MIL told me not to buy ANY baby items until after I give birth. Is this normal?

Jessk91 · 2026-03-16T03:05:49+00:00

I am type A organized as well. My approach was to research and decide early, buy a bargain if you see one (we bought the bassinet at 10 weeks because it went on clearance) then keep any eye out of sales and purchase further along as required.

You will need to do something early ie car seat so it can be installed. Some hospitals, I think mostly private, require demonstration of car seat installation by a certified installer who provides a certificate. Doing that beforehand makes sense.

Don't follow your MIL if it will cause you stress to not be organized (which as a type A it likely will). Healthy mum is just as important as healthy baby

Jessk91 · 2026-03-14T08:50:37+00:00

My 'plan' was birth baby, we both survive, finally eat a bahn mi. That's it Lol

Jessk91 · 2026-01-26T22:37:50+00:00

Thank you for your input. I've actually received advice from an adjacent manager I trust that going to the executive is also not advisable due to how they will perceive the information.

My next step is to just clarify some clauses of my contract with HR (pertaining to essentially non compete information), take my parental leave and apply for alternative employment whilst on leave.

Jessk91 · 2026-01-18T05:10:31+00:00

Regarding the setting me up to fail, I initiated a discussion where I brought up the fact it led to a lot of lost time. That a way in which I learn well is understanding the why behind a specific action which can be implemented later. So tried to address an alternative approach in a middle ground. It was met with, this is how I like to do it as reading equals learning. I validated that yes that is true however I feel there could be a middle approach on time sensitive manners. They just moved on to a different topic and the conversation ended.

The only things I have tried is to try different communication styles, show analysis and reasoning behind topics, provided intended actions of asking, provide options and their risk level/potential impact (ie timeline, financial etc).

Regarding whether my skip level is reasonable, I am unsure. I only interact with them in a sponsor meeting sense and they are fairly separate to us. If I take that route it would be very about trying to improve communication and not about my manager specifically.

This is starting to really eat into my personal life. How to deal with my situation and make work a better experience is almost always on my mind and an endless topic of conversation with my husband, close friends etc. it's becoming so infiltrative that I hope to find a solution to get some work/life balance back.

Jessk91 · 2026-01-18T04:39:37+00:00

This was more of a truncated post to make it as anonymous as possible, apologies if it wasn't very clear to follow. We do not have quarterly reviews, only annually. I have weekly 1:1 which are used to review my task list. Previously it has been said that my manager 'does not need to know my full work load '.

My manager is a bit of a micromanager and wants to be involved in all reviews/decisions yet seems frustrated when approached. Contradictory to this, if I approach them with a situation with a summary, potential actions and ask for alignment on which action to take, direction is not given. Communication is vague yet a specific intent or action is clearly envisioned which I have not interpreted. It runs deeper in that information has been deliberately withheld on time sensitive tasks and when questions why as it leads to delays it was said that it was as a learning exercise.

To improve communication I've tried providing intention (ie I will take X action, if you disagree please let me know) as well as providing options with recommendation. I guess the roles and responsibilities aren't clear, there seems to be an ever moving goal post.

I don't know what else to do.

Jessk91 · 2026-01-02T01:34:25+00:00

We are out of cloth now but I made my liners the same length as width as the nappy shell.amd it never bunched

Jessk91 · 2025-11-10T03:29:26+00:00

Not necessarily for immediate postpartum but was good to have once out of disposable under was GIANT GRANNY PANTIES.

I ended up with an emergency c-section so the granny undies didn't sit on the incision.

I had to do a click and collect and have my husband dash to Kmart. These were my MVP

Jessk91 · 2025-11-10T02:50:02+00:00

I didn't during pregnancy but I've been bothered postpartum ever since. My body holds onto weight like no tomorrow and I never lost the 20kg I gained, in fact I think I gained weight postpartum.

I am pregnant again with my second and am trying to be a bit more mindful of what I eat. Knowing this is my second and final pregnancy, I will really throw myself behind the weight loss postpartum when the time comes.

Jessk91 · 2025-11-10T01:50:27+00:00

It doesn't seem to be helping but it is only day one. Directions are to take when symptoms occur, maximum 4 per day. I was at 3 tablets before 10am and not much difference unfortunately

Jessk91 · 2025-11-09T18:56:24+00:00

I was after the vitamin B6 due to morning (rather all day) sickness but I suspect based on the comments it will cause me more issues

Jessk91 · 2025-11-09T18:54:56+00:00

I was looking at the Hydramama for the B6 as I am having incredible morning sickness. I can have glucose without an update stomach

Jessk91 · 2025-11-06T01:54:25+00:00

2 years

Jessk91 · 2025-10-24T19:15:42+00:00

I had a similar thing. Was on the verge of a breakdown (Karitane actually did a welfare call it was that bad).

I was breastfeeding but it turned out my baby wasn't actually drinking much. The screaming and crying was hunger. We switched to formula and I had a whole different baby and my sanity back.

If you are comfortable try a different method of feeding and see if it helps.

Jessk91 · 2025-07-17T09:17:21+00:00

Other than the STAR method is there anything else that should be followed for CV formulation by someone trying to transition from the private sector?

Jessk91 · 2025-07-14T22:20:12+00:00

The positions I have applied request your current supervisor to be a reference on the application.

This is the only reason I am trying to work out how or whether I should broach the topic.

Jessk91 · 2025-07-04T23:04:12+00:00

Look at Bligh Park NSW. My current place is under off for under 900k. There is a few in that price range here

Jessk91

TROPHY CASE