當馬克遇上莎莉

Although having a baby is undoubtedly the most rewarding experience you will ever have, it is also a life-changing one.

Suddenly this precious little being will become the focus of your life, leaving all other things by the wayside. Of course it's all worth it; when you gaze into your baby's eyes, or feel her grasp your finger for the first time, you won't mind sacrificing a few nights out with the girls.

However, you may as well make the most of your independence before your little one makes her arrival. Here's gurgle's guide to the ten things you should do before having a baby:

1) Pamper yourself! Once you have a baby there won't be much time for days at the spa, so why not treat yourself to the odd luxury now? You could indulge in a relaxing pregnancy massage, get your nails done or even just take your time doing your make-up in the morning! This may sound silly, but your beauty regime will be much more rushed when you have a newborn to care for - a quick lick of mascara and a comb through your hair may often have to suffice. (Not to mention perfecting the art of applying make-up whilst balancing a toddler on your knee!)

2) Read! Whether it's a best-selling book that's been sat on your shelf for ages, or your favourite magazine, now is the time to pick it up and read it. Of course, once your baby is born, you will have time to read when she is napping or after she is in bed, but the chances of you being interrupted are fairly high. Enjoy the silence while it lasts!

3) Lie-ins will also become a distant memory once your baby is born, so before she arrives - even if you're a bit of an early bird who tends to wake at the crack of dawn - why not stay in bed with a good book and a cup of tea?

4) Become a culture vulture! Go on trips to the cinema, theatre or ballet; there may be a special film or show that you've been meaning to see for ages - now is the time to see it. Take your hubby or best friend, have a meal en route and make a night of it! Soon night's out will involve babysitters, expressing milk and worrying about your baby so make the most of guilt free evenings out. 

5) Go shopping! Whether or not you're a shopaholic, indulge yourself with a few luxury purchases. Why not buy a few staple pieces to dress your bump? Read Maternity clothes and How to wear your bump to give you some inspiration. Shopping can of course be achieved with small babies and toddlers but negotiating a pushchair through the aisles of shops, squeezing the buggy into changing rooms and working your shop around feed times, or tantrums will make the shopping experience less than enjoyable. Before your baby arrives, take time to have a leisurely shop, lunch with a friend and an afternoon nap!!

6) Take your partner for a romantic dinner; if money's a bit tight, you don't need to splash out on a cordon-bleu three-course meal. Why not pop to the local pizzeria and have a bit of quality time, just the two of you? When you become parents you may find that much of your conversation will focus around your baby, from the colour of her poo to whether or not she's putting on enough weight, so now is the time to enjoy some adult conversation!

7) Book a mini-break. Again, if you're saving money in the run-up to having your baby, you don't need to fork out thousands of pounds on a Caribbean holiday - why not spend a weekend in the Lake District and go for some walks in the countryside?

8) Have a girlie evening; get your friends round, make some non-alcoholic cocktails, and have a good ol' fashioned girly gossip. Or you could put on a favourite movie - Dirty Dancing, anyone?

9) Get your house in order; yes, this doesn't sound as much fun as some of the above suggestions, but once your baby is born, the household chores will take a back-seat - and so they should! Remember that you shouldn't lift anything heavy during pregnancy, but you could sort through boxes of photos or throw away old papers while your partner does the hoovering and paints the nursery!

10) Read your baby books!  Babies don't come with a manual and parenting is very much a learning curve, but the more research you do now - for instance about feeding your baby or how to get him into a routine - the more confident you will feel in those first few weeks of parenthood.

The information on this feature is intended for educational purposes only. If you have any concerns about your health, the health of your child or the health of someone you know, please consult with a doctor or other healthcare professional.