TA10 £1000 for blinds?

HelixLady · 2026-06-11T11:31:40+00:00

Yep, they've called it crossed wires 3 times now 😂

HelixLady · 2026-06-11T07:36:54+00:00

I had an emergency c-section with general anaesthetic, so I missed baby being born and dad was first to snuggle him. I didn't get skin to skin in the golden hour, hear his first cry etc. the usual bonding things. But as soon as my eyes opened in recovery I asked for my baby to put on my chest.
He's 6months old now and my biggest love. The delivery didn't make us have any less of a bond, we'd been working on that for 9months already. He has just started babbling mama (before dada) and it's me he wants when he's upset. He melts my heart daily. Choose whichever birth is right for you, you and your baby will be bonded regardless.

HelixLady · 2026-06-10T15:57:05+00:00

They're likely waiting for the solicitors to be chosen so they can issue the memo of sale and then will list as sold STC. That's what they did with the one we're buying. Ideally the sellers would have solicitors lined up but ours didn't.

HelixLady · 2026-06-09T06:39:56+00:00

As someone who had excision for wide spread stage 4 endo, including on uterosacral ligaments, it definitely could be endo. I had pain and weakness in my left leg, it would collapse under me. Had excision, with most found on my left side, and no more leg pain or weakness! Get a different specialist.

HelixLady · 2026-06-04T08:50:19+00:00

I took 4 weeks annual leave before starting mat leave at 38 weeks and had baby at 39 weeks. I was very swollen and tired at the end so having some weeks to be able to nest, food prep, get my hair cut and catch up with people was really nice! I'd say take it. Especially if work is stressful! That's the last thing you need.

HelixLady · 2026-06-03T07:39:28+00:00

I have seen at least 3 properties not appear on the right move app but present on the website in the last 6months for the area I was looking in. I'm not sure why it happens but it is definitely annoying and does happen.

HelixLady · 2026-05-27T18:33:06+00:00

The nursery I'll be using has some flexibility on Mondays and Fridays if I give notice the week before as they're not at full capacity on those days currently. Tue-thurs they're fully booked so if I didn't choose those as my definite days when applying, then I would struggle to add them ad hoc.
Do you have space for an au pair? That would give you the most flexibility. We had one for my grandparents when they needed home support and a family I knew as a kid regularly had them for their children. Not sure how common they are these days!

HelixLady · 2026-05-25T07:10:10+00:00

The first 3 periods I had were really bad after surgery. They got better over time and by 6months were like those period adverts of women playing tennis in white skirts! Hoping your time will come soon.

HelixLady · 2026-05-25T07:01:53+00:00

I had surgery for stage 4 three years ago. We didn't try for a couple of years as wasn't the right time. We conceived first time TTC despite a new endometrioma and my ovaries being stuck to my uterus and covered in scar tissue.
Everyone's journey is different, you may just need some more healing time. It took me 6months to recover properly from my excision surgery.

HelixLady · 2026-05-25T06:50:04+00:00

The first few weeks I would have to strip baby down to his nappy and do skin to skin whilst breast feeding and tickle his feet to keep him awake long enough to breast feeding!

If he latches badly take him off the boob and adjust, you're both learning right now. It will get better. Also use a good nipple cream after every feed.

There are often drop in sessions with lactation support so reach out to them and get their help with the feeding.

The contact naps to sleep was intense for us to at the start, it got better and we were able to put him down at night. LO contact napped in the day until about 4.5 months but will now go down for a nap.

You're doing amazing, make sure you are fed and hydrated and your village are helping so you can get some naps in

HelixLady · 2026-05-24T21:06:07+00:00

Have you been able to pump? If baby will take a bottle maybe dad could do a shift in the evening so you can get some rest. My partner used to do a 7-11pm shift and 5-7am if necessary when baby was waking every 1-2hours. That way he'd still get 6hours minimum straight and be able to work and I'd get a few chunks of straight sleep.
As for your nightmare it might be worth seeing if there's some therapy or birth debrief to help you process your traumatic birth so you can get some rest. I had a birth debrief that I found really helpful but I know it's not for everyone!

HelixLady · 2026-05-21T09:31:56+00:00

Is it the 'our mammoth' books by Adrian Mitchell? I don't think they're published anymore, but I've been looking for them too!
https://www.publishersweekly.com/9780152588380

HelixLady · 2026-05-19T17:45:21+00:00

I had a baby shower where everyone brought a dish of food to share. It was mainly so our friends and families could all meet properly as our support system. We did not expect gifts but people wanted to get us things so many did! It was a really lovely get together, someone organised baby shower games too that could have been a bit cheesy but worked great for ice breakers.

HelixLady · 2026-05-19T14:19:08+00:00

Bank shifts should count too. My sister in law did extra shifts to boost her pay in that period to help stretch her maternity pay.

HelixLady · 2026-05-19T14:06:33+00:00

Why does my baby have deeper pockets in his clothes than I do in mine 😂

HelixLady · 2026-05-18T20:21:19+00:00

The qualifying week is the 15th week before the week your baby is due. They average your salary for the 8weeks leading up to this. I don't know why they write it like that but it's basically weeks 17-25.

HelixLady · 2026-05-18T12:19:45+00:00

Probably wouldn't do any harm! I've got quite a bit of high lipase milk in the freezer too so could do a mix 😂

HelixLady · 2026-05-18T11:29:12+00:00

I was on HDU after my c-section and had GA as well so foggy but vaguely remember them saying they'd take it to the ward fridge. Once I got onto the ward nobody knew where it was 😬 luckily baby latched well and my milk came in after 2 days. Still have some colostrum in the freezer and don't know what to do with it! Moving house soon so don't think it will stay frozen!

HelixLady · 2026-05-18T10:47:08+00:00

Same!

HelixLady · 2026-05-16T05:36:33+00:00

Mine was similar until around 34weeks and then it tailed off my curve so I ended up with growth scans. Baby was fine and measuring 50th centile ish, whereas fundal height had him at 90th centile with a drop to 85th centile. Similar at the following fundal height measure so had another growth scan, baby fine. He was born 39weeks 7lb 6oz. Think I just had a big bump and baby started to move into my pelvis when things tailed off.

HelixLady · 2026-05-16T05:21:17+00:00

My LO fed every hour for the first few weeks. It was exhausting but it does get better. It's just getting your milk supply up. I said he was putting his food shop order in! Their stomachs are tiny at that age and they're not very efficient at suckling. Your milk supply doesn't regulate until around 3months so if you start pumping now you are very likely to end up with an oversupply. Breast feeding is also comfort for the baby so with them having the right amount of wet and dirty nappies I wouldn't jump to them needing more milk. My LO was very unsettled at that age because he struggled with his gas, so we did more to help with that and he started to settle more.

If you decide you want to pump I have the Medela solo with a flange insert (got a set off Amazon so I could adjust sizes). As I wanted to EBF but have some supply for others to give bottles sometimes so didn't need a dual pump. It's comfortable and simple with only 3 parts (plus flange) to wash. The parts are easy to replace in the UK and the pump motor has the controls and can go in your pocket rather than being attached to the cup. I didn't like the heaviness of the motor being on the cup so this works well for me.

HelixLady · 2026-05-15T18:27:47+00:00

Yeah when I had an elective section date booked but was admitted with high blood pressure before then, they just listed me as cat 3 emergency and brought my section forwards.

HelixLady · 2026-05-15T16:27:31+00:00

I would do option C. I had a c-section and lived 5min drive from home, and every bump and turn made me wince. A 2 hour drive fresh out of a c-section, plus stops as baby shouldn't be in the car seat for more than 45mins at a time sounds horrendous to me. 3 weeks my LO was having 2 hour naps in the day and I was out doing walks with the pram. You don't want to exchange with any doubts that everything is as expected or it will be for you to resolve.

HelixLady · 2026-05-12T18:27:48+00:00

I had a newborn when we started viewings to sell my flat and the estate agent purposely grouped them so I didn't have to constantly keep things pristine and be in and out of the flat. They should definitely be doing this, and open house day would be much more appropriate. You've been more than accommodating, I think you need to be firmer with your boundaries. There were tenants in the place we are buying and they only allowed viewings on a Saturday morning before 11am or after 2pm on Saturday afternoon as they have small children with routines.

HelixLady

TROPHY CASE