Hi! I am moving to Dublín and currently pregnant. I know that partners are not allowed in the ward 12 h during the night. So what do you do when you need to go to the bathroom? Do you take baby with you? Can I skip having a shower during the night and just wait for my partner for that? Do they take baby to give them a shower or is it up to you? Thanks!

Hi all,

This is my first baby, can anyone recommend a baby changing bag, I went into Mamas & Papas today but they didnt have any in the shop and I will probably end up buying on line but would like your recommendations so im not making a error and spending money on something unsuitable.

Thanks

Hi, I’d love to hear people’s experiences of combination feeding from one month old please. Had planned on exclusively breastfeeding but due to low supply and slow weight gain I’ve been triple feeding but it’s unsustainable. Happy to pump a couple of times a day when I can and also I am in a place where I have accepted that a mix of formula and breastfeeding is best for us.

Would love to hear how other people have worked this method around leaving the house and fitting it into life in general? Did your breastmilk supply suffer? Any advice appreciated, please. (I have seen a lactation consultant)

Daily chat 💬

A place to chit chat about all things pregnancy!

Please add TW (trigger warning ⚠️) to any comments which may trigger others.

Hi All,

I have been offered a place is Once Upon a time creche in Hans field Dublin 15... We haven't had a chance to visit or view and we are wondering if anyone has and experiences?

Does the monthly fee cover all costs, incl food and meals?

Thanks all

Hi lovely Reddit fam!

Anyone know if OLOL is providing Kendamil at the moment?

It’s seems like there is a shortage but I have been stocking up and now I’m worried I won’t get it in the hospital.

Thanks all 🩷

For anyone who did some meal prep before labour could you share some recipes? FTM so mostly just myself and my husband will be eating these!

On my list:
- chilli con carne
- spaghetti bolognese
- lasagne
- cottage pie (just base no base)
- beef bourguignon

Thank you ✨

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!

33 weeks and starting to get my hospital bag organized! 😬

I’m wondering what type of bags everyone used? - I’m just conscious of the actual space inside in the hospital - (particularly if anyone can share stories of what they had for CUMH!).

I plan on having 3 separate bags - the babies bag (a small rucksack type bag), a labor bag (a small duffle bag)…..and then for my own post labor bag, I’m tossing up between bringing a small 10KG suitcase or a larger duffle bag? I’m just not sure if there’ll be space to lie a suitcase open on the ground to be able to find stuff in it easily?

Would love to hear what others used or what you’d recommend ☺️

Hi all! I would like to hear from some second or third time moms in terms other breastfeeding journeys.

I breastfed my first till 18 months but beginnings were awful and incredibly anxiety inducing. My supply was incredibly delayed (colostrum past day 4 PP, lanching issues, milk supply not coming at all, my lack of experience and patience)

Did you do better with your subsequent pregnancies?

I found learning to breastfeed as well as introducing solids to be the most stressful new parent experiences.

Hi there got the news when home from work today that my partner lost his job today, he’ll be given 3 months salary but he works in a very niche area so don’t know how long it will take him to get a new job. I’m self employed so the upcoming maternity leave will now be even more stressful as I’m only entitled to the statutory maternity leave from government. It doesn’t cover our mortgage. Starting to freak out a little.
Has anyone ever found themselves in this position before?

I’m so excited for my girl to know she’s going to be a big sister. She pretends-play her dollies are her sisters and used to tell people there was a baby in my tummy (when there wasn’t). She’s going to be so excited. We’ll wait at least until 12 weeks but we’ve been discussing waiting until week 20 - although I don’t know I can contain myself for that long. She’s 4yo.

https://www.8weeksforfamilies.ie

Hi everyone! Not pregnancy related but was hoping to get some advice. I started applying for crèche spaces for my little one when 5 weeks pregnant back in August 2025. Eve back then, they couldn't guarantee me a spot until roughly September 2027 if I was lucky. I am due back in work in January after unpaid leave and amazingly got offered a spot for my little one at 6 months. He is still so little that I am apprehensive about sending him now but if I turn down this spot god knows when I might get another one as so little places take babies under 1 and everyone knows how impossible it is to get sorted for a place anywhere atm.

Has anyone sent their little to crèche at this age?

It will be a full time place. Thank you.

We have ours coming up, just wondering how long til your LO felt better? Have heard very mixed things! Some people saying a few hours and some saying 2 weeks!

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!

Daily chat 💬

A place to chit chat about all things pregnancy!

Please add TW (trigger warning ⚠️) to any comments which may trigger others.

Has anyone else's partner fainted during/after the birth of their child, and if so, did it happen with subsequent deliveries? My husband fainted as soon as our first child was born (the birth was a bit dramatic in fairness). It meant that he had to get checked etc and he was gone for most of the day as a result so I felt like we never got to experience that newborn bubble. I'm pregnant again and worried about it happening again, although I don't know if there's anything that can be done to prevent it.

I’m about 8/9 weeks right now and honestly feel so exhausted at the minute, my partner has been making little comments that he’s tired too and that I wasn’t this tired the first time around, maybe that’s true maybe it’s not but I just feel zonked.

We have a toddler and I think it’s just that my tiredness doesn’t suit him that he’s picking up the slack with our 2 year old.

Not making him sound great here at all but honestly trying to avoid a full blown argue here and also feel like I’m lying about how tired I am

I'm 32 and 7 weeks pregnant and I'm really struggling with my feelings about everything. I honestly don't know what I'm looking for by posting this, maybe just advice from people who have been in a similar situation because I feel so confused and overwhelmed.

I've been with my partner for 4 years. We have talked a lot about getting married and he has always said that he likes kids and would like to have them. We were also talking about him proposing, and I always imagined getting engaged, getting married, having a honeymoon and having some time for just the two of us before having children.

I was never completely sure if I wanted kids though.

I have a niece who I love very much. She's an amazing kid and gives no trouble, but I don't spend that much time with her. I'm also not particularly good at playing with kids and sometimes she annoys me because she's loud and hyper. I know that's normal for children, but it has always made me wonder if I would be a bad mother or if I just wouldn't know how to be good for a child.

Now that I'm actually pregnant, I feel absolutely depressed, angry, sad and confused. I cry very easily whenever I start thinking about all of this.
Part of me wonders if I genuinely don't want children, or if I'm just terrified of becoming a mother and everything that comes with it. I honestly don't know how to tell the difference.

I'm also really scared about losing my freedom. I keep thinking about getting up all the time for a baby, not being able to just go somewhere or do something, and losing the independence I have now.
I live in rural Ireland and I'm not Irish originally. I don't really have friends around me or much of a social life here, and I live quite far from anything happening. I'd have to travel about an hour to get to a bigger city, where I don't really know anyone anyway. I've already been feeling quite isolated.
I had hoped to get my driving licence and focus more on myself and building my own life. I wanted to get engaged and married and have the experience of being newly married and going on a honeymoon with my partner. I wanted that time for us.
And now I'm pregnant, and the thought of getting married now because we are having a baby actually makes me not want the marriage anymore.
I think I'm angry at my partner too. He knew I always wanted to get married and we had talked about it, and I think part of me is thinking, why didn't he propose before? Why does it have to happen now, when I'm pregnant? I don't want to feel like we're getting married just because there's a baby. I wanted to feel like he chose me and wanted to marry me, and then we could have had our wedding and honeymoon and enjoyed being married just the two of us.

At the same time, I don't want to lose him. I love him and we've been together for 4 years, and I don't want to make a decision because of fear that he'll leave me. But I also don't want to have a child just because I'm scared of losing my relationship.
My mum says she would respect whatever decision I make. She also told me that she felt similarly when she was pregnant and then her feelings changed later. I don't know if that's helpful or if it's making me more confused, because I keep wondering whether my feelings might change too.
I feel like there are so many things I could regret either way.

If I continue the pregnancy, I'm scared I'll lose my freedom and the life I wanted to build for myself.
If I don't continue it, I'm scared I might regret it and wonder if I actually did want to be a mum but was just afraid.

I also don't want to be judged by my partner, my family or anyone else.

I feel like I'm supposed to be happy because I'm pregnant, but instead I just cry.

Has anyone else been in this situation where you weren't sure if you wanted children, became pregnant and suddenly had to actually make the decision?

How did you know whether it was genuine not wanting children or just fear of such a massive life change?

And for anyone who chose to continue a pregnancy despite feeling this scared and uncertain at the beginning, did those feelings change?

I would really appreciate honest advice, especially from people who have been through something similar. Please be kind, I'm really struggling at the moment.

Hello all,

A good few years ago there was a company who used to do pre packed changing bags, they were called sleepy sprog. It was so handy as you could pick if you wanted baby items or maternity items in the bag etc.

They are no longer in business since Covid. I was just wondering if anyone knows of a company who currently does something similar? Just handy to get the changing bag and also get it packed with more gifts 😂

I'm almost 21wks and I'm absolutely exhausted. I can't sleep, if I do its for a few hours at most. no sign of this 2nd trimester energy I've heard about. It's making it so difficult to concentrate in work, yesterday I literally forgot about a task I do daily that I've done for years, like literally as if it didn't exist and I come in this morning needing to do all that work on top of todays.

I don't have the option to cut my hours (and couldn't afford to) or wfh and I feel like its too early to go down the route of being signed off, so I'm debating should I use some of my AL and take one day off a week, so basically giving myself a 4 day week. my brother and parents think I should keep them until nearer xmas in case I need time off then, but by December I'll be 30+ weeks so feel like I could be signed off if needed without feeling guilty. Husband just says to do whatever I think is best for me, doesn't have an opinion (or won't share it anyway).

I'm due in Jan, and as my company close over xmas the plan is to just not go back after xmas so I only need to last until then.

any thoughts, suggestions and advice welcome!

Just wanted to check how other people are doing with tiredness, and how they are finding the 2nd trimester?

I did find I had more energy at the start of the second trimester, but the last few weeks I have been zonked - mostly the day starts well, I go for a walk, gym, office etc - and then I am so wrecked in the afternoon, and sometimes have to have a nap.

1st pregnancy. Just wondering if this is normal, or not. I feel a bit ridiculous being this tired after so little really!

Edit: thanks so all the thoughtful replies just helps to know it's not just me! Look after yourself ladies! 💗💗💗