Pack the hospital bag and make a practical birth plan
Check what your hospital or birth centre supplies, then pack the things you will actually use. Pregnancy, Birth and Baby’s birth-bag checklist is an Australian reference you can work through with your own service’s instructions.
- Keep pregnancy records and important contact details easy to find.
- Pack comfortable clothes, toiletries, a phone charger and the baby items your service asks you to bring.
- Decide who will get you to the hospital and who will care for older children or pets.
- Save the maternity unit’s phone number and follow its advice about when to call or come in.
Write down any questions for your next appointment: your preferences, the support person you want present and anything worrying you about labour or the days afterwards. A plan can be short. Share it with your midwife and leave room for circumstances to change.
4. Prepare the baby basics, then stop shopping
Sort what you already own before buying more. Wash a small batch of clothes, find a spot for nappies and wipes, and make everyday items easy to reach. Think about where you will change, feed and settle your baby, rather than whether the room looks finished.
Our new-mum essentials article and newborn checklist can prompt ideas. Make your own short list and cross off anything you do not need. If you browse baby samples, check current availability, delivery costs and marketing terms before handing over personal details.
For sleep, follow Red Nose’s safe-sleep recommendations: place baby on their back, keep the head and face uncovered, use a safe, clear sleeping space and keep the environment smoke-free. Red Nose recommends a safe cot in the parent or caregiver’s room for at least the first six months. Share the guidance with anyone who will help care for your baby.
5. Arrange meals and help for the first weeks
You do not need a freezer full of elaborate recipes. A few familiar meals, a grocery list and someone who can do a top-up shop may be enough. If family or friends offer help, give them a specific job rather than hoping they will guess what you need.
You might ask someone to bring dinner on Tuesday, collect an older child from school, walk the dog or put a load of washing on. Write down who has offered what. This is also a good time to talk with your partner or support person about sharing household jobs.
Be clear about visits. “We’ll let you know when we’re ready” is a reasonable plan. You can change your mind later. Helpful company should fit your recovery and your baby’s needs.
6. Find local support before you need it
Ask your midwife about local child and family health services, parent groups and feeding support. Find out how to book the first appointments and save the contact details. You can investigate a group now without promising to attend every week after birth.
If childcare will be part of your return to work, you can make a few enquiries while you have time. Our childcare questions checklist can help you prepare. A waiting list or enquiry is an administrative step, not a commitment to a final arrangement.
7. Choose gentle activities you enjoy
If your care team says it is suitable, a walk, swim or familiar pregnancy-appropriate activity can give the day some shape. The Australian Government’s pregnancy activity guidance recommends discussing physical activity with a health professional and adapting activity to your circumstances. Check with your GP or midwife before starting something new or if you have complications.
Other options are a library visit, an easy craft, a picnic close to home or coffee with a friend. Keep the trip short enough that you can leave when you want. For travel away from home, speak to your care team and check the practical limits of your plans, including access to maternity care.
8. Celebrate in a way that suits you
A baby shower, maternity-leave catch-up or a few pregnancy photos can be lovely if you want them. They are optional. A meal with two friends or a phone photo taken in the garden can be just as meaningful as a bigger event.
If you fancy a shower, our baby-shower game ideas may help. Ask someone else to organise the food, keep the timing manageable and give yourself an easy way to finish early. You do not have to host everyone before the baby arrives.
If you are bored while waiting
Try a loose daily rhythm: one useful thing, one enjoyable thing and plenty of space. That could mean replying to a form, listening to a podcast and having lunch with a friend. On another day, the useful thing might simply be asking for help.
Avoid adding a big renovation, a complicated project or a fixed schedule just to fill time. Plans can change quickly near a due date. Keep activities easy to pause, and let the unfinished non-essentials stay unfinished.
Frequently asked questions
What should I do on maternity leave before baby arrives?
Prioritise rest, the hospital bag, essential paperwork and a plan for help after birth. Once those are covered, choose low-pressure things you enjoy. You do not need to fill the whole day with baby preparation.
What can I do if I am bored on maternity leave?
Try a short local outing, a simple craft, reading, a call with a friend or a small task you can stop halfway through. A loose routine can help, but leave room for appointments, changes in energy and rest.
When should I start maternity leave before birth?
There is no universal best date. Discuss your health and work demands with your GP or midwife, and confirm leave arrangements with your employer. Fair Work explains the rules for leave during pregnancy and working in the six weeks before a due date, including when medical evidence can be requested.
Can I get government Parental Leave Pay before my baby is born?
No. Services Australia allows eligible parents to lodge a claim before birth, but it does not pay Parental Leave Pay before the child is born. Do not assume the payment will cover weeks off before birth; check your workplace pay, other leave and budget separately.
Should I have a maternity-leave party?
Only if you would enjoy it. Keep it small, let someone else handle the organising and choose a time and place that feel comfortable. There is no expectation to hold a party, buy gifts or turn the start of leave into an event.
