1.      It may sound obvious, but go to bed when your toddler goes to bed. 7:30pm will not feel too early as you will probably be knackered by then.

 

2.      If your pregnancy is in the summer and the weather is good, park your child in a paddling pool in the back garden and invest in a comfortable sun lounger for yourself. You will be amazed at how happy they will be to while away the hours playing with water.

 

3.      Arrange a trip to the park, but do some research before venturing out. If possible, pick a park with plenty of benches to sit on. One next to a nice coffee shop also helps! This also means you are not too far away from the WC.

 

4.      If the weather takes a turn for the worse, stick on a DVD. These will last on average for one and a half hours and you can take a catnap on the sofa.

 

5.      Take your toddler to a soft play area. This means you can get a seat for a couple of hours with a magazine and a hot drink.

 

6.      If you are lucky and have a willing partner, good parents and in-laws who are willing to help with washing, ironing, cleaning, cooking then let them take over for a bit. This is especially important in the first and third trimesters when you are more tired than usual. They also make good babysitters! If not, perhaps friends could rally round?

 

7.      Partake in a hypnobirthing course. This will prepare you for second labour and help you feel more relaxed and stress-free.

 

8.      Prepare meals for the family in advance and stick them in the freezer. This involves only defrosting each day, saving time and energy at the end of a long 12 hours.

 

9.      Try to take a day off once a month for yourself and indulge in some pampering at a beauty salon. Some have good offers on from time-to-time so this need not be expensive.

 

10. And if all else fails – take a deep breath and remember this will not last forever!