Morning all! I'm having a C-Section in NMH in a month and realised yesterday I really should still have the bag packed just in case baby is on his own timeline in there so, doing this today.

I have read all the posts here, and watched many TikToks from Irish creators at what to bring/not bring, but would love to know if there's anything you loved having, wish you'd brought, or really didn't end up needing?

I think we need to bring a nappy and a hat down to theatre for the baby, but is there anything else required for me - disposable pants, pads etc? Also, is it better to bring short or long sleeve vests? I hear the hospitals are kept very hot!

Thank you!

I'm 32 weeks and struggling significantly with PGP, I'm trying to keep going as best I can, but each day gets harder. I am still working full time as a nurse and to be honest I don't know how much longer I can continue. My job is mostly office based with wards, clinics throughout the day.

I have been referred to physio and have an upcoming appointment.

I am consultant led and have an appointment soon. Do I mention to my consultant about being signed off? Is it reasonable to be signed off at this stage?

I'm feeling extremely guilty that I'm not working at 100% capacity and am even considering leaving work early.

Hi everyone! 💕

Whether you’re counting down the days to baby’s arrival or already holding your little one in your arms, let’s chat about the newborn bubble—those precious first days and weeks with your baby.

Here are some questions to get the conversation started:

👶 For those who’ve been through it: • What helped you slow down and enjoy that magical (but chaotic!) time? • Any tips for dealing with visitors and protecting your family time? • What’s something you wish you had done differently in those early weeks?

🤰 For those getting close to the big day: • How are you planning to soak in those newborn snuggles? • What boundaries are you setting to enjoy that bubble without stress? • Are there little rituals or moments you’re looking forward to, like first cuddles or baby’s first bath?

Let’s share advice and stories to help each other embrace the beauty (and the madness!) of the newborn phase. 💖

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Thanks for reading this. I am about to buy travel systems as we are expecting baby in Dec. As I have searched it seems, Cybex cloud T has good ADAC safety score and thinking no need to compromise on car seats. But checked whole travel systems on Cybex and felt it is going above my budget. Will any other pram work with Cybex cloud T with reasonable quality? Please advice.

Hi all,

Has anyone here gotten pregnant who is on levothryroxine? Im not pregnant but i am trying to get pregnant. I have high thyroid antibodies so was advised to go gluten free. Has anyone else needed to do this and is there a need to go gluten free? Reason asking is gluten free is expensive and number 2 I miss my gluten!! Thx ladies

Hi all, my sister is looking for Kendamil formula for an infant, she’s very particular and wanting to give the same one but it’s getting harder to find. I was trying to tell her just switch to a more available brand, does anyone know what’s the best most readily available one? the organic one seems easier got so maybe just switch to that or SMA equivalent

Does it drive anyone else bananas? It wrecks my head! And it's nearly always the partner of the pregnant person. I usually sit there stewing, getting more irritated and raging with myself for not saying something, not today! I happened to be sitting beside the culprit. Listening to TikToks, kept turning it up louder, my eye was twitching, then he starts playing SHITE dance music. So i leaned over and said with a smile, 'Sorry, have you no headphones?' He nodded, put the phone away, said something to his partner and her other companion (did they really need 3 of them to go to the appointment?!) And he gets up and walks off. Delighted with myself. Then I realise she's also watching videos out loud, and I just hadn't heard over his. Jesus wept! At that stage I'd lost my temporary bravado and just climbed back in my box to stew. Thankfully I was called into the doctor shortly after.

Are you coming across it a lot? Have you ever said something? No one else ever seems AS bothered as me, so I do wonder if it's a me problem.

Daily chat 💬

A place to chit chat about all things pregnancy!

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Hi everyone, I posted here a few weeks back asking for some help with my gestational diabetes diagnosis and got lots of helpful tricks from others. The link to that thread is here:

Original Thread about GD - lots of helpful info!

I just wanted to post some things I have found really helpful over the last few weeks incase it helps anyone else.

NB: Obviously I’m not an expert!! I’ve been monitoring it through diet & exercise over the last 5 weeks so here’s just some things that have worked for me. Obviously everyone is different but I was very overwhelmed when I got diagnosed first so this may help some people who have just been diagnosed!

Breads: - Gallaghers Sliced Pan - Fitzgerald Bagel Slims - Lidl/ Aldi Bagel Slims - Lidl Protein Wraps - Lidl Protein Bake at Home Rolls

Dairy: Some of the high protein yogurts and pouches are high in carbs/ sugars but I found these ones quite good! I would recommend double checking them.

• Danone GetPro - these are in both pots and pouches
• Lidl ‘Protein Pouch’ - they are basically the same as the Danone ones
• Nestle Kvarg yogurts - pots

Fruit/ Veg - Baby potatoes = Key ! - Strong Roots oven chips - I did measure these out just to be sure. - Fill up on veggies in general ☺️ if you like mashed potatoes and are missing that mashed carrots & parsnips (old school!) I find tasty at dinner time

Snacks: - High protein yogurts
- Fulfill bars - Nature Valley protein bars - Kind bars - Hummus & carrots

(Protein: I’m not going to list here as I just eat the usuals - eggs, meat, fish etc. I’m not picky when it comes to meats etc so I’m not helpful in this regard!)

Dinner ideas: - Meat, (or fish!) veggies and baby potatoes. Sounds boring but works well for me. - Caesar salad wraps/ burritos/ any kind of wraps using the Lidl High Protein wraps. I really find them great - Meatball subs etc using the Lidl Bake @ home rolls high protein rolls. Again I find these v handy and they are versatile! - Burger “salad” - burger patty with iceberg lettuce, pickles, onions, tomatoes, sauces and maybe some baby potatoes on the side too. - I’ve kind of avoided rice / pasta as I found it hard to manage but I’m sure measuring it out will work well for others!

Take away ideas: - Boojum salad bowl (I get no rice & just lettuce as the base but if your bloods don’t spike you could do half rice and half salad) - Nando’s - chicken & veggies - McDonald’s - I got a McDonald’s burger and a side of chicken nuggets a few times which hadn’t spiked my bloods yet! - I’ve also managed some nice meals out with family - usually get steak and baby potatoes or fish and baby potatoes. Goats cheese salad for starters etc!

- Nice coffees (1 shot!) are also a treat for me too! ☕️

Incorporating Exercise: - Walking after meals - even 10/15 minutes makes a big difference to me - If I can’t go for a walk I try and do 5 air squats and 10 calf raises a few times ! - Lots of walking videos on YouTube - Grow With Jo -15 mins walking videos etc. - I also often use my birth ball and do stretches and boucnes on that after meals. - I swim and do pregnancy Pilates weekly and find these great too.

Example of my rough daily food diary: (again I’m not an expert but this is what has worked for me!): * Breakfast: 2 eggs, Clonakilty black pudding (also working on my iron levels!!) on a bagel slim with some Philadelphia cream cheese. * Snack: protein yogurt pot (Nestle Kvarg)/ or protein pouch with small amount of berries * Lunch: toasted sandwich with ham/ chicken, cheese and veggies on Gallaghers bread * Snack: hummus & carrots and some cheese or some cheese on crackers * Dinner: any combination of meat/fish or any of those above with veggies and small amount of carbs * Snack: protein yogurt pot again and I usually try and sneak in a Freddo or 2 Oreo’s or something here too! I find once I have the protein yogurt it’s fairly balanced and doesn’t seem to spike the sugars.

Hopefully this thread might be of use to some people especially anyone who has just been diagnosed with GD.

All that being said I still can’t wait to tuck into a pizza when this baby comes!!!

First pregnancy here.
I’m currently 11 weeks and I have my first GP appointment next week, I’m just wondering what to expect and does my partner need to go to this appointment with me? He doesn’t want to miss out on anything in relation to the baby

I know for my first appointment in the hospital I’ll be getting a scan so he’ll be there for that.

Hello,
A close family member is due her baby quite soon. Was wondering if anyone had received any gifts for themselves or their baby that they particularly appreciated?
(I will be giving her help with the baby as she wants it etc. but would like some physical gift ideas).
Thanks!

I have my scan next week and v exicted to see baby, its been such a long stretch without one!

Wondering if the 20 week fetal anomoly scan in CUMH is 2D or 3D? Or has anyone gone privately to get a 3D scan?

I can’t find a clear answer for this within my works policy or online. I know in my last job, any unused annual in that year prior to going on MAT leave would be carried over to the next year ie I went on MAT leave in May, if I had 15 days left to use these would added to my entitlement next year (along with any missed bank holidays). Is this up to the companies discretion or is it the same as carrying over your bank holidays?

My partner just had a positive pregnancy test. It’s our first child. We want to go semi private in the Coombe.

Any recommendation for which consultant? She has history of mild / moderate endo, a cyst (ovarian endometrioma) that is gone about 4 years. Otherwise no health issues.

Thanks

Hey guys! Suggestions for the best consultant in ballinasloe??

What baby products have you been buying, and where are you shopping in Ireland?

💙 Are there any great Irish brands you’ve discovered? 🍼 Any second-hand shops or websites you recommend? 💰 Where have you found the best deals on nappies, car seats, prams, etc.?

Let’s help each other save time and money by sharing what’s worked for us!

Hi. We are expecting our 3rd baby. We all have Irish names and randomly they all end in an "ah" sound. We can't decide whether to choose another name ending in "ah" such as Laoise or Róise for a girl, Naoise or Éanna for a boy or just to go for a random name like Senan for a boy. I just don't want this baby to feel leftout or for people to comment on their name. Also my friend made a comment about the name Éanna that they'll be slagged off and called anal as a teenager

Hey everyone, I'm a primary school teacher and am 25 weeks pregnant. I teach infants and am coming home every single day absolutely exhausted. I'm not fit to do anything other than lie on the couch for the rest of the evening. I'm also suffering with some pelvic girdle pain. And we don't get that much time to eat lunch in school so I'm coming home so hungry and just so drained. I would love to get signed off soon, but am feeling so much guilt for leaving my class at the same time. This is my first baby, and I feel like I'm not doing a lot of the things I should be doing like stretching, keeping active, eating well, because I'm just giving my all to work and it's all I can manage! I initially thought I could get to the Christmas holidays but now that just seems impossible. Can any other teachers offer some advice?

not really looking for medical advice, just a rant really 😂 firstly I know its for the safety of me and the baby so I know I have to do it. But I'm not a candidate for the blood test drink thing because of a surgery I had. So as if pregnancy isn't difficult enough already, I've to do it the old school way of monitoring my bloods for a week. 7 times a day I'm stabbing myself (bit dramatic I know). I have the stabber set to the deepest depth but it takes several goes for enough blood to come out so I'm wasting about five strips and two or three needles every test, not to mention the amount of stab holes in my fingers. as someone who types all day in work it is very sore! I better not actually have it because if I've to do this til the end of the pregnancy I'll cry 🙈 I also don't want to have to give up my treats 😂

Hello!
My employer tops up my pay for 16 weeks of my maternity leave - I’m currently 27 weeks and finding work difficult. I’m in a very busy healthcare role and constantly on my feet and wondering about reducing my hours. If I reduce to 32 from my current 40 hours, would my maternity pay then be based on the 32 hours?
Apologies if this is a silly question! First baby and it’s all a whole new world.

Has anyone used both a tens and a winner flow for birth at the same time ? I already have a winner flow and plan to use it but I was also wondering about the tens....if I'm concentrating on my breath work will I remember to press the button on the tens, I'm not sure...

Here are a few discussion points to get started: 💶 How do you apply for maternity leave benefits here? 👩‍💻 Are you planning on taking additional parental leave? 📑 What financial steps are you taking to prepare for baby?

Whether you’ve been through the process before or you’re navigating it now, share your experiences and tips!