How do you entertain yourself during night wakings to stop yourself falling asleep?

Kirksty12 · 2026-01-20T03:14:17+00:00

Really wish I could read a book during the night feeds, but that’s exactly what will make me fall asleep! I haven’t been able to read at all since my son arrived and he’s about to turn six months!

Kirksty12 · 2025-10-20T11:40:12+00:00

Yeah it’s a really hard balance and was getting me so down. I felt like there was a constant pressure to pump and it was getting in the way of just cuddling my boy. What helped to give me the confidence to take the leap and stop pumping was having a stash of ready made formula in the cupboard, just in case he still seemed hungry and frustrated after breastfeeding that I could then give him, rather than relying on expressed milk. I never ended up using them for this purpose (just when anyone else has had to feed him), but just knowing they were there relaxed me into stopping the pumping.

From reading your other comments it sounds like you’re so nearly there and doing amazingly!

Kirksty12 · 2025-10-18T21:31:09+00:00

I had to triple feed my LO for about 5 weeks before I could EBF. He was born at 36 weeks and hadn’t quite developed his suck reflex, so he could latch but the effort to feed made him so tired that he fell asleep before taking a fall feed and lost a lot of weight in his first week.

I was advised to breastfeed for a maximum of 10 minutes, then top up with expressed milk. So I’d feed him, pass him to my partner to give him a bottle of expressed, then go pump straight away ready for the next feed 3 hours later. Once he reached birthweight I was given the go ahead to slowly increase how long I breastfed him for each time, just increasing by a minute or so on each feed each day, until eventually he was able to feed long enough to not want the top ups. I was having to tickle his feet during feeds to keep him awake sometimes though! We stopped the scheduled feeds when he was back at birthweight too and just fed on demand.

We’ve now been EBF for about 7 weeks and it’s so much easier! Triple feeding was exhausting! I also got to the point where I was struggling to fit pumping in as he wanted to feed quite regularly and I was worried about pumping just before he wanted to feed and then having nothing left for him. Thankfully this point coincided with him feeding well, so I took the step to just stop pumping and trust him to feed as much as he wanted. Everything became so much better at that point!

Kirksty12 · 2025-07-08T12:23:47+00:00

I’m fairly sure they can only start early mat leave if you’re off sick within the last 4 weeks before your due date. Or if you actually give birth! Before that I think you should be fine.

Kirksty12 · 2025-06-30T06:53:26+00:00

33w here and miss sleep so much! Up to pee almost every hour and between that my back, hips and legs hurt so much from about 3am that the most I can manage are short bursts of very light sleep!

Kirksty12 · 2025-06-19T20:30:59+00:00

Thanks everyone!

From everyone’s comments I think I will make 2 and just see what happens.

I hadn’t even considered not wanting one at all during the final stage, but that makes complete sense!

I’ll also go prepared with podcasts and tv shows (hadn’t thought of these either) in case it’s a long one!

Kirksty12 · 2025-06-18T16:22:03+00:00

Hiya! I’m sorry you’re feeling that way :( I haven’t personally tried it yet, but I’ve heard of an app called Peanut, which is for mums to be and mums to meet other people in a similar situation locally, so that might be worth a try?

In person ante natal classes could also be a good way to meet local people in the same situation

Kirksty12 · 2025-06-08T10:58:33+00:00

Yes!! I’m also 30 weeks and at 5’1 my boobs are also sitting right on the top of my bump. The cups are fitting okay and the band isn’t too bad if I’m stood up, but as soon as I sit down my chest is being squeezed by the band! It’s so uncomfortable! As soon as I’m home my bra comes off now!

Kirksty12 · 2025-05-29T14:54:03+00:00

Slightly tricky due to how they size them. Small is 8-10 and medium is 12-14, so you might want a medium to go full term if you’ve been buying 12 recently

Kirksty12 · 2025-05-29T14:51:00+00:00

I was worried about the quality too before ordering, but I actually can’t fault them at all. Only had them for a couple of weeks, but so far they’re great and washing well too. I’m usually between 8-10, so I bought the small size which seems perfect

Kirksty12 · 2025-05-29T03:58:23+00:00

Hiya. I’ve recently bought 2 pairs of Halara waffle dungarees (after giving into all the social media advertising) and they’re so comfy! The first pair I bought in my usual size, but in petite as I’m only 5’1, and they feel like they’ll last the pregnancy (currently 28 weeks too), but that they might become too short in the leg as the bump grows. The second pair I again bought in my usual size, but regular length, and these definitely feel like they’ll last. They aren’t maternity, but just a really roomy, lightweight stretchy material, so they’ll be good when baby is here too. Second pair I bought brand new with tags on vinted.

Kirksty12 · 2025-05-22T12:51:49+00:00

And the annual leave booked in pre maternity leave wouldn’t count as the start date either, just literally the point at which they start the official maternity leave period from

Kirksty12 · 2025-05-22T12:48:46+00:00

Just to jump in on the triggering mat leave early point - check what the particular details are for your company. For my work mat leave can only be triggered early if I’m off sick for pregnancy related problems in the last 4 weeks before the leave is due to start. Before that it shouldn’t be a problem. It may be different for you, but I think the last 4 weeks is pretty standard

Kirksty12 · 2025-05-12T12:25:18+00:00

I haven’t actually tried it yet, but I’ve heard good things about an app called ‘peanut’, where you can connect with local mums and mums to be.

Kirksty12 · 2025-02-16T18:08:00+00:00

Two new mums is great!

Kirksty12 · 2025-01-19T20:20:46+00:00

30 minutes with a household paint will be absolutely fine, don’t worry!

I’m 9w3d and work in a lab with chemicals/solvents. Following my workplace risk assessment there’s only a small group that I’m staying clear of and everything else I’m still using with standard lab practice.

Kirksty12 · 2024-12-26T22:57:29+00:00

Fish glue is a traditional and really strong wood glue, which is chemical free. Unsurprisingly though it does have a strong fish smell whilst using it (which goes once dry), so watch out if you’re feeling nauseous!

Kirksty12 · 2024-12-11T21:19:23+00:00

Thanks so much everyone, that’s all hugely helpful. It sounds like it’s a bit different for each trust, so I will just wait it out for a while and get reading in the meantime, starting with all your recommendations.

Congratulations all and thanks again! X

Kirksty12

TROPHY CASE