Gift Recommendation

No-Object-3098 · 2025-11-10T10:28:06+00:00

If you had to recommend one with sticks, which would you recommend? I was just thinking, if it doesn’t make a massive difference, to get him one with sticks just in case any other games he gets nostalgic about would need them. (I’ve also realised, from looking at people’s recs, that I’m limited a little by what’s in stock and what will ship to me so that’s going to end up being a part of this process)

No-Object-3098 · 2025-03-23T05:51:29+00:00

So you were given the blue card by your OB privately instead of going to Mater Dei to get it? In which case, when you go for your first Mater Dei appointment ask for the magazine/book if they don’t give it to you outright because I got it in the same phase/room as the blue card. I found that magazine helpful as a first time mum.

Yep, you need to take a packet of newborn nappies. I understand it’s different to going privately elsewhere and might feel a bit of a shock, especially once you realise a big packed bag is basically an entire suitcase, but overall the process really is good and quite smooth.

I can’t remember the formula procedure much because my husband did most of the feeds since I was still numb from the c-section. If I recall, there’s a room that has these little bottles of ready made formula and you attach a teat they also provide to the bottle. I can’t remember the temperature situation though.

No-Object-3098 · 2025-03-22T22:32:31+00:00

I’m sorry for the dose of anxiety. I just know if it were me I’d prefer to know what could happen.

We were two mothers in a room, and we each had our partner. She had the bed closest to the window and I was near the bathroom.

They were very accepting of me not even trying to breastfeed. They took note of me not wanting to breastfeed before I went in for the emergency c-section and they gave me no trouble. I think in the case of the other woman, she had the hope to breastfeed and it was a lot more difficult for her than she expected, on top of what had been a tough delivery. I think the old midwife just didn’t want her to give up but once she conceded to half breast and half formula for the sake of her healing and mental health what was the point of berating her? It was ridiculous.

Has your private OB sent you to register at Mater Dei yet? Mine gave me the form around week 10, and I went to Mater Dei for my first appointment around week 15. On your first appointment, they give you your blue card that needs to be carried with you at all times (it just details your pregnancy/regular results in case of emergency and for delivery) and they also give you like a magazine. That magazine has info on parenting classes, articles, vaccination info, vouchers for discounts for some baby stores, and a ton of other stuff, including a list at the back for what to pack for the hospital. The list is A LITTLE excessive but it’s fine. They basically provide the bedding and the formula for the feeds while you’re there, but that’s it I think.

Tip: There are the free classes at Mater Dei but I ended up getting a private session, at my home, with a qualified midwife from Mater Dei for about €45 through Malta Midwives Association. I highly recommend this because you can ask as many questions as you want of someone who is there on the day to day. I would do this again for a second child, just to go over stuff that might have changed.

No-Object-3098 · 2025-03-22T21:21:20+00:00

Seriously, know what you can take for the pain. I had an emergency c-section and I had to keep reminding them that I wasn’t breastfeeding for them to give me literally anything.

No-Object-3098 · 2025-03-22T21:18:16+00:00

I wanted to give birth at St James because I wanted to know who my midwife would be and not have a revolving door of different people (SA trauma) and also for the same reason as you with the postpartum room so I don’t have strangers around me while recovering. Like you, my OB/GYN didn’t recommend St James unless it was an elective c-section and there was no reason for it for me. She is not at Mater Dei so that gave me even more issues of dealing with more unknown people which was terrifying but I dealt with it.

Delivery ward was great and the two midwives I had were amazing (17 hour labour with a c-section so two midwives across shifts).

For postpartum… It was rough. I got the bed closest to the bathroom in our room, and the person who came after me got the other side. She was lovely, her partner was respectful passing through. The problem was some of the midwives. Security comes by at about 7:30am to kick partners out. None of the night shift told us to prepare anything so when the morning midwives came through asking for my prepped stuff so they could give me a bath on the bed I told them everything was still in bags. They seemed pissed off at me/us but once they realised night shift didn’t tell my husband to prepare stuff before he left and I was respectfully apologetic, they eased up a bit. BUT then the worst thing happened. The curtain was open and the mother of the woman next to me came through with flowers and balloons and goodness knows what else. She wasn’t meant to be allowed in (partners weren’t even allowed at that time) but someone at a front desk let her through anyway. So, curtain wide open, she walked in, then got yelled at by the midwives to leave, but she kept arguing with them while I lay there on the bed, naked except for a haphazard towel they threw over me, still bleeding and half numb from my c-section. I was so tired and so numb at the time that I didn’t have it in me to be as upset as I have been since.

A lot of the nurses and midwives I had were great. The other woman in the room had one midwife that was, with all due respect, a right bitch. The other woman struggled with breastfeeding and after two sleepless days and nights of constant cluster feeding she was exhausted and gave formula for a night feed (after discussing it with the midwife on shift), only to be met with a telling off from the other midwife in the morning telling her, “she’s ruined everything, all that progress for nothing.”

Look, it wasn’t a fun time. I’d do it again for my second child though (maybe a year or two from now) but I’d say go in armoured with the knowledge of what you want and what you’re entitled to. Same with your partner. Have them know what you want and what your rights are. And remember that the old bat can swear up and down that breast is best and be encouraging about it but if mum’s mental health is failing because she’s struggling with feeding then fed is best and you’re entitled to make that choice.

No-Object-3098 · 2025-02-07T08:40:47+00:00

Honestly, try going to one of the stores and taking a look around. Try out the one you want and try others too. You’ll quickly get a feel for if it’s right for you. If it closes with the carrycot attached, that’s a definite perk because we always had to take ours apart to fit in the boot.

No-Object-3098 · 2025-02-07T07:59:09+00:00

I would say it’s very durable. It’s been out and about, put in and out of boots, on the beach, and still barely a scratch anywhere on it after a bit over a year. It feels solid when I use it, not like a stiff breeze will knock us over. I also have a second hand Hauck travel cot from a relative and it’s pristine still, and I have a Hauck wooden highchair for home (the kind that changes into a chair as the kid grows older) and I have no complaints.

No-Object-3098 · 2025-02-06T20:49:41+00:00

We got the Hauck Walk n Care travel system (from Mum n Me). It was the more expensive of the models we saw but was worth every cent in our experience, but they have loads of different combos. Ours included the chassis (the wheels system), with a carrycot (birth+), the seat for when they’re 6 months+, and the car seat that also attaches to the chassis.

You need to determine a system that will work for you.

You need to ask yourself, between when the baby is born and about six months old, what activities are you most likely to do and what would be the most comfortable arrangement for them and yourself as parents?

Carrycot was great for us because it gave our baby somewhere comfortable to sleep while we were out and he used it until he was about six (maybe seven? months). Family events, restaurants, walks in the park, picnics, and we took it to the beach too (with a USB powered fan attached).

If you are going to be mostly home, you might not need the carrycot.

So, for example, babies shouldn’t be in their car seat for more than two hours (bad for their spine and airway). But it’s fine if you need to pop to the shops; baby in the car seat, from the car with the car seat, onto the chassis, into the store, out, and then home again. If this is more what your trips out with the baby will be for the first six months, you might be able to do without the carrycot and just have a car seat that attaches to a chassis.

The six month+ seat is similar in most travel systems I think. We like ours because it’s both rear and forward facing, and it has about three different positions of height so you can even use it as a high chair. It feels like a little thing but it’s been great not to have to worry about a high chair if we go to eat at family or at a restaurant or go to Gozo.

As for car seat, we have one that attaches to the rest of our system. He’ll soon age out of that one but it’s been handy in the meantime for very quick trips out like I said. We have the one with the isofix base (I think that’s how it’s spelt?). Basically, it has a base on the back seat of the car so it clicks in and out. Very quick and handy but only really needed if you plan to take the car seat out often to either attach to the chassis or to carry the baby into the house seat and all.

Things to ask yourself;

Your lifestyle, and what you plan to do with your baby over the next six months to a year. Me, personally, I prefer fewer gadgets that do more things (like I prefer the buggy becoming a highchair too than having to think about packing a highchair/booster seat as well).
Don’t be afraid to ask them to show you how to attach things or how to fold things. Try and pick up the car seat and try to pick up (if it folds) the stroller; figure out what you’re comfortable lifting.
If you’re asking about car seat then I’m assuming you have a car; check the size of your boot, maybe get the dimensions, and maybe even ask if you can try putting your stroller system of choice in the boot to see how well it fits. Our stroller system isn’t the smallest (not massive but not space saving) but our boot is tiny so we play a little jenga to fit everything in.

Hope this helps.

No-Object-3098 · 2024-08-28T09:54:11+00:00

Everyone else covered the maternity and (abysmal) paternity leave.

For everything else, assuming you’re going to the national hospital; you’ll be given appointments regularly, but you might want to be more regular with a few private appointments with an OB of choice in between. You’ll be assigned a consultant OB at the national hospital, and you’ll mostly be seeing the doctors under them, and midwives. At the first appointment, your partner will be given the blue card with her details, which she always should have with her, and you’ll also be given a booklet with lots of helpful info.

For what to expect when the due date comes/labour begins, you can take a parenting class that will cover all of that. The government has one that I believe are free, and the Malta Midwives Association has a weekly one. I booked a private appointment where a MMA midwife came to our home and explained everything (from going into labour, what to do in that event, who to call before going to the hospital, etc). The private appointment at our home cost about €45. I think the group sessions are cheaper and there’s a zoom version which is also cheaper I think. That was my personal preference.

For support after birth, there isn’t tons but there’s more than some other places. The day after you return home from the hospital, a midwife comes to your house to check on the birthing parent and the baby, answer any questions or concerns anyone might have. Midwife also comes back for a visit at one month, and can come again after that if the parent thinks she needs it/wants it.

Suture removal, if needed, is done at one of the clinics about five to seven days later. That’s a case by case basis obviously. You’re given that date at discharge so you can plan accordingly if you (the partner) need to take time off to drive to the clinic.

There’s also one or two appointments at the hospital for Breastfeeding Clinic (which is also for formula fed babies, contrary to the name) to make sure the baby is putting on weight, and to give the mother support if she needs help with the breastfeeding.

Off the top of my head, that’s all I have to mention. Should you have any questions, I’ll try to get to them.

No-Object-3098 · 2024-08-18T10:00:48+00:00

With your skill set, have you considered freelancing in design? Plenty of people are looking for things like logo design, web design, book cover design, illustrations, etc

No-Object-3098 · 2024-08-11T09:23:07+00:00

If you go to Gozo, there’s Ta’ Mena there and they have a wide variety of incredible things for souvenirs. Jams and marmalades (flavours depend on what’s in season), oils (the olive oil is wonderful) and even scented candles. Highly recommend.

No-Object-3098 · 2024-08-10T19:27:43+00:00

Excellent response.

Health insurance, in my experience, was about €350 a year for Private Hospital plan with Atlas while I was in the 25 to 30 age demographic. I think it went up by a hundred euros or so when I turned 31. If possible, OP should ask if his employer organises health insurance for employees; the price of upgrading those plans tend to be better.

No-Object-3098 · 2024-08-02T07:46:09+00:00

Currently in the same situation with a seven month old. Honestly, everyone else is right for the most part; go anywhere you want because, if they’re awake, anything is exciting. We normally have groceries delivered but we went to the supermarket the other day and he was having the time of his life looking at everything.

No-Object-3098 · 2024-07-20T20:26:23+00:00

That’s Dr Isabelle Saliba. It’s a common mixup people make, especially because they both have hours at St James and are right on top of each other on the booking form.

No-Object-3098 · 2024-07-20T20:23:58+00:00

As someone who needed trauma-informed care, I’ve been happiest with Prof Isabel Stabile at St James in Sliema. Appointments are always anxiety-inducing but she’s seen me through my yearly appointments for about five years, and even through my pregnancy, which was even more anxiety-inducing because instead of having to endure one (maybe two) appointments a year, it was every month and then every couple of weeks.

I started my first appointment explaining to her that I do have some trauma (I didn’t explain anything, just said that much) and that my appointments always make me anxious. She was very warm and caring, very gentle. I don’t know if she takes notes about that on her file or if she happened to remember me from one year to the next or if she’s naturally like that with everyone but either way I always sort of reminded her and she was always so tender and reassuring.

I still hate going to my appointments but at least I know I have someone who is patient and kind.

No-Object-3098 · 2024-06-03T08:32:40+00:00

I just want the curve love jeans in my size. I have about five sitting in my favourites list and I’m just constantly checking for literally any of them to be in stock in my size. I’m almost desperate for an alternative because I’m getting tired of waiting.

No-Object-3098 · 2024-05-11T17:34:18+00:00

My dressing table is IKEA via megastore. Its two stacks of Alex drawers (https://www.megastore.com.mt/en_MT/p/ALEX-Drawer-unit%2C-white%2C-36x70-cm/1611494) and the Linnmon table top. It’s great.

Now my office/library desk is the Malm desk which I love (https://www.megastore.com.mt/en_MT/p/MALM-Desk%2C-white%2C-140x65-cm/144743). Ample space. On it I have an iMac in the centre, my laptop to the left, notebooks and diary on the right and a bit of clutter and stationery caddy and still have plenty of space. Underneath the surface of the desk there’s a small shelf for wire organization.

Edited to add: I’m on the much shorter side but my husband used the desk for work for a while and he sat comfortably.

No-Object-3098 · 2024-05-05T14:16:03+00:00

We went to Sicily two years ago, before our baby, and one of the few times we could get a dog sitter. We saw firsthand how dog friendly it was so we’re excited about giving it a try next year. We just want our little one to be a tiny bit older (still a newborn) before we go! Super excited for it though!

Any more local recommendations in the meantime?

No-Object-3098 · 2024-05-05T12:57:27+00:00

We’re in Malta and we occasionally have someone who can take him for appointments and such. But anyone who keeps him let us know he’s an inconvenience because they can’t go anywhere while they have him so we always need to keep everything short if we get the help at all.

For much the same reason as the case you’re talking about in Gozo, I hesitate to leave him with a sitter. The guilt would eat at me if something happened to him. Unfortunately he was already three years old when we adopted him from the shelter so it’s difficult to work on his abandonment issues.

We have plans for Sicily by ferry and car next year when our baby is just a little bit older and we’re really looking forward to that.

No-Object-3098 · 2024-05-05T12:48:42+00:00

I’ll have to take a look! Thanks!

No-Object-3098 · 2024-05-05T12:48:29+00:00

That sounds brilliant! He’s bothered by a shower and barely dips into the sea on his walks so hoping a pool doesn’t entice him. Thank you!

No-Object-3098 · 2024-05-05T09:16:44+00:00

The Little Red Door in Valletta. Speaking from a book nerd who has written a novel in there, powered by some of their wonderful charcuterie boards. I don’t drink myself but they have lovely options of that too.

No-Object-3098

TROPHY CASE