[Kassia]

At the moment I'm cleaning pretty much every day even though I'm 8 months pregnant. I clean between 4-8 hours a day. I know it sounds obsessive but I live in a big house and need to keep on top of dust. My husband is asthmatic and dust sets him off, he'll cough for hours even after using his inhaler. I keep on top of the dust so it doesn't happen.He already does help a lot around the house.

[LEXI'S MUM]

It's really hard esp for the first week, you will not want that baby to leave your side. My house was extremely clean before my daughter was born but now I only have about an hour a day to clean. I have recently bought myself a dishwasher and that is a big help.

[Zach's Mummy]

You just find time. I used to just do little bits of cleaning whenever my son was asleep, and I'd be up late cleaning. I just cannot relax with a dirty house and I think some level of cleaning has to be maintained even if the house isn't spotless.

[Mummy to 2 sets of twins]

We had a cleaner before i fell pregnant, so we simply increased her hours so she could help me keep on top of it. My hubby and I live in a 6 bed roomed house, so I am a bit of a neat freak, and i do get obsessive about dirt. But then, we also have two dogs, as well as young children, so its extra important to make sure the house (and the pets) are clean.. My 11 month old twins go to nursery during the day, so once i get home with newly born Alfie and Rosie, I'm planning to try and clean two rooms per day. Between feeds, naps and changes, the boys at nursery, my hubby when he's home, plus myself and my wonderful home helper as i call her, we'll manage just fine.. A perfectly tidy home really doesn't matter in the first few days of your baby being born, as you have more important concerns. But once you and baby have settled in some sort of pattern, try and organise the cleaning of at least 1 room a day whilst baby is sleeping. It's easy enough in the early days, as they spend most of the day sleeping, so it should be ok to manage in between moments. With your husband's help, you should keep i some kind of order. Failing that, there's no shame in getting help. Big houses take a lot of extra time. By any stretch of the imagination 4 hours cleaning is too obsessive. After you've given birth, you won't have the energy to maintain that 4 hour level. Prioritise what's important, and leave the rest until you can get to it.