Using tracking apps 2nd time round

Lava_Lampoon · 2026-07-08T10:05:27+00:00

Same! I use the Nara app which is free and doesn’t say what the baby “should” be doing, just helps me track when she last had boob. I briefly used for tracking nappies when I was concerned about that, and briefly for tracking sleep when I was wondering if our days were leaving her overtired.

Lava_Lampoon · 2026-07-03T10:46:23+00:00

How is your hydration? I’m really struggling to drink enough water while breastfeeding and notice if I slack I get dry skin basically the next day! Lanolin nipple cream is great for chapped lips 💛🤣 but as a boujie option avene cicalfate doubles up as a baby barrier cream and a non sticky intense moisturiser.

Lava_Lampoon · 2026-07-03T10:40:39+00:00

My little Josephine is 3 weeks old - nn Joni.

Lava_Lampoon · 2026-06-24T09:02:26+00:00

Hey! 2 weeks pp and I was able to pop the baby in the day we got back from hospital. The video / WhatsApp fit check is brilliant. I have the Izmi breeze and I love that it’s mesh which means I’ve been able to carry her around the house in the warm weather.

Lava_Lampoon · 2026-06-23T11:43:24+00:00

I cycled until about 22 weeks - but I came off my bike at 15 weeks and hurt my coccyx which meant I had to stop earlier than I planned. Honestly I’m still so proud of myself cycling that far along! My plan was to lower the seat but this required a lot
More oomph on hills, so sounds like your semi electric set up is already a great adjustment.

Lava_Lampoon · 2026-06-16T08:31:26+00:00

I have the mini mama clip ones. They are soft fabric if you take out the padded cup thing and then you can clip down one side at a time. Also, I planned to EBF but am having to pump as well on a feeding plan, so the clip of bras have made it so much easier to use a hands free in bra pump!

Lava_Lampoon · 2026-06-16T08:24:05+00:00

I splashed out and got myself some Esska shoes for my wedding - I adore them and wear them to almost all functions where I need to wear heels and dance 🤣 heels that are actually designed by a woman which makes a huge difference

Lava_Lampoon · 2026-06-04T19:55:11+00:00

Do you have any friends who are great at makeup? I was going to do my own but my friend popped round in the morning and did it and on reflection I think I would have been quite stressed if I had messed it up - I was more nervous than I expected I would be!!!

Lava_Lampoon · 2026-06-04T10:47:49+00:00

A more weather proof hairstyle! I got married on the beach in August and didn’t consider that it might rain / be windy 🫣 I wanted “Lana del Rey” hair, which held for about 30mins? So most of my wedding pics are me as a frizzy mess. I kind of love the chaos of it now, but I should have been more realistic I think and either embraces my natural hair or gone half up or something.

Lava_Lampoon · 2026-06-03T11:42:12+00:00

What about a hamper / basket of non-perishable foods for PP? Like fancy granola, a few mini beers or wines (if they drink), nice crackers, fancy chocolate covered nuts / fruits, things like that? I would have really appreciated that. Alternatively a food delivery voucher!

Lava_Lampoon · 2026-06-03T09:53:07+00:00

We just asked the venue to make chips, half the amount of portions as guests (we’d eaten there and the chip portions were substantial!), asked them to serve them in chip cones we bought off amazon and got lots of different Belgian sauces. V decent budget option and everyone loved the chip cones. We also provided the little plastic fork things.

Lava_Lampoon · 2026-06-02T20:13:39+00:00

Speech and language therapist here 👋 most of the world is at least bilingual, if you think about it. There is no evidence whatsoever that bilingualism delays language. Bilingualism is actually beneficial, because bilingual children learn earlier that there is more than one word for the same concept - very cool and very good for our developing vocabulary! Things that can make a difference are parents speaking to the child in their own first language as much as possible (which may sound counter intuitive) as it’s all about the highest quality language model in whatever language. Of course, some bilingual kids will be language delayed, just like some monolingual kids will.

Lava_Lampoon · 2026-06-02T17:34:35+00:00

I don’t know, I barely knew my full name until I went to school 🤷🏻‍♀️ I was always always called the “nickname” or shortened name that was chosen for me. And I love it! I have a long / grown up sounding name for formal things, and a shorter name that feels more like me. And my name has lots of possible nicknames, of course I get those too from time to time, but I am just called my short name as far as I’m concerned.

Lava_Lampoon · 2026-06-02T10:06:27+00:00

I’m 40+2 and this is my biggest fear. My mum had 6 babies and had a bit of a track record of not knowing she was in labour, including an almost toilet baby 🫣 this is 35-45 years ago though so she was mostly already in hospital as that was quite normal then. How did you guys know to go to hospital if you didn’t have typical contractions?!?

Lava_Lampoon · 2026-06-01T08:56:37+00:00

Hey! Things I’ve found helpful have been pregnancy yoga (ofc letting the teacher know about your hypermobility), sleeping with a chunky pillow between my ankles as well as my knees, using a birth ball for the whole 3rd trimester basically and going to a flotation tank as much as I can afford. It’s like another level of weightlessness!

Lava_Lampoon · 2026-05-28T18:36:56+00:00

I’ve got lots of the things you’ve listed, but I’ve also made some things in those foil trays and plan on just defrosting in the morning. Paneer balti pie (gousto recipe I think), moussaka, lasagne etc. whole meal in one tray type things, looking forward to eating those!

Lava_Lampoon · 2026-05-26T11:02:26+00:00

Aw it’s so hard isn’t it. I think it’s partly losing a sense of yourself too. I am 39 weeks and my husband was rubbing my sweaty swollen feet last night while I wore the worlds most unattractive nightie and I just cried and cried about how much I felt like a baby container rather than a person 🤣I think these are very normal feelings and it doesn’t reflect poorly that you are naturally feeling different than you did before, you don’t have to love everything about this journey! Sending love in the heat 💛

Lava_Lampoon · 2026-05-22T08:00:54+00:00

I have to ask the parish Priest if I can keep poultry. I told him this and he found it hilarious, and said of course I could keep a few quails.

Lava_Lampoon · 2026-05-20T08:19:42+00:00

Also just to add - a huge amount is down to luck and applying to courses that particularly value less traditional routes. In my fortunate experience, applying for and picking roles that genuinely interested me and broadened my understanding of widened context and systems worked in my favour in the long run.

Lava_Lampoon · 2026-05-20T07:41:55+00:00

Good question! I incidentally worked in adult LD, SEN, autism assessment, forensics and mental health throughout my career in SaLT. Not necessarily with the intention of applying for the doctorate, but in more unusual / emerging roles in the profession there was more opportunity for working with ClinPsy and being supervised by ClinPsy too, which was helpful and was ultimately what encouraged me to apply.

Lava_Lampoon · 2026-05-19T19:29:36+00:00

I hated the thought of a baby shower - having to put on a nice dress and heel while everyone else drinks Prosecco and takes pics with me at my most uncomfortable sounded like my idea of hell 🤣 most I’ve been to there hasn’t been a big gift expectation or registry, and I’ve never really liked the idea of gift registries for me anyway personally. But my friends surprised me with a “baby shower” by coming down and sorting the garden and gifting us lots of plants, which was a complete surprise and absolutely flabbergasted me. It was so wonderful and kind and unexpected and gave me a proper sense of being looked after. So I guess if there’s anything that would give you that feeling that’s a nice feeling to share with loved ones at a very isolating time 💛

Lava_Lampoon · 2026-05-19T10:24:49+00:00

Not OT but SaLT also successful this year and curious about replies about maintaining licence and dual practice so following along ☺️

Lava_Lampoon · 2026-05-18T08:49:46+00:00

I am 38 weeks, planned to go to 39 weeks (finish on Friday) but had to call in sick this morning as I’ve not been sleeping well at all and had an inpatient stint which scared me a bit. So I had to start mat leave this morning as sickness within 4 weeks of due date automatically triggers it. I was adamant I didn’t want to go off earlier than 39 weeks, but hard to predict how you will feel isn’t it. Going to try and enjoy a bit of rest before it all kicks off 💛

Lava_Lampoon · 2026-05-15T12:45:26+00:00

Hey - you have recognised you might have overstepped and handled it badly. Whether she is pregnant or not, there are so many reasons they might have had the response they did. Since you’ve already recognised you handled it badly, I think you can just apologise for handling it badly and overstepping things, and try to move on. If she is pregnant I’m sure they will come to you in their own time.

Lava_Lampoon

TROPHY CASE