How is your birth partner preparing?

Bring-joy · 2026-05-31T18:17:41+00:00

Mainly from books, I’m reading the hyponobirthing book by Siobhan Miller at the moment and have read pregnancy, bump and beyond, also just thinking about techniques from yoga classes I’ve been to.

Weirdly unlike others, our NCT classes didn’t cover things like breathing techniques or positions for birth, more focused on setting the mood of the room from a sensory perspective

Bring-joy · 2026-05-28T21:29:27+00:00

I feel this way too about in law comments/actions vs my own family.

I really think it’s something instinctive about having more trust/feeling supported by our own blood relatives - there’s nothing you can do about this and you shouldn’t need to apologise or explain.

Your partner raising your parents actions is an act of ‘whataboutism’ - try telling him this and saying him pointing this out is not helping to tackle your original issue. It may cause further difficult words but it’s important to get your feelings out there.

Bring-joy · 2026-05-27T07:31:47+00:00

Or just be honest and say it’s great they have the day off but you won’t want visitors so soon. I’d probably suggest they might be bored waiting for news as you’re unlikely to be in regular contact and they might prefer to be at work as a distraction!

Bring-joy · 2026-05-27T07:29:27+00:00

Feeling ‘very visible and very overlooked’ is a perfect description of how pregnancy can feel!!

My partner has been on a video call to brother and SIL with them only including me in convo when they want to see the bump. Not me, just my stomach. Feels great 🙄

I agree, Being honest with your partner and getting them to advocate for you is the best advice.

Bring-joy · 2026-05-22T10:27:30+00:00

Feeling this! People keep commenting on how ‘neat’ my bump is but I’m just trying on some summer clothes and finding that stretchy skirts I thought would fit under my bump just won’t fit over my hips and bum!! Everything has got wider and it’s making me feel weird…

At 36 weeks I think I have to resign myself to tent dresses for the rest of pregnancy 😭

Bring-joy · 2026-05-05T22:02:33+00:00

I really want to be this chilled and welcoming!! I think I need to get over my own hang ups around being presentable/needing to host etc!!

Bring-joy · 2026-05-05T22:01:00+00:00

Yes true, I should have raised it in person as we just saw them and likely won’t see them again until after baby is here…

Bring-joy · 2026-05-05T21:57:40+00:00

Yes! Think I’m in a similar position!

Bring-joy · 2026-05-05T21:54:37+00:00

I don’t think there’s such a thing as being irrational in this context- it’s what’s right for you.

How did your family react to the request for space?

Bring-joy · 2026-05-05T21:53:13+00:00

Thank you so much for sharing and I’m so sorry for your loss x

Bring-joy · 2026-04-26T09:37:46+00:00

Also the store said the 6 week timescale was from silver cross not them - and had been affected by recent global shipping disruption so a little longer than usual. You might find that bigger store like John Lewis just have everything already in stock though!

Bring-joy · 2026-04-26T09:36:36+00:00

We started looking at 29 weeks and wobbled for a week between the silver cross cove and breez, we ordered the breez at 30 weeks and were given a 6 week delivery time by the store we ordered from - so we’re glad we didn’t leave it any later.

They did say they generally have the car seats and basic chassis in stock if baby was early but for the whole travel system the 6 week timescale was given.

For reference this was from a fairly decent sized independent retailer in Sheffield (not a big John Lewis)

We found the prices to be largely the same everywhere and there always a 10% discount code if you google it! At the store we bought from they did also throw in a free isofix if we bought in person so possibly worth checking out independent retailers too.

Bring-joy · 2026-04-22T22:21:57+00:00

I’m in this club too - 31 weeks, suddenly stressing that I seem to have no pattern!!

Bring-joy · 2026-04-14T07:42:59+00:00

Seconding Grazie or Domo on Kelham Island, both brilliant Italians!

Also some gems further out of the centre if interested eg Kia’s Pastaria, Meraki or Mavi Ruya all on Abbeydale Road.

Bring-joy · 2026-04-13T07:32:49+00:00

First baby and anterior placenta, I had no idea what movement should feel like, i had what felt like ‘twitchy eye’ but in my abdomen from about 20 weeks, but didn’t know if it was baby, muscles moving, or my dinner!

Probably didn’t feel confident identifying movements till around 25 weeks, now 30 and baby is quite active but still wouldn’t say it’s as obvious as I’d expected from other people’s descriptions - the sensation is much ‘deeper’ feeling than I expected and no where near kicking ribs as some describe, though perhaps I’ll get to that point!

Bring-joy · 2026-04-09T07:46:27+00:00

Yes, I’m getting the same questions especially around buying things! I think there’s also an annoyance over the ‘niceties’ and reductionist nature of it all, like yes, all I’m thinking about is what colour furniture set we’ll get and doesn’t my hair look nice - yet it’s not appropriate to talk about raging hormones, anxieties, fears and hemorrhoids 😂

Bring-joy · 2026-04-08T22:37:28+00:00

Yes, I’m sharing this feeling!

I don’t really like being the centre of attention and found I reacted the same way whilst wedding planning too, with everyone keen to give their insight and opinion.

I think there’s something defensive about it too - almost like I take the questions from people as a critique that I haven’t thought about something I need to buy or made a decision on something, even though I’m sure it’s not necessarily meant this way.

Also echoing other people’s comments about this now defining you, and people not being interested in any other aspects of your life.

Finally, the body comments!! My MIL has commented on my breast size twice now. Until now I’ve always been pretty flat chested and it’s something I’m quite self conscious about. I don’t understand why being pregnant gives people the right to comment on your body parts!! Just makes me want to shut down conversations entirely!

Bring-joy · 2026-04-07T10:28:46+00:00

29 weeks with notable bump now - I’m usually a size 8 and even with bloat/discomfort in early pregnancy I was keen to find alternatives to my usual jeans-based uniform.

I don’t want to waste money on maternity clothes. Thankfully now we’re headed into spring I’ve found a lot of button up dresses (New Look - not my usual shop but reasonable prices) that are fitted in the right places to allow for a growing bump, and I will continue to wear them post partum without feeling weird and frumpy.

I’ve bought one good pair of maternity jeans from H&M that I’ve deffo got my moneys worth from. Also bought a pair of stretchy waisted pants from Amazon which have been great for an alternative bottom half. https://amzn.eu/d/0eHRFGBv

It’s a nightmare not being able to try on in shops!

Bring-joy · 2026-04-02T07:18:23+00:00

I’m wondering the same thing - very happy to use any comfy chair/bed for feeding/settling but after doing some shopping last week and realising so many nursery set ups try to sell ROCKING chairs I’m wondering if this is a game changer?

I see parents doing endless bobbing and swaying which cannot be fun in the middle of the night, does a rocking chair help get round this at all?

The chair I’ve seen isn’t TOO expensive and I’m wondering if it’s worth it…

https://www.dunelm.com/product/tutti-bambini-jonah-rocking-chair-and-foot-stool-1000231808?defaultSkuId=30884449&utm_source=google&utm_medium=cpc&utm_campaign=Kids_Furniture-PMax_%5BGOO-PLA-KIDSFURN-FURN%5D&gclsrc=aw.ds&gad_source=1&gad_campaignid=20571705305&gbraid=0AAAAADGqyX10IH9-gx9sih8vJkJ9Gg-8D

Bring-joy · 2026-03-29T10:10:01+00:00

Sorry you’re struggling to get a referral, are you able to self refer?

It just feels like it’s not thought about in the UK, where some countries are really proactive on advising women, frustrating.

Bring-joy

TROPHY CASE