r/PregnancyIreland

14 weeks, FTM, 35. First-time poster. I'd really appreciate hearing other people's experiences. I work in a very interesting but low-paid industry, with a fairly meagre pension pot. I look at those around me who are doing the most incredible job of juggling it all, and I just am not sure I can do it. I live in a town that is a two-hour commute to my job in Dublin - I am supposed to be in the office two days per week but I often get away with doing one. We don't have a huge support system where we live, and definitely not someone who could look after a baby for us in a pinch. We'd get by on my husband's salary, and much of my pay packet would be wiped by childcare. And from looking online, childcare probably wouldn't work for my commuting pattern (leaving at 7 a.m. and back at 7 p.m.). My main fear is being in Dublin and unable to be there when I am needed, or having to spend a few nights away from the baby (my job involves events). I've been told by so many people that we need to start ringing around and scoping out childcare at this very early stage, and it feels quite overwhelming -- I am a worrier but I want to be realistic about the possibility that I won't go back ... and I am struggling with my ego around that. I don't know anyone who hasn't gone back to work. I think I am already comparing myself to these high-powered supermams, clearly ...

Hey ladies- quick one. My husband is looking to go to his friends stag abroad for 1-2 nights (over a weekend) - 1 hour flight away. I’ll be 27 weeks, we also have a 2 year old.
I don’t have family here and his own family coming over to help is very unlikely- maybe one of his sisters might come over for a couple of hours at most.
What are your thoughts? I feel bad because he doesn’t really do any of his hobbies anymore where I’m exhausted and he does a lot with our toddler so I can rest when I can. And well aware life will only get busier once baby no2 arrives. He also likely won’t go to the wedding (it’s in town) as it’s literally on my due date.
I know he wants to go, and I don’t want to be the fun police but realistically am I going to be exhausted / is it too far along for him to be going abroad?

It’s also our toddlers 2nd birthday on the Friday and he’s looking to go either the Friday night or the Saturday.
Please be kind x

I'm hitting 24 weeks pregnant next week and starting to feel big, uncomfortable and gross. I work in a long hours/ high stress job and have a toddler so self care has been minimal which is contributing to the feeling icky.

I want to treat myself to some nice pregnancy safe skincare like a boojie moisturizer or body butter (any sort of self care bits really) if anyone has any recommendations 🥰

I'm lying here watching my bump move in all kinds of ways and I do know there's a baby in there but I find it hard to believe that there's actually a baby in there. 33 weeks pregnant and feel like I won't believe it until I meet her in person.

I find myself rubbing my bump all the time, talking about her all the time but because I'm finding it hard to make sense of the fact that there's a baby in my body right now, I'm worried that I'm not bonding in the way I should be? Hope I'm making sense lol. Did anyone else feel this way in the 3rd trimester?

I’m 37 weeks and FED UP of the labour prep. I just want to lie down and rest but then I remember oh I haven’t done any of my hip opening exercises or gone on a walk or ate some dates. I’ve given up on the raspberry leaf tea there’s no way I can drink 4 cups of that a day.

The most I feel like doing the last few days is sitting on my yoga ball 😂 I don’t even want to cook dinners anymore or do anything. The nesting energy has truly left the party.

RANT over

Hi,

Is the 28 week obstetric appointment in hospital a full day. At our 22 weeks appointment it was just a scan. Was so fast

And there was No need to meet doctor. Thanks as always

Hi everyone!

Has anyone had issues with having BIAB on when its ended up being a section for delivery?

Hearing mixed opinions 🙈

I've been recommended to wear SRC shorts for tailbone pain during my pregnancy. They're over €100 so I'm wondering if anyone has any feedback on them before I buy? Do they actually work? Or does anyone know of alternatives?

Hi 👋🏻
Looking for some advice on choosing hospitals and what routes to choose. I have no experience with this and have insurance covering my 3 day stay in both a semi-private and private delivery room, during and after birth.

Both are close to our home.

Hi everyone! I'm searching for Pregnancy Yoga Classes in Dublin and having trouble finding options. Does anyone have recommendations? Also, do you think pregnancy yoga is helpful? 🙏🧘‍♀️

I saw an event at Gorey library titled breastfeeding support from La Leche League of Ireland. When I viewed the event information on the website, I wasn't sure if it's a casual meet up for breastfeeding mothers or if it's more for those who need support.

Has anyone been to one of these meetings before?

 TW (trigger warning ⚠️) I recently had 21 weeks MC, its been 5 weeks i am still experiencing brown/pink VD since 27 days, they are asking me if you want to see a gynae go to ER but my vitals are normal, if someone could guide, is it normal ? I went to ER on 9 june from the VG swab the doctor took she told me after a week i have a womb/uterus infection of high grade Ecoli., prescribed me antibiotics, i completed the course of antiobiotics, still i am having brown/pink vaginal discharge its been 5 weeks is it normal? If i am asking them like is it normal or not they are saying me to go to ER if i want to see a gynae. are there no follow-up appiontments for ladies who have late MC, whats the process , i went to GP as well , they told me only gynae can analyze and go to maternity. Maternity is saying go to ER , ER is saying come to us only when your vitals are not normal .Can someone guide what to do

I am in my 3rd trimester and we will have a guest who smokes staying with us.

I recently heard on the Baby Tribe podcast that third hand smoke - the residue that sticks to smokers' hair and clothes - is harmful to babies and associated with SIDS. I am now reading it is harmful to pregnant women as well.

My husband doesn't believe in third hand smoke and said lots of women smoke when they are pregnant and have normal babies.

But I am old and this was an IVF pregnancy and almost certainly my last chance.

I am thinking about staying with family until the smoker leaves.

What would you do?

As above - I spent some time in the antenatal ward recently where other women were being induced and i was just there for monitoring. I found it very distressing and I was on the verge of a panic attack most the time.

Is there any way I can be induced in a private room as a public patient? I’m likely to be induced and I’m freaking out about having to go back there.

Hello everyone,

Could anyone tell me what time of day they received their NIPT results from Evie in Sandyford? My results are due back today, but it says on their website that they close at 1.30pm on Fridays.

Wondering if the results are sent automatically by email once they come in or if I'll have to wait until next week.

Thanks!

Hi all,

I can’t quite get my head around this so I hope someone can explain this to me.
I’m a HSE staff in a hospital and I’m getting signed off by my consultant in the hospital on Pregnancy related sick leave for 9 weeks until I’m due to go on maternity leave.

I’ve contacted HR regarding this and I was told

"Please discuss with manager and continue to provide medical certificate for the period of absence. Additionally please make sure you claim this from social welfare department as payroll will deduct sick leave hours. To note, sick leave is deducted a month in arrears, in your case if you start sick leave in July, these hrs will be deducted in August payroll"

Does anyone know how often I’ve to provide the certs and do I go to my gp regarding that?
Also how do I claim this from social welfare? As i thought that the HSE sick pay comes directly as regular pay?

Appreciate the advice in advance

Hi there, first time IVF mom to be here, age 37 and have questions for those who have gone semi-private with the rotunda;

I have opted to go for semi-private with the rotunda. I am currently 13 weeks. We had our booking scan earlier this week, and now our next scan is not scheduled until I am almost 22 weeks. There is no plan for contact with the clinic between now and then, only a GP visit. Is this normal? I was surprised to go so long without another midwife check-up at least.

Also, how have you found the best way to contact the clinic? I have some questions about my ultrasound as well as the bloods that they ran, but it seems that you just ring a number and leave a voice message. Is that normal? Any guidance would be great. I have already paid, so I am confirmed semi-private, so there is no changing that now, but any top tips to get the best out of it would be much appreciated as already I'm a bit unsure about the level of support.

Thank you and good luck to all the expectant mothers out there <3

I feel like it isn’t spoken about enough, I’m 27 weeks and the kicks and punches have gotten so strong and painful. Baby is really low down and when I get kicks/punches I feel it tugging on my uterus and sometimes tugs on my cervix and it’s so painful! I’m getting lightning crotch when baby jabs at my cervix but I’m also getting pain outside of that too.

I’m so grateful for this pregnancy but I didn’t expect the kicks to cause pain this early on

What are the best activities to do with your baby in the few few months?

St Anne's Park is great, especially on a Saturday and the walk along Clontarf / Bull Island is brilliant.

Malahide castle is great for parking and walking with a pram and near enough to stop into the village.

Howth village is ok but it gets a bit restrictive with a pram to move around much but once the kid is comfortable in a harness it opens up a bit more of the walks.
Any other good suggestions?

Is anyone else in this boat? I’m nearly thinking so far ahead to after maternity leave and being allergic to returning 🥹 i work in pharmaceuticals in an office based job, I just want to be a stay at home mom and enjoy family life… it’s so hard to have the balance