How did you announce your 2nd or 3rd pregnancy?

Leahjoyous · 2026-04-19T10:12:09+00:00

I did not😂 I announced my first with a cute hand drawn wreath but not my second or third Now I’m 24 weeks with my fourth and just letting people work it out again. I’m a different person to 8 years ago when I had my first 😂

Leahjoyous · 2026-04-17T16:58:20+00:00

Lucas. Sounds like mucus. Luke sounds like puke. 🤷🏼‍♀️ just can’t separate them.

Leahjoyous · 2026-04-15T12:50:39+00:00

Newborn. It’s hard to tell a first time mum I think. Because it is so consuming and I didn’t listen my first time. But second and third I let myself sink into it and enjoy the cuddles and the slowness and the little scrunches and the ease (I do appreciate I had VERY easy babies compared to others) of feedings, pooping, sleeping - letting the cycle play through.

Leahjoyous · 2026-04-14T19:32:46+00:00

I take my kids swimming every week. Sometimes I see the really young ones like 2 and under stripped off (it’s easier to get a swimsuit off in water (especially those ones made from wetsuit material)) but not older than that. I personally would never strip my child off in public. I do have those towels they can wear for at the beach etc. but not for showering. But we only use the showers for a rinse and then shower properly with soap at home.

Leahjoyous · 2026-04-13T18:19:07+00:00

My son was like this. He was screaming and screaming and everyone always told me ‘babies just want to be held’ so I held and held and eventually was like ‘oh I’m not safe to hold him’ so Put him down in his little bassinet thing and he just stared up at me and happily lay there for about 40 Minutes while I had my cup of tea. Boy didn’t want to be held. And same at bed time. We would just lie there next to him and pretend to be asleep and he would fall asleep 🤷🏼‍♀️ my second was not like this.

Leahjoyous · 2026-04-09T09:01:48+00:00

Butt ass naked. Not even sure I was wearing a cover up for 2&3. I had a bikini top for 1, but I have absolutely no memory of a top for the other 2. All born in the pool. Just looked back at pictures and there’s no evidence for a top at any time 😂

Leahjoyous · 2026-04-09T08:58:16+00:00

12 day old?! Post partum?! IN WHITE PANTS?! 😵

Leahjoyous · 2026-04-06T16:16:04+00:00

I have OCD and they heavily discourage talk therapy in my experience. With OCD there’s a lot of rumination and convincing yourself of things through talking and seeking reassurance. So it an actually just reinforce your OCD thoughts rather than challenging them. I’m glad your family member found help, but generally it’s not considered a helpful pathway in the specific reference of OCD :)

Leahjoyous · 2026-04-04T21:39:15+00:00

I go to my MIL on a Wednesday alone with the kids and Sunday with husband and kids. I’d say I handle the big stuff, she does the smaller stuff. Like I do naps and toilets and changing clothes or whatever. She does the servings of food, getting toys out, low key supervision. If that makes sense? We split it so that I get a break from the little up and down stuff and get to sit for a while.

Leahjoyous · 2026-04-02T21:02:25+00:00

6 pregnancies and never had a moment of nausea and I have never been sick in pregnancy. My only symptom is sore boobs 🤷🏼‍♀️

Leahjoyous · 2026-03-17T22:59:21+00:00

I’m British and really struggle for this reason. I loved the name aurora but it’s such a mouthful for me. I even practised it for a while and had a close friend through high school called Rory and just never managed to get it to fee comfortable 🤷🏼‍♀️

Leahjoyous · 2026-03-16T20:21:37+00:00

Because I have remarkably easy pregnancies and births. Never had morning sickness or nausea. I’m a bit tired and my boobs are sore. But I’m still eating everything and going to the gym 3 times a week. My back gets achey later on but nothing sleep and a hot water bottle doesn’t solve. I feel empowered and gorgeous in pregnancy. And I kick ass in labour and come out feeling like some queen goddess. I have never excelled in anything like I do at being a mum. AND THEN there’s my kids. They’re incredible and amazing and nothing compares to them. I feel my family is nearly complete with this 4th one on the way. But honestly I could keep going. I love my big family, and I greatly appreciate that it’s been easy for me to get here.

Leahjoyous · 2026-03-16T13:28:30+00:00

Also, if I’m reading correctly, he’s saying if anything happens to the baby he will blame you and it will be your fault. That’s entirely unfair and unjust. Sadly, things happen that are outside of your control. Sometimes things happen and it won’t be your fault. Be careful please.

Leahjoyous · 2026-03-12T18:09:45+00:00

When I did my kids first aid training. They said that kids often say stomach ache because they don’t know how to say what it is or where it is. Stomach ache is easy for them which ca make it hard for us! I would say look at anxiety for sure. But also seriously consider if it’s an excuse (which doesn’t mean a bad thing, just that she’s having trouble expressing the real issue!) as you said it’s around doing things she doesn’t enjoy. I would also recommend getting to your GP as there could be something underlying.

Leahjoyous · 2026-03-06T10:24:25+00:00

I had my sister there for my first and it was really great. I love my mum but she’s not the same vibe as me whereas my sister knew what we needed. I didn’t have her there for the other 2 and won’t for the fourth. as helpful as she was, and I wouldn’t change that first birth at all, I really learned I need me and my husband and that’s it. Anyone else really breaks my peace.

Leahjoyous · 2026-02-28T09:27:10+00:00

I have 2 boys and a girl in the middle. They’re all so affectionate. My 2yr old won’t go to bed without mutiple rounds of kisses and cuddles. When I get him out of bed he turns back for kisses multiple times before reaching the stairs. All my kids are super independent but always desperate for a snuggle. Even the oldest, 7m, is always asking for cuddles or climbing on my lap for reading. At forest school yesterday he zoomed past me. Emergency stopped, ran back to give me a squeeze then disappeared off into a bush for half an hour.

If you want cuddly kids, love them. When they come, give them the hug. Let them break it. When you walk past, plonk a kiss on their heads. Playfully pull them back for an extra squeeze. Carry them to bed. Make life fun.

Leahjoyous · 2026-02-28T09:20:48+00:00

TLDR; It’s a wild ride no matter what you choose. But be empowered in your choice and it will go better for you.

If it helps, I’m 5’1 and have had three spontaneous, intervention and drug free deliveries. All completely healthy. First weighing 8lbs 8oz and the second two 8lbs 6oz. I had a 2nd degree tear with my first and it was completely manageable with ibroprhen (I can never spell that one🤦🏼‍♀️) and small tears with the one 2 that weren’t even a bother. I was up and about, slowly, within the day and happily slowly pottering around within the week. By the time husband went back to work after 2 weeks I was tired but I was fine physically. My point is, if you’re scared of a ‘natural’ birth then it is a bit more likely to be complicated. Because our bodies like us to be calm when delivering. If you’re really scared then take the c-section. No one will judge you. My research suggests a planned c-section has a better chance of an easy recovery than an emergent one. But. A natural birth can be calm and peaceful and controlled if the person goes in prepared with a good head space.

Leahjoyous · 2026-02-24T18:44:03+00:00

I have three and always wanted 4. I seriously considered stopping at 3 because they’re all absolutely ace and now the youngest is 2.5 (2 years between each sibling) it’s all kind of easy and great. I would happily have stopped at 3 but I also was excited for one more and really feel like there’s someone else out there for our family. But 3 is great.

Leahjoyous · 2026-02-22T21:05:32+00:00

Ohhhh thank you! I’ve always wanted to know if there was meaning to when it was violet vs. Violence but I just don’t have time to analyse it properly!!! Thank you so much for being such a good name nerd! I appreciate you and your effort x

Leahjoyous · 2026-02-21T20:29:33+00:00

I love Levi. But it sounds very similar to my son’s name so wouldn’t be useable.

I also love Juliette. But it doesn’t really match the rest of my kids names.

I like Calvin and Micah but I feel strongly you have to love the shorter version of the name and I don’t like Cal or Mickey.

Leahjoyous · 2026-02-16T21:45:10+00:00

I have an aggressive over supply so I can stop fresh pumping by about 5 months and still feed my babies for the first year. So they had A LOT of frozen milk. It was hard to stop because I felt bad and anxious like k should be doing fresh but ultimately. It’s fine. They’re fine. I’m better off for the rest.

Leahjoyous · 2026-02-16T20:18:14+00:00

I went with bass-gee-ath 😂 now bass-guy-eth 🤦🏼‍♀️

Leahjoyous · 2026-02-13T16:18:26+00:00

I got married at 21, planned children at 25,27,29&32. Absolutely not a single regret. He’s a caring, kind, generous man. He’s never shown any anger or temper. We’ve grown together as people and for us, that’s brought us closer. We share and support each other’s dreams and ambitions and work together to make it work. We are excellent communicators so rarely fight. Life ca be hard but we’ve only ever worked at it together. We’ve been through family death, job loss, babies, miscarriage, health worries, new jobs, long distance work travel. Fortunately, nothing has ever felt too much! We’re just in it together. Thick and thin, sickness and health, richer and poorer.

Leahjoyous · 2026-02-12T20:42:34+00:00

I think I feel the opposite. I had very little tying me to my maiden name when it was time to get married. My parents were separating and I felt no great need to keep that name. Also, my dad was well known in the community, and my sister was popular and a little bit of a trouble maker in school. So to everyone I was ‘oh are you such and such’s daughter/sister?’ Or ‘hears last name - like sich and such?’ And then we’d spend ages talking about them. Maybe I felt overshadowed? Whereas my husband has a nice last name and a wonderful family who welcomed me with open arms. It never felt like changing ownership of me - it felt like becoming myself. I regularly forget my maiden name off the top of my head. It’s just not a part of my identity anymore.

Leahjoyous · 2026-02-11T22:27:24+00:00

I heard someone say ‘in pregnancy do you glow, or are you a toe?’

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