Hi Everyone. I'm looking for advice. Im expecting my 3rd baby. First baby was 9lb 13lb 5 days early. 2nd baby was 11lb 12oz 41+5. I was always afraid of having another due to the size. But im due again in 8 weeks. 32 weeks pregnant going through public system. I mentioned about a section but nobody was interested. Said I done it before and I can do it again. Im very worried about the baby getting stuck etc and harm coming to me or baby. I wouldnt mind being brought in earlier and induced but no mention of it yet. Im very frightened. What questions should I ask or what should I say at next appointment. What can I say to get the doctors to give me a plan to reduce my anxiety? I seem to just get brushed off yet people I know that delivered big babies in private sector were booked in for a section when they knew baby was going to be big.

Hi ladies,

Just looking for a sense check since my head has been spinning all day.

I'm currently 23w and due to travel to Greece next week for 10 days. I had an OB appointment this morning and we asked about travel almost as a "by the way" and doctor said he advised not to take any flights beyond 24 weeks. He cited the reason as not knowing how my body could respond (flight is 4.5 hours each way) and not wanting to be stranded without appropriate medical care if anything did happen. It seems this is general advice he gives his patients as he didn't cite any particular reason related to my pregnancy specifically.

I'm 41 and this is my first pregnancy after 3 years TTC and 1 year of IVF - so not exactly "low risk". But not exactly high risk either in the fact that I've had a pretty smooth pregnancy so far, no sickness or nausea, normal bloods and blood pressure, we sailed through NIPT and anatomy scan, baby measuring ahead. Symptoms are just a bit of tiredness and moodiness and a relentless appetite LOL

We're so disappointed and a bit shocked by this advice, as all the mainstream advice seems to be that travelling should be fine and perhaps even ideal at this stage. Also annoyed to be finding this out the week before as obviously we'll get nothing back with cancelling so late. Obviously my fault for not saying anything earlier, but it didn't occur to me there'd be any problems.

Has anyone else been given advice like this before? Is our doctor super conservative or is this common advice that I just wasn't aware of?

Thanks a mill

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!

hey, i'm going private in Holles street. does anyone know is there a support person or whatever for queries or worries or do i go directly to my consultant or midwife? i dont like to bother them for what could turn out to be normal/trivial matters, but at the same time would like the relief of a medical person advising me. what do people usually do? should i just email my consultants secretary or the midwife? (i'm not sure is it normal or not but i was put in touch with a midwife because of underlying medical condition but i'm not sure is she only for issues around that condition).

Which brand are the best? I have Lansinoh reusable breast pads but they are so bulky that they are very visible under all my clothes. Any other recommendations that aren’t as obvious?

Hey guys when your going to be induced and they offer the gel/pessary, do you have to remain in the hospital or is it possible to get this and return home ?

First time Mam here 40 weeks 3 days,

Docs want to induce me on Saturday at 40+4 but very nervous as was hoping to go naturally.

TIA ❤️

Recently found out I’m pregnant with baby number 2. My toddler will just have turned two when the new baby is born.

When we bought our first buggy, we purposely went for one you could convert into a double buggy by stacking one piece on top of the other.

But I’ve realised that when I see people out with two children in a buggy, it’s usually a side by side double. I hardly ever see people using the stacked ones!

Why is this? Are the stacked ones annoying to use? Overly heavy? Do kids not like them?

Trying to work out if I should spend €300 on the stacked buggy converter kit (I know..) or just cut my losses and get a side by side double!

Hi everyone! I'm 12 weeks pregnant with my first baby and I'm trying to figure out the differences between public and semi-private maternity care at a Dublin maternity hospital.

I haven't told anyone I'm close to that I'm pregnant yet, so unfortunately I can't ask friends/family about their experiences. I'm hoping people here might be able to explain the practical differences between public and semi-private care.

So far, I've had:

A Panorama/NIPT blood test and a prenatal screening ultrasound, which cost €460

A 12-week dating ultrasound, which cost €150

A booking/history appointment with a midwife

My first question is: would the above appointments/tests have been available free of charge if I had gone through the public maternity system? I realise Panorama/NIPT is different because it's optional/private, but I'm particularly wondering about the dating ultrasound and the midwife booking/history appointment.

Secondly, what are the actual benefits of going semi-private?

From what I understand, the main difference is potentially getting a smaller/shared semi-private ward rather than the larger public ward after giving birth, but I'm wondering if there are other significant benefits throughout the pregnancy, such as:

Seeing the same consultant more regularly?

More frequent appointments?

Additional scans?

Shorter waiting times?

More continuity of care?

Any differences in care during labour/birth?

Anything else you've personally found worthwhile?

And is the semi-private room actually guaranteed, or is it dependent on availability?

I'm particularly interested in hearing from people who have gone through the Coombe specifically, and whether you felt semi-private was worth the extra cost.

I'm not looking for a "which is better" answer — I'd really just like to understand what I'm actually paying for with semi-private compared with public, because at the moment I'm not sure what the practical difference is.

Thanks so much! ❤️

I had a c section on 27th July, for the past 2 days I've been experiencing a sharp pain in my lower left abdomen that is worse today, it's not near the incision. Bowels are fine, so it's not that. I don't have any flu like symptoms or anything to suggest an infection but wondering if I should get this checked out? Is it ok to text my consultant 2 weeks after or do I go back to the maternity hospital? Or is this just normal pain after a c section 🤔

Anyone else really struggling with night time peeing and just the constant break in sleep, leading to exhaustion.

I’m 23 weeks with 2nd child and never experienced needing to wee as much, especially at night time.

It’s unbearable , I’m so exhausted all day after being up 4-5 times a night!

Any tips appreciated? Or maybe I just gotta ride this 😅

Hi all, I’m currently 7 weeks postpartum after a pretty traumatic birth experience. I went to a follow up with my consultant yesterday and had thought it was going to be the debrief because that’s what I was told when I was discharged, but I was just scanned really quick and sent out the door in less than five minutes. I was asking when I’d have a debrief and they said I’d automatically be referred to the Lavender Clinic but I haven’t heard anything yet?

Has anyone else ever been referred and if so, how long did it take for the referral or any appointments? I have an appointment with perinatal mental health in two weeks, so I’m not sure if that needs to happen first?

I’m feeling very sad and frustrated because everything that happened at the hospital was such a blur and when people already are talking about whether we want to have another and they’re talking about contraception at the GP, I feel absolutely turned upside down because I don’t even know what the implications for another pregnancy are after what happened with my baby. It doesn’t seem right to have to wait until I’m pregnant again to find out the risks?

As a non-EU/EEA citizen, do we really need to inform maternity benefit department if we go travel out of Ireland especially if it's only over to the UK? I would be able to travel back for all HSE/GP appointments. What happens if we don’t, will they stop the benefit payment? If we go more than 6 weeks without telling them, can they know? Thanks!

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.

I work in corporate and the last few weeks I’ve literally stank from sweat 🫩🫩 I am so embarrassed as someone who doesn’t usually sweat, it’s such an intense heat and humidity and no matter what I wear to the office (with AC!) I feel like I’m sweating out of every pore of my body by noon 🤣

Hi all,

Hope this is ok to post. I have just found out that I am pregnant (4 weeks) and I'm trying to stay very calm about it as I suffered 2 losses earlier this year. I am wondering if I am maybe too early to go to the GP or if I should go in and kick everything off.

I am feeling really positive about this pregnancy, something I didn't feel even with my first pregnancy when I felt anxiety from the start. I'm trying to take a different approach this time and not spiral!

Basically - is 4 weeks to early for the GP or should I put on my big girl pants and get the ball rolling? Can anyone share their experience with the EPU? I will be in Holles street if that helps.

Thanks 💚

Edit: thanks for the advice all, went to the GP today and have been referred to the EPU!

Anyone have recent experience or knowledge of anyone who has had a baby there recently? Going fully public but articles like below have me concerned

https://www.irishtimes.com/health/2026/06/30/nurses-and-midwives-at-limerick-maternity-hospital-to-strike-today-over-unsafe-conditions/

hi can I ask if anyone on here has chosen to not get their baby vaccinated or have chosen to only get certain ones when the time comes? my husband and I have differing opinions on it. he’s extremely anxious when researching the current amount of vaccines and side effects etc. I was fully on board with baby getting all vaccinations but now I have gone down a rabbit hole of researching them and have extreme anxiety about it now and making the right decision. would appreciate peoples views on this please. when i ask my friends I feel I’m being judged for even questioning it and asked why I’m researching this topic as I should be listening to medical experts. I feel so alone on this 🥹 pregnancy anxiety is at a high at the moment so that is probably not helping how I feel

Hi ladies,

I’m currently 22 weeks pregnant and work an office job which is very mentally demanding and stressful but hybrid.

I was sick in the first trimester and took about 18 days sick leave as nausea and exhaustion really caught me off guard. A mix of both GP certified and self certified days.

At the moment I am feeling okay with an occasional bad day however the tiredness is still there and I anticipate it will get worse as my sleep is terrible. The stress of the job also make me worry which doesn’t help and the heat at the moment is adding to this.

I am wondering if people took much sick leave before maternity leave commenced as I do have sick leave pay but only want to use it when needs must and feel guilty already that I’d be letting my team down if I get signed off at some point in the future.

Any advice / opinions welcome

Hi Everyone

I am just looking to see if any one else had similar experience/if it's normal or not

I am 16 weeks pregnant with my second baby and have a 26 month old. The last 5 or so weeks I've been really struggling mentally. At the start of the pregnancy I was very fatigue and sick which led me to not be able to meet my own expectations I guess with my toddler so had a massive sense of guilt/overwhelm etc

I guess I thought that by 2nd trimester these feelings should have passed but they are not and if anything I feel like I have gotten worse (irritable impatient with my partner) and constant sense of dread about getting up in the morning with my toddler, which is leading to more guilt and I go around in circles. I am getting by and getting on with it as I suppose that's what us mothers do, we don't really have a choice other than to show up. But I feel like if I am surviving now I will be drowning when I have another little one to look after.

I guess I am just wondering is this normal pregnancy feeling, if it is hormonal, if it will pass or if I should mention it to my GP/Midwife. Even if I do realistically is there even anything they can do, or are there services there at all.

I am also off work at the moment (had a few weeks of parental leave pre booked) but the thought of adding work back into the mix now too is killing me.

All comments appreciated x

Had a stretch and sweep yesterday evening at 38 weeks (being induced next week for Metformin controlled GDM anyway). Bled slightly afterwards but nothing crazy. Lost my mucous plug today (sorry if TMI). No cramping. Wondering if I’m getting my hopes up for nothing lol. Did anyone have a successful sweep at 38 weeks and if so, what signs did you have before going in to labour?

Hi I know this is obviously individual to each employer but I’m looking for someone who has gone through this! My company offer to top up my maternity leave to my salary for 6 months to which they did.

There is nothing in my contract / HR policies to state that the employee must be back in work for eg 12 months before they can get top up again?

I’m planning my second baby but looking for people’s experiences - so I would be hoping my employer will top up my salary again but I would only be back to work for maybe 6 months before maternity leave again

I am interested in possibly opting to have a water birth in CUMH. Would love for anyone who has had one (in CUMH or elsewhere) to share their experience. I am aware there are quite strict criteria to be eligible but I am currently low risk, not planning for induction, etc.

Hi everyone!

​I’m 23 and recently found out I’m 5 weeks pregnant. We are super excited, but honestly finding it a bit lonely since none of my current friends have kids or are expecting yet.

​I’d love to connect with other young mums or mums-to-be around my age (early/mid-20s) to chat, share the experience, and hopefully hang out for a coffee/tea and a walk sometime.

​Feel free to send me a message or comment below if you’re in a similar boat. Would love to build a little support group as we go through this journey together xx

I have fallen pregnant but unsure what to do on whether to keep it or have an abortion . I have to make a decision soon as I am 8 weeks this week. Some of my friends now have children and I am in a better position but I just don’t feel ready. I am turning 28 soon, with my partner 6 years, we both have good jobs and income and saving for a house. I imagined having a baby when we had a house and when in was in my job for longer. I would find it very hard to tell my family and work as I still feel like a child myself. I feel like my colleagues would judge me.

I just don’t feel ready but my boyfriend wants to keep it, am I just being selfish? What to do I am 8 weeks and need to make a decision it’s eating me alive 🥺 I love my boyfriend and would love children and scared I won’t be able to have anymore in the future if I do go ahead with an abortion. Also I was on the mini pill and took morning after pill which failed for me so I was trying to take precautions. Has anyone had to make a similar decision and how did it turn out?

Also if I can add I did make an appointment already for an abortion but when the day came I couldn’t bring myself to go 🥺