During pregnancy, the thought of having 12 weeks off from work sounds absolutely divine. Visions of walking along the lakefront pushing a stroller or sipping coffee at a Alterra while the babe snoozes in a carrier constantly flash in your mind, but unfortunately, such occasions aren't completely realistic. Oh, sure, there are times like this, but for some women, maternity leave also means seclusion, loneliness and boredom.

Here are a few tips to fend off the baby blues:

Run errands. Getting out is probably the most sanity-preserving act you can perform during your maternity leave. Don't underestimate the errand, either. Buying stamps or going to the Outpost can be a breath of fresh air after days of diapering, so don't delegate all of the public stuff to friends and family members who offer to help -- even if your hair is oilier than Amoco and you still can't squeeze into anything without an elastic waist.

Discover your "happy places." Whether your place is along the Milwaukee River or inside the shops at Mayfair, go there when you feel like you should have quelled your maternal longings with an ant farm or an herb garden.

Send e-mail. Take a half-hour during naptime to send e-mail to friends and family. Sure, tell them about your little Hector or Begonia, but also ask them about their lives. Hearing anecdotes from the outside world is important to remind you that it's still there. Telephoning is good too, but it could leave you with an empty feeling if you don't get a hold of anyone, which is likely if you're calling during the day.

Attend play groups. Play groups are a great way to meet other moms and dads in your situation and are a fabulous forum for info sharing. They also beak up the sleep-eat-poop monotony of motherhood. For a list of Milwaukee play groups, click here.

Invite a friend over.. Even if the house is only a soiled onesie away from being condemned, invite a friend over while the baby naps. Remembering how to chat without your child within suckling distance is important and having a visitor other than your mother will flex that flabby social muscle. If you're feeling really daring, tell dad you need a night out and meet a pal for herbal tea or a shot of tequila, depending on your mood.

Listen to the radio. If you can't find time to read the paper or non-parenting magazines, listen to the radio while doing something like the dishes (or unloading the dishwasher, if you're of the privileged variety.) Keeping up with current music and events will make you feel more connected and give you something to talk about other than cradle cap and the color of cutie's dookie.

Remember this is all temporary. Before you know it, he'll be trying to buy liquor with a fake ID, so try to remember this too shall pass. In fact, you will probably long for the less-hectic days of maternity leave, especially when your boss is saying something like, "Hmmm ... I think I need you to come in on Sunday."