I just need to have a vent.. my precious little girl has awful reflux and colic. Her life consists of living in the carrier, crying and being in pain. I feel so terrible for her, she’s six weeks old.
My sister in law and brother in law had a baby a week and a half after my daughter was born. We had a family catch-up yesterday and I just feel devastated.
Their baby is very chilled, just sleeps and eats. She barely ever cries. My husband’s family all took turns at holding my baby and after a few minutes they all gave her back and said “oh she’s very unsettled” or “go back to mum, mum will make you feel better” or “have you taken her to the doctor again? Have you tried gas drops”. I feel like any conversation I have with them is always about how unwell and unsettled my baby is.
I had to watch them all take turns in holding my sister and brother in laws baby. They all cuddled her and said how “beautiful and calm she was”. The interactions they had with the baby were so nice.. I had to hold back tears.
I know it’s probably my hormones but I just felt like me and my baby were a burden and theirs was this angel sent from heaven.
I spent the entire catch-up walking up and down the hallway with my baby who was screaming. No one offered to take her which I understand.. but it just made me feel so unwanted. My husband has been a blessing and took her for a 40 minute walk by himself in the carrier so I could eat and have a break.
I love my niece and it has nothing to do with her or my SIL/BIL. I just feel so sad that she doesn’t get the same loving interactions as her cousin.

I’m in a pretty fortunate position where I currently work 3 days a week and have the flexibility to add/reduce days if I want to.

I’ve just run the numbers on going back to 4 days, and after tax, extra daycare and HECS, I’d only be about $50 a week / $2,500 a year better off.
Honestly, that doesn’t really feel worth giving up another day at home with the kids.

My husband has asked me to come up with a number where I’d actually feel like the 4th day was worth it financially, rather than staying home with the kids.

So I’m curious, what would that number be for everyone else?

How much extra per week would make you think it was worth working the extra day?

Edit: thanks everyone, but a couple people might have missed the mark here. It was just a healthy, curious conversation between my husband and I. He is a very involved father and does a lot around the house (probably more than me a lot of the time) and he supports my decision. All our finances are shared between the family, so his salary is taken into account. I was more just curious what it would be for others!

I’ve been using a wearable pump more regularly lately and I’ve noticed one side consistently gives me way less than the other.

It’s not just a tiny difference either. Sometimes one side will be nearly double the other, even when I start at the same time and use the same settings.

I’ve tried repositioning it, checking the seal and making sure everything is centred properly, but it still seems to happen.

Is this just one of those normal breastfeeding/pumping things, or could it be a fit or flange issue?

Would love to hear if anyone else has the same thing.

Do you have a regular cleaner and are the benefits worth the fortnightly costs for you?
I only work 3 days so feel like I should be able to get more done but it’s all the big stuff piling up (bathrooms!) that I feel like taking the pressure off would make us all feel happier. But the guilt of how much it will cost is getting to me!

Hi everyone,

I am a first time mum and learning a few things on the fly. I have had a reservation for over a month at a Sydney restaurant for Father's Day this Sunday. It includes 4 adults and I requested for a table which had space for us to have our pram. Our baby has just turned 6 months old and only has bottles. I had explained that our baby was 6 months in the initial dialogue when booking.

The restaurant today has updated my booking to include my baby as a child under 12, charging us $45 for this head count. For context, we will be sitting in their outdoor patio space which has ample seating space.

Is it normal for restaurants to charge for a 6 month old? He will not be partaking in eating any food, hell he won't even be sitting in a high chair.

My first reaction is that this is ridiculous, however is this a normal thing and I just have zero clue? Thanks!

FTM, almost 35w ... Feel like I'm stuck and overwhelmed at the same time. I'm still working, one more week left which I'm excited for. Trying to organize a local get away with my somewhat emotionally distant partner, but that's been a logistical nightmare, so it probably won't happen. We don't have sex anymore, and tbh I don't even feel like it anyway but can't help but feel incredibly guilty about it. I'm constantly thinking about all the things we need to do or talk about, but never having the time or energy to deal with it, or prompt the conversation; cause if I don't initiate anything to do with the pregnancy or baby it just doesn't happen. We (or realistically just 'I') have already bought the basic necessities for the newborn, nursery and hospital stay, but am constantly feel like I'm missing something, or find myself doomscrolling things I may need. I have nothing to wear, and feel too far into this pregnancy to buy more maternity things. I've been managing pelvic girdle pain since the second trimester, and it's been shit not being able to even just enjoy a walk or just sleep.

Whenever anyone asks how my pregnancy is going, I say it's going great because in the grand scheme of things it has been an "easy" pregnancy... But man, I just feel so alone, and overwhelmed, and anxious about the weeks left to come.

Thanks for allowing me to rant.

I LOVE hearing people’s birth stories. Loved your epidural? Cool. Water birth? Amazing. Natural and quick? Wowsa. C-section? Tell me everything.

But there’s such a difference between sharing your experience and pushing your opinion onto a pregnant woman…. “Don’t be a hero, get the epidural.” “If you have a water birth I won’t look at you the same.”

Like… why 😂 I just want to hear YOUR experience, not be told what mine should be. Anything can happen on the day, right?

So, what’s your birth story?

Hi everyone! I'm a FTM currently at 33 weeks. Baby girl has been getting the hiccups quite frequently. She gets them the most as I'm going to bed, I try to change positions and rub where she's sitting in my belly. But is there anything I can actually do to settle them? I get little sleep as it is without the hiccups getting in the way. Thanks!

Needing some recommendations on a sleep sensor - either a sock or mat or some other device. Early in my pregnancy i was convinced i needed an owelet sock which after being diagnosed with prenatal depression and anxiety my psychologist very strongly recommended against for me due to how high tech it was and that it connects to my phone and i’d be able to see it 24/7. However i would like an alternative as i think they are quite good IF (god forbid) you end up needing one and it has caught something.

Any recommendations would be fantastic thank you! Please don’t tell me i dont need one and keep negative opinions to yourself there has been so many negative comments thrown towards me on the things i want during pregnancy lol

FTM here - My 9 month old baby boy has been waking up 3x a night consistently for a few weeks now and it’s been extremely frustrating, as he was a much better sleeper when he was younger.

He used to wake up once or twice max for a bottle from 3-4 months old. Despite having solids twice a day and plenty of bottles, he now wakes up for a full 200ml bottle 3x a night. Usually around 10-12am, 2-3am and then 5-6am. I’m at my wits end, I am getting so burnt out and sleep deprived! I feel like I have a newborn. He won’t go back to sleep if he’s even a little bit hungry so if I offer a 150ml bottle, he won’t sleep without that extra 50mls. I’m not sure if this is a sleep regression or a growth spurt. He’s also teething really badly at the moment and just cut his first tooth. Separation anxiety is at a all time high.

He woke up tonight at 1am, then 3:30am and then 5am for a full bottle. It’s 5:45am now and he’s babbling away & blowing raspberries as I type this lol

Before this sudden change, he’d wake up once a night for a feed and I was really considering him putting in his own room.

Is this a regression? Is my sleep going to get better? Am I doing a bad thing by giving him bottles at night as I heard he should be night weaned by now? He genuinely seems hungry and smashes the entire thing. He’s also growing super fast lately, I feel like everyday he looks bigger and taller.

We are due with second just before bub turns 2. Currently have a uppababy Cruz and a travel pram. Wanting to get a side by side pram (prefer this over tandem which is why we got the cruz not vista in the first place) and not sure if we should go with a proper pram like the Bugaboo Donkey or a lighter one we can also use for travel like the baby jogger city tour double or one of the Valco baby doubles.

Pros of the Donkey is it can be converted single or double depending which kid(s) we need to use it for and has a bassinet so easy for newborn, plus once bub moves out of bassinet can still have her facing us in the bigger seat. Cons are it’s bigger and we likely wouldn’t use it for travel so would end up needing another double travel pram (or do people buy a second single travel pram? Not sure what makes more sense).

Pros of the travel double are we would only need to get one new pram but then cons are might not be as ideal as something with a bassinet for the newborn days, and also couldn’t have younger bub facing us if it’s just a lie flat seat and not bassinet/seat that can turn around.

When just with younger I could obviously have her in bassinet/facing me in the Cruz if needed. Can also use a skateboard on the Cruz for toddler for shorter trips to local cafe/park with both kids, but then toddler won’t ever be contained if needed and I don’t know if she’ll be too young for the skateboard when bub is born. If husband is around we can take Cruz and travel pram but obviously not ideal for all situations to need both prams and for times it’s just me. I hope to be able to babywear when needed and just use pram for toddler but last postpartum I relied on the pram a lot as my back was very sore and had some prolapse so not sure if it will be as easy all the time.

So lots to consider but curious what others have done or would recommend from experience with 2 so close in age.

After tips & tricks for breathing with larger breasts.

I am about an H cup maybe larger & struggling to find a breastfeeding pillow or option that is comfortable and works.

I always have to hamburger my boob and hold it in his mouth, otherwise the weight pulls it down and turns the latch bad and painful.

Baby boy is 3 weeks old, so I still need to support him a lot while breastfeeding.

Would love to be able to breastfeed without any pillow as well - so we can feed comfortably if I’m not home because I know I won’t have pillow with me everywhere I go! So any tips or pointers there would be swell.

Sorry if this is a bit too TMI but just checking if this change is normal.

Bubs is 5 month old and has been breastfed from birth and we haven’t started solids yet. Up until maybe 4-5 days ago he would usually poop once in a day or two with some normal variation (which I know is common for breastfed babies). But in the last few days, he’s pooping after almost every feed and the poop colour has also changed to a dark green (it was yellow beforehand). Nothing in his feeding / sleeping pattern has changed and he seems totally fine so just sussing if this is normal?

Thank you!

So I’m due to go away for 1 night in November and I’ll be away from my baby while he stays with my mum. I’ll be gone for about 18 hours and he will be 7 months by then but I’m struggling to understand how people build a freezer stash? I’ve been pumping after each time I feed him and the most I’m getting is like 30mls. Does that mean I have to pump 5-6 times after feeding just to get one bottle worth to freeze?? Pumping is like impossible as well when I’m at home with the baby and a 2.5 year old the only time I can do it in peace is when they are both sleeping and it’s usually not after I’ve fed the baby. Do I just buy a tin of formula?? Help!

Hey all,

FTM here, I would love if anyone could share some pros & cons from your experience using the owlet sock and/or whether you are planning to use one this time around?

I’ve been gifted one second hand and I’m in two minds about using it or not. Is it worth it or just more stress inducing? I’ve heard conflicting ideas from family and friends, so I’m looking for some wider advice please.

Thanks in advance everyone. 💕☺️

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For parents who skipped daycare and kept their children at home until kinder: how did your child adjust when they started? In retrospect, would you do anything differently?

​I’m lucky to have the option to keep my child at home until kinder, but I'm concerned about how it might affect their social skills.

I’ll be returning to work soon for 4 days a week when my baby turns 14 months.

My husband and I are probably the typical first time parents in that we are both feeling a bit nervous about putting him in daycare those 4 days. Ideally we would have gotten a nanny until he was closer to 2 years old but it’s not really in the budget, so we’ve found a daycare that we feel happy with (at least from the one tour we’ve done).

I was just wondering if it would be worth getting a nanny for one day a week?? Thinking Monday or Friday to give him a “long weekend” at home and then he’d only be in daycare for 3 days.

I’ve told one friend this idea and she mentioned the juice probably wouldn’t really be worth the squeeze. She said only seeing a nanny once a week would require getting him reacquainted with her every week and then it’s also less days that he’s in daycare forming bonds with his caregivers there. I see that but I think I’m just nervous about having him in for 4 full days, it feels so much… he’s such a quiet content little boy that I worry the squeakier wheels will get the oil, so to speak.

Idk I’m definitely overthinking this but thoughts/opinions??

What are we all doing when bathing babies that can sit unassisted? Just plop them in shallow water with one hand behind them at all times? Schbuggle? Some sort of Amazon bath seat?

We retired the angel care and not sure what's best as a ftm!

My goodness. If you are in crisis do NOT call Panda. I’m not in crisis thankfully but so far have been on hold for over 40minutes to speak to someone. I’ve heard the same 5 stories twice each. They offer to have a call back but I was trying to wait because if they call me back I might not be able to, or want to answer. But this is pretty frustrating. I’ve been working myself up for weeks to call them. What a waste of time.

Hello! Today I'm officially half way through my pregnancy and so so excited!!!

I haven't really felt too left out when it comes to alcohol, but I do love and miss the 'special drink' feeling that comes with having a glass of wine or cocktail at the end of the day

I love sour cocktails, or sour flavoured energy drinks, so I'm kind of looking for that same flavour? Just something crisp and sour

I've had the sodaly watermelon drinks which have actually been quite refreshing at the end of the day and they've got prebiotics in them which is cool! But they lack the sour taste I'm looking for 😭

I sometimes indulge in a pepsi max or diet coke etc. But those drinks don't feel 'special' hahaha

Please let me know of any yummy drink recommendations that you have, or even just other soft drinks you've tried that give you that same refreshed feeling!! Thank you <3

33 weeks and I feel like I’ve hit a wall. Is this normal?

I’m so teary all the time and once the tears start it’s like a waterfall, can’t be stopped.
My sleep is so broken, even when I wake up I still feel exhausted. Even taking naps doesn’t help me.
I had an iron infusion for iron deficiency anaemia 3 weeks ago but I wouldn’t say it’s helped a whole lot.
I have no energy for nothing, not even nesting. I can’t even go for a walk because after 5/10 mins my legs start to hurt from carrying the bump.

To think I’ve another bit to go is making me even more depressed cause when you feel like this it’s a long time to go.

How do I keep going for another few weeks feeling like this?

I’m going back to work after being a SAHM for almost two years and I’m struggling with it much more than I expected.

I was recently offered what is essentially a dream job for me. It’s an opportunity I’ve wanted for a very long time and logically I know I’m incredibly lucky to be in this position. But accepting it means putting my two-year-old into daycare, and I feel so guilty about it.

A few people around me have made comments that she’s “too young” for daycare or questioned why I’m going back to work when I could stay home with her. I know I shouldn’t let other people’s opinions affect me, but the comments have really gotten into my head.

I keep wondering whether I’m being selfish for choosing something I want when I could continue being home with her.

I’m also suddenly grieving the last two years. I keep thinking about all the days I was tired, distracted, on my phone, doing housework or just trying to get through the day. I wish I had appreciated being home with her more while I had it. Now it feels like that chapter is ending and I can’t get it back.

I think my biggest fear is that I’m going to look back one day and feel like I missed her childhood because I chose to work. She’s changing so quickly at this age and the thought of someone else seeing parts of her life that I’m not there for genuinely hurts.

At the same time, I know I wanted this job. Before I got it, I would have been devastated if the opportunity had passed me by. So why do I now feel like choosing it makes me a bad mother?

I guess I’m looking to hear from other mums who went back to work after being home with their children for a couple of years. Did you feel this kind of grief and guilt? Did it get easier once you actually started? And looking back now, do you feel like you missed out?

Would appreciate any advice on this. Thank you.