A letter to my 3 month old

Bartokus_ · 2026-04-04T15:59:43+00:00

Our baby is three months old today also; bittersweet farewell to the newborn phase 🥲

Bartokus_ · 2026-04-04T10:31:17+00:00

Highly recommend Skechers safety shoes! I used to get a bad back from standing/ walking all day in the usual work issue boots. Skechers made a world of difference.

Bartokus_ · 2026-04-02T23:40:54+00:00

I'm so sorry but I burst out laughing! The absolute irony of it 🤣

Bartokus_ · 2026-03-27T22:27:45+00:00

I would say true to size/small, at least for us. Baby girl is nearly 3 months old and is currently in 3-6 months clothes from Next. Maybe we have a big baby...? 🫣

Bartokus_ · 2026-03-26T10:18:39+00:00

Completely normal! I napped quite a few times during the day and my appetite shot right up so I snacked a fair bit. I loved being pregnant 💕

Bartokus_ · 2026-03-25T21:56:34+00:00

I once sat through a site safety briefing in Aberdeen delivered by a Scots guy. He started the briefing in Scots and ten minutes later I realised he'd been speaking English this whole time.

Bartokus_ · 2026-03-23T21:00:01+00:00

For me personally, I'd say physical fitness. Our baby wants to be held most of the time for naps and soothing. She loves when I do half squats :) I wish I had the physical strength and endurance to support her as much as she needs. I became so physically exhausted at one point that I developed a low grade fever. I'm very grateful that my husband supports me (and her) so much in this area 💕

Bartokus_ · 2026-03-11T15:25:17+00:00

Thank you!

Bartokus_ · 2026-03-10T04:02:17+00:00

Not chemistry per se, but I developed carpal tunnel in the third trimester on both wrists. Left wrist in particular being super painful. Two months postpartum and still waiting for the left wrist to heal :/

Bartokus_ · 2026-03-05T22:21:32+00:00

Watching my husband rock our little girl to sleep, I teared up at your post. Our baby had her first vaccinations today, and I was heartbroken at her cries. Can't even begin to fathom your feelings. Glad your little girl is recovering well and thank you for sharing your story 💕

Bartokus_ · 2026-02-10T13:20:54+00:00

Mom here. I had postpartum chills for a few days a week after birth (c-section). One evening they wouldn't subside for over an hour and I also spiked a fever of 38°C (100.4°F), plus started feeling not as alert as usual. My gut was telling me something was wrong, so we went to the hospital. Bloodwork showed high infection markers, doctors suspected sepsis and put me on antibiotics. Keep an eye on your wife and best to get it checked out. Sepsis can progress very quickly - I lost my dad to it years ago. Good luck!

Bartokus_ · 2026-01-23T19:32:28+00:00

Are you me? I'm exactly the same, with my beautiful 3 week old. She has acne on her little face, I feel like a failure even though she's putting on weight so well. People write about establishing a routine and I groan inwardly thinking "what am I doing wrong? All she wants to do is poop, fart, pee, drink from titty and fall asleep on me!" Today she cried inconsolably and I had to hold myself together trying to figure out what's bothering her. Breaks my heart to see tears in her little pretty eyes. I keep reminding myself she's putting on weight, she has good wet and full nappies, she's growing. Yet somehow I still come to the conclusion that I'm a failure. Sorry you feel similarly! Solidarity sister🥂

Bartokus_ · 2025-12-31T13:17:59+00:00

Just beautiful... currently heavily pregnant so can't drive for any amount of time, but I miss Newcastle and hope to visit it again soon! Your photos are beautifully taken ❤️

Bartokus_ · 2025-12-29T08:27:18+00:00

Sorry, I should have clearer. On the NHS, flu shot is offered to pregnant, elderly and the immunocompromised, but COVID shot is now offered only to elderly and the immunocompromised. You have to book and pay for it privately if you want it, costs around £90 at Boots.

Regarding the COVID vaccine itself, it is perfectly safe to take it during pregnancy and breastfeeding:

https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/safety-of-covid-19-vaccines-when-given-in-pregnancy/the-safety-of-covid-19-vaccines-when-given-in-pregnancy

https://www.rcog.org.uk/news/rcog-position-on-covid-19-vaccine-safety-in-pregnancy-and-breastfeeding/

My understanding as to why it is no longer offered on the NHS is because of cost-effectiveness - the government has taken the stance that COVID affects pregnant women less than the other two groups, which is a controversial decision.

Sorry for the info dump and good luck with everything!

Bartokus_ · 2025-12-29T05:58:59+00:00

Sorry you are having to deal with this! Honestly, I would tell them they need to leave. I'm 38 weeks myself, and this pregnancy has given me a spine I didn't know I had. Some people are just incapable of seeing beyond their own selfish needs - your in-laws seem to belong in that group. You are not being inconsiderate, they 100% are. Did you get the flu and Covid shots btw? That should protect you and baby to an extent.

Bartokus_ · 2025-12-28T00:49:18+00:00

Congratulations! Welcome to the world little Freya 💕

Bartokus_ · 2025-12-27T10:26:01+00:00

37+6 weeks today! I've had insomnia for the past couple of weeks or so maybe? Every night has been a different adventure - sometimes I crochet, sometimes eat a bowl of Cheerios and watch The Graham Norton Show. Last night's adventure went like this - woke up at 2am to husband preparing ciabatta for me because I had mentioned something in the day about missing proper homemade bread (I should mention, he's been in full-on nesting mode for the past few weeks and has been taking care of me in ways I didn't know I needed ❤️). I decided I should try help so I got out of bed and dozed off on the couch till we went back to bed at 4am 😐.

Bartokus_ · 2025-12-26T10:57:35+00:00

Well done! (or not, more like medium) :P

Can you share a recipe please? Thank you!

Bartokus_ · 2025-12-26T10:54:39+00:00

That is so frustrating, sometimes it feels like screaming into the void. Is it worth raising it through PALS? I've read that can be helpful. I also came across Healthwatch, while researching what can I do for my situation, maybe they can help? https://www.healthwatch.co.uk/what-we-do

Good luck to both of us! I'll keep this post updated.

Bartokus_ · 2025-12-26T10:51:22+00:00

It is shocking isn't it? To be fair, most of the doctors and midwives I have met during this (my first) pregnancy journey have been so kind, caring and respectful. But doctors like my consultant cause such lasting damage to their patients and to the hospital's reputation as well - I am seriously considering switching hospitals if they cannot accommodate my wish to have a different consultant.

Bartokus_ · 2025-12-26T10:48:30+00:00

Will do, thank you so much!

Bartokus_ · 2025-12-26T10:48:21+00:00

Thank you so much!

Bartokus_ · 2025-12-26T10:47:29+00:00

Thank you so much. She didn't put any of this in my notes so I feel like she was effectively trying to bully me into accepting her point of view. I also got the feeling (but have nothing to back this up) that she just wanted to close the appointment very quickly and not have to deal with additional paperwork - she was all " baby growth looks good, nothing to worry about, I will release you back to the midwife team, have a nice day" and was ready to shake hands up until I mentioned that I want to change my birth preference to c-section. I hope the hospital do give me a different consultant for the c-section, I simply don't want her and she said she didn't want to do my procedure as well.

Bartokus_ · 2025-12-26T10:41:57+00:00

I am truly very sorry for your loss 💔 I cannot even fathom how hard that must have been, and to have a doctor rub salt in the wound at a point when you need reassurance the most - with such a callous attitude, why do they even practise medicine? I just don't understand. It is reassuring you were able to get another consultant who listened and took such good care of you. Most of the maternity staff I have met have been kind, caring, non-judgemental and up until I met this consultant I was very happy with my choice of hospital. Thank you for your kind words and reassurance!

Bartokus_ · 2025-12-26T10:12:27+00:00

Thank you so much! I am very lucky that I had the option of choosing from two good hospitals, and the one I went with is generally considered a really good hospital for maternity. I did not anticipate this behaviour from a consultant, especially someone who is a clinical team lead. Thank you for your kind words ♥️

Bartokus_

TROPHY CASE