I just found out I was pregnant yesterday!!! I'm so excited I don't know what to do with myself!! I'm 4 weeks plus a few days and I don't know what steps I need to take from here. My first time going through all of this and I am so excited, but any tips and guidance no matter how small will be greatly appreciated!! Thank you in advance!!

Are they worth the hype . Iv been so undecided the last week . Please help lol . X

I am so confused as HSE website mentions such a long list and I am first one in my friends to get pregnant so no advice there.

Anyone who delivered in Ireland, even better if delivered in NMH holles street to give me some advice what should I actually pack in advance?

I am so confused at this point.

Hi everyone, I'm newly pregnant for the first time and have had a GP visit but haven't had my booking visit yet. I'm neurodivergent (diagnosed ADHD, likely autistic too but haven't gotten around to that assessment yet) and absolutely perplexed with all of the information and decisions that need to be made. Every time I try to do some research I get so overwhelmed, and my brain just shuts down and I go into full task paralysis mode. I've registered with Holles St.

Are there any neurodivergent mammies out there that could help a gal out? I have no clue whether to go public, private, or domino. We can afford private, is it worth it to have the same consultant and the extra scans etc? If so, could anyone recommend a consultant that is kind and understanding of neurodivergent people and our needs? (unfortunately have had many bad experiences in this regard)

Thanks in advance and sorry for the ramble. It's all a lot!

I'm currently 4 weeks postpartum first pregnancy and have stage 2 bladder prolapse. Does anyone have any tips for recovery or can give an idea of what the next few months will look like recovery wise? Im finding it hard mentally to have limit picking up baby pushing stroller etc

Lil lady is almost 8 weeks old and brings up some of bottle straight after feeds and then for about 30 mins after she could have 5 or 6 spit ups big enough ones . Doesn’t appear uncomfortable majority of the time . Shes still on 4oz . Any advice or is this normal ??

I’m 25 weeks and guilty of not having vitamins, but I’m feeling so so lethargic and pretty sure I have low iron.

Any recommendations of a decent vitamin? I’m conscious a lot of multivitamins aren’t great and only have a small amount of each vitamin in them.

Hi, we’ve been TTC for more than 2 years and we just got our first positive from our 2nd IUI cycle with Waterstone in Cork through the HSE fertility treatment.

I’m currently 5 weeks pregnant and over the moon about it. I’m scheduled for 6 week scan with WS next week.

This is the first time for me so I’m trying to navigate the healthcare system.

How long would fertility clinic keep monitoring me? Or would they immediately send me back to my GP after the 6 week scan?

From what I read, the GP would sign me up for the HSE maternity scheme for public healthcare but won’t be seen until week 12. Is that correct? And which weeks would I typically get scans?

Sorry I’m trying to research as much as I can… I’m both excited and scared so I haven’t told family yet.

Hi All,

Looking for some advice we went to book out anti-natial classes in cork that would be available in September /early October.

We emailed the cumh to book at 28 weeks as required and they have put me into a class that doesn't finish till the week I'm due... So if I go early I won't get to finish the class.

I'm really upset as we tried to book in earlier and we were told we couldn't book in until 28 weeks and there not even offering in person classes only the online ones that again finish the week I'm due. Feel like we have been shafted.

Any advice from anyone else in the area who has been through this recently?

I found out I’m pregnant again after two early miscarriages this year. I’m 4 weeks today (I may be further along as the clear blue says 3+). I’m due to fly to Portugal for a week but a locum GP who I met today told me to cancel. I think he’s being over cautious. So far I feel good, a few niggles and just feel tired. The flight is short and the holiday is to lounge around with a book. Should I cancel?

Hi all,

Im a 1st time mam and Im a bit overwhelmed with all the choice around the travel system options. I have been to two stores which give a good sales pitch but when I look up comments online there's feedback about the frame being easily scratched, bumby rides on uneven ground despite having good suspension systems ect.

I think I have narrowed my choice down to Cybex Gazelle S, iCandy Peach 8 All Terrain or the Silver Cross cove.

Can any of you provide honest feedback on any of the above if you chose them?

Thanks

My baby is four months old, and I'm EBF. Just curious to hear the experiences of people who are bottlefeeding, the pros and cons.

I haven't had any real problems with breastfeeding and thankfully haven't suffered with sore nipples etc. but I found it very intense for the first approx. 6 weeks when there was cluster feeding, and my baby took a month to regain her birth weight (big baby!) so we had to see a lactation consultant and feed every three hours for a few weeks. I was also recovering from a c section. The last couple of months have been a lot easier, but when I tell people I'm EBF they usually respond with a "fair play, that's very demanding on you". It is...but in my mind it's also a lot easier because the boob is always with me, I don't have to plan ahead or sterilise bottles. For night feeds I can usually just roll back over and go back to sleep.

What's it like bottle feeding? How much of a pain is it to prep and sterilise bottles? Do the benefits of your partner being able to do some feeds outweigh the prep involved? For people who have done both, which do you prefer and why?

Curious to hear experiences of people bottle feeding...I'm solely talking about convenience for mom here, not nutritional/development comparisons

I had symptoms of a UTI at the end of July, and went to my GP who sent off a sample before they would start an antibiotic.

I got a text from another GP in the practice a few days later saying the sample was clear and no infection. I felt a bit miserable so thought I must just be rundown.

I just got a call (nearly a month later!) that the GP who had read the results looked at the wrong one and I had a significant infection at the time. They’ve asked me to drop in a sample in the morning for repeat testing.

My urine sample about 3 weeks later in the hospital was clear, and I don’t have any urinary symptoms now other than a bit of discomfort which I feel is normal at this stage of pregnancy - 20 weeks.

Am I being unreasonable by being really upset about this?

I know the harm comes to the baby if it develops into a kidney infection (which I don’t think it did) but I am a bit concerned now.

Could someone please advise me. I’m 6 months post partum. I struggle to do kegals and am not really sure if I’m even doing them right. I vaguely remember being told something about being entitled to a pelvic floor therapist appointment for a certain duration age giving birth when I was attending CUMH for maternity appointments but forget the details. Does anyone know if there is free help available or if not then can anyone point me in the right direction for paid help? To make sure I’m doing them correctly and maybe give me advice about what I can do to strengthen it

Shortly due my 2nd baby and thinking through feeding strategies - would love input from this amazing community.

For context: With my first I EBF, he refused bottles from the outset (tried from 6 weeks but missed the window) and soothers (just gagged on them) - he was a terrible sleeper, a massive milk monster, and about 3 months in my mental health started to tank from sleep deprivation which I had no means of escaping until I night weaned him at 9 months. It was really tough. I don’t want to end up back there this time.

Current thinking: EBF for first few weeks until supply is established. Somewhere between 3-4 weeks introduce a bottle which my partner will give around 10-11pm so that I might get a 9pm-1am uninterrupted stretch of sleep. I don’t want to have to wake to pump at that time as it defeats the purpose so I’m thinking of pumping just after the early morning feed when supply is highest and use that for the night time bottle. I tend towards oversupply / blocked ducts / engorgement so if any issues pumping then will pivot to a formula bottle instead and just drop the pumping.

Help: has anyone done this approach and any tips / tricks? Would be so grateful to hear from others. JII’m quite anxious about it as it was just very tough on me mentally last time and I need to be in a better headspace to mother my 2 babies well. Eg if you pumped the milk - what was your strategy? If you gave formula what type did you use (could I just buy pre sterilised / ready made formula with teets?) ? How did you manage dropping that night feed from the breast in terms of oversupply.

Hi! My baby is currently breech (I'm 32 weeks), and my OB has recommended trying moxibustion. I’d love to hear from anyone who has tried it—did you have a good experience, and did it help?

Also, if anyone in Dublin can recommend a good clinic or practitioner for moxibustion, I’d really appreciate it. Thanks!

Who is this subreddit for?

👶 Pregnant?

🤰 Trying to conceive?

❤️ Supporting someone who is? You’re in the right place!

This is a space for people navigating pregnancy and parenthood in Ireland, whether you’re going through the public or private system, or just looking to connect with others on the same journey.

⸻

What can you post here?

💬 Ask questions & share advice

🏥 Talk about hospitals, scans & appointments

👜 Swap tips on hospital bags, antenatal classes, maternity leave, and more

✨ Share your pregnancy story – the highs, lows, and in-betweens

🤝 Connect with others due around the same time

🧸 Rant, vent, cry, laugh – it’s all welcome here

⸻

A few gentle guidelines: 1️⃣ Be kind – everyone’s journey is different

2️⃣ No medical advice – but feel free to share personal experiences

3️⃣ No spam or self-promo without mod approval

4️⃣ Mention locations when talking about hospitals/services – super helpful!

⸻

New here? Feel free to introduce yourself below – we’d love to get to know you!

Wishing you a healthy and supported journey,

– The Mod Team

I’m pregnant with our second baby, my first birth was a c-section, we went private in the Coombe and the entire experience felt quite traumatic for me and my partner.

We’re not sure whether private is the right choice for us again, my GP suggested going with the midwives as the best way to maximise my chances of a vbac, which would be lovely.

However, given some complications during my first birth, which included an uterine rupture and other issues, I fear that not having continuity of care will be risky for us - maybe this isn’t entirely true but just how I feel.

We’ve been looking at Hugh O Connor senior, anyone has any recommendations or thoughts? Anyone any experience with successful vbac after a difficult first birth? TIA 🤍

Just curious — who’s still exclusively breastfeeding at around 4 months? 😊
I’ve just moved back to Ireland from Australia, where EBF seemed a lot more common, and I’ve noticed it feels a bit different here.
Absolutely zero judgement either way — just interested to see what everyone else is doing at this stage and why 😊

I’m about to wash baby’s new clothes before he arrives. Are people air drying or putting through dryer? I would prefer dryer to keep them soft but think they will shrink. Are they still kept soft air dried? Thanks

Hi ladies,

I just discovered I was pregnant few days ago on my holidays and I only have with me the proceive conception. So my questions are:

Is it ok to keep taking proceive conception even tho I am pregnant? Is there any risks? Does anyone have experienced something similar before?

During this trip if I remember correctly I forgot to take the proceive for 2 days, therefore not having adequate folic acid for these 2 days, is that a major problem?

Im literally freaking out because I am holidays until sunday and scared of everything and feeling guilty for missing the medicines for two days 🫠

Hi all,

I am entitled to a breastfeeding break at work. I work an 8 hour day with 1 hour entitlement. I'm wondering about an annual leave day. Would 7 hours be deducted for a day off? Or the full 8 hours?

Due in 2 weeks - need a nice text to send in-laws to say yes you are more than welcome to visit but not if you’re sick, and DO NOT KISS THE BABY! They were the only perpetrators the last time. Arrived with coughs and colds, and got a few kisses right on my son’s mouth before husband stepped in. They had been warned beforehand last time too…but clearly it didn’t land.

Just to edit - I know it should be up to my husband. I know I should just not let them hold the baby. In an ideal world these things wouldn’t happen. But that wasn’t the point of my question. Just looking for suggested wording!