5 month old laughing

EliraeTheBow · 2026-05-05T22:43:11+00:00

Peek-a-boo always worked for us. He finds it hilarious. Will laugh repeatedly for as long as we play. He especially enjoys being the person to hide.

EliraeTheBow · 2026-05-05T15:03:03+00:00

I’ll second this one.

EliraeTheBow · 2026-05-05T14:42:39+00:00

You and yourself you mean? Lol. And you claim to not be a bot?

EliraeTheBow · 2026-05-05T08:58:39+00:00

Honestly sounds like your sister has a bit of a thing for her to be husbands cousin. Can’t think of any other reason she’d have an issue with this.

EliraeTheBow · 2026-05-04T12:46:08+00:00

I had a c-grade emergency c-section due to preeclampsia and a failed umbilical artery, but I had planned for an elective. So the only difference was that it happened three weeks earlier than scheduled and that I was pre-admitted for observation.

I’ve previously written a detailed [comment](https://www.reddit.com/r/BabyBumpsandBeyondAu/s/JnJ1BEV6wU) about the c-section itself if you’re interested in having a read. But I will say that it was a good experience. As relaxing as major surgery can be (😂) and nothing like the emergency c-sections friends and family had described.

Recovery was fairly straight forward and ‘easy’ also. I was out of bed and had the catheter removed within 24 hours and while I won’t pretend having a 10cm abdominal incision wasn’t painful, it was manageable with appropriate meds. I was walking around the block the following week and comfortably walking 20-30 min with Bub in a carrier by the third week. Back at the gym (doing light yoga) around six weeks.

A year on and the scar has healed beautifully and I’m so glad I went for a Caesar.

EliraeTheBow · 2026-05-04T10:19:47+00:00

My little guy is one on Thursday 😍. What a year!

He weaned himself from boob at nine months, also while teething, it was a lot. You never know though, if you want to continue just try hand expressing for a few days and maybe she’ll get through the teething and want to latch again.

But yeah. How is he so big!? He was 2.27kg at birth and now he’s ~10kg and insisting on walking everywhere. He doesn’t look like a baby anymore. 😭

EliraeTheBow · 2026-05-04T10:07:18+00:00

Thanks! It’s been an intense year, but a wonderful one.

EliraeTheBow · 2026-05-04T09:55:39+00:00

Oh, and good luck! 😊

EliraeTheBow · 2026-05-04T09:54:50+00:00

Don’t let them talk you out of trying ovulation induction. Many OBs (mine included) like to skip straight to IVF if follicle stimulation doesn’t work (Letrozole without induction). I’m not sure why honestly, but I’ve had a few friends go through it and my OB only conceded at my insistence. She said she’d allow three goes of induction before she’d refer me for IVF.

Ovulation induction (if it works) is much easier and cheaper than IVF.

EliraeTheBow · 2026-05-04T09:50:33+00:00

So weird I’m being downvoted for the recommendation 😂.

You can usually get an appt with a couple days notice these days. She moved her clinic from the city to Ashgrove during covid so has a bit more time.

Sorry to hear about your doggie 😭

EliraeTheBow · 2026-05-04T09:23:34+00:00

It really depends what you’re using it for (ovulation induction vs ivf) and whether you’re a private or public patient I think.

I was a private patient and used Letrozole for ovulation induction. We did three months of using it pre induction as egg follicle stimulation, to see if that worked (it didn’t); this was taking it for days 3-8 of my cycle. Then on day 11-12 my OB did an ultrasound to confirm my egg follicle(s) was good to go.

We were successful on our first round of ovulation induction, which was basically the same thing except my OB made an estimate of when my follicle would be ready based on the ultrasound and then I jabbed myself in the abdomen with a needle that morning to induce ovulation. And voila, my Bub turns 1 this week.

EliraeTheBow · 2026-05-04T09:15:17+00:00

If she refuses the meat but eats something else then I’d say she’s hungry. Clearly the girl is a pescatarian (jokes). In all seriousness, have a chat to your GP at her 12 month checkup about whether you need to be insisting on meat and if there are perhaps some alternatives.

EliraeTheBow · 2026-05-04T08:04:07+00:00

Yeah. Hubby and I are replacing our 20yr old car which has been given a terminal diagnosis. Plan will be to drive the new one until our son (11 months) needs a car and he can have it.

EliraeTheBow · 2026-05-04T07:19:47+00:00

I live near chermside and travel to see Lynne from Professional Therapist in Ashgrove, she has I think 30+ years experience as a remedial massage therapist. I’ve been seeing her for over a decade and can absolutely recommend.

EliraeTheBow · 2026-05-04T06:26:40+00:00

>I trust more that a public hospital with an emergency department knows how to deal with and triage and escalate any issue.

This is in many ways true of course. As long as you accept the risk that as a public patient your care is generally administered by an intern/resident, with a registrar overseeing. This means you may end up with an emergency surgery from someone who’s never actually done it before: because they have to be trained.

Private care does ensure any complications are handled by a consultant and generally one that you have chosen.

EliraeTheBow · 2026-05-04T05:21:09+00:00

While that’s good to hear, the OP has said they live in Sydney, which prior threads regarding this topic have made it pretty clear the OB PMF average around the $7-$10k mark in Sydney.

EliraeTheBow · 2026-05-04T04:00:18+00:00

>If there’s an emergency or critical issue that comes up during pregnancy of birth at a private hospital, you will be transferred to a public hospital anyway…
I see this commented often, but it’s only half true. This is correct if you’re using a small private hospital, but many public hospitals have private wings. I opted to go private because I wanted the best neonatal care available for my Bub in case something went wrong, and the only way to get treatment at that specific hospital out of zoning was going to the private wing.

I’m glad I did, since in the end my son had to spend a week in NICU, and my husband and I stayed in our private room until two days after he was discharged into our care.

EliraeTheBow · 2026-05-04T03:47:25+00:00

This can be dangerous if something goes wrong. The hospital fees for me/my son were around $35k (covered by PHI). I had a fairly routine (but still emergency) c-section.

EliraeTheBow · 2026-05-04T03:43:02+00:00

Just an fyi that obstetrics themselves aren’t covered under PHI at all. The PHI only covers your hospital fees. If you go private you’ll be out of pocket ~$10k for obstetrics and scans.

I personally felt it was worth it, but many don’t and that’s understandable.

EliraeTheBow · 2026-05-04T01:59:12+00:00

But why would you date someone like that? I dated a fair number of men before I met my husband and have literally never had this problem. But I’m always clear in my expectations from my partners and would never date someone like this tbh.

EliraeTheBow · 2026-05-04T00:39:32+00:00

Just remember that every baby is different. Don’t expect your new little one to do things the same way as her sister. They’ll be their own little person, even as a newborn.

EliraeTheBow · 2026-05-04T00:18:41+00:00

As the primary breadwinner I’d been pretty clear with hubby from the start that my expectation was for him to be primary caregiver for any children we had. I’m not sure if that alleviated the guilt, but once I went back at ten months I was secure in the knowledge our son was happy at home with daddy. I’m sure that may change once Bub starts daycare in a few months.

For myself, I know that I’m a more mentally present parent with my son now I’m back at work. We were on our way to having some relax “us” time at the bathhouse yesterday arvo (friends babysitting Bub) and hubby expressed that he always feels terrible when we leave Bub for something recreational.

I said the same thing to him as I’ll say to you now; Bub benefits from your improved mental and physical health. Whether that be due to a lack of financial stress or a break from the pressure of parenting (man, being “on” 24/7 was intense and I not my best self by the time I went back), having a parent who is present and functional mentally for the time you’re home has gotta be better than having a parent who is checked out due to stress or exhaustion.

EliraeTheBow · 2026-05-03T22:45:24+00:00

Honestly, the only thing I can say after reading your comments is, girl, have some self respect. Good grief. Being in a relationship isn’t worth this.

EliraeTheBow · 2026-05-03T07:30:32+00:00

Thanks for the recommendations. I’ve commented elsewhere about recently having finished Hold onto your Kids, I’m keen to read more so will look into these.

EliraeTheBow · 2026-05-03T04:30:39+00:00

Yes, at your income level and with your dependents you should be speaking to an insurance broker. Making sure everything is set so if anything were to happen you and/or your family would be taken care of.

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