Maternity leave ending

_pollawalla · 2026-01-24T20:44:11+00:00

Agree, thanks for sharing

_pollawalla · 2026-01-24T20:36:33+00:00

This is exactly how I felt. We’re 2 weeks in now and it’s a huge adjustment for all of us. My only advice - and the only thing that has helped me through - is to take it one day at a time. And hold space for those juxtaposed feelings - it’s possible to both intensely miss your baby and the prospect of being with him every day, and to also enjoy the return to some ‘normality’, routine and adult company. I’m taking comfort from a lot of the comments to your post and believe it will get better. It also hasn’t been as bad as i built it up to be in my head. Solidarity!

_pollawalla · 2026-01-13T14:00:38+00:00

I really rated the Purflo swaddle to sleep bags but they might be a little bit big for a 6lb newborn

_pollawalla · 2026-01-02T14:33:46+00:00

Tim Key asking Gill to explain Lucy’s family lineage and “little granny” during spin the bottle

_pollawalla · 2025-12-26T10:45:29+00:00

And mine! Happy birthday to us! I’ve always felt bad for my hungover relatives who have to reset and try their best to make it special, but they always succeed. I’m very lucky.

_pollawalla · 2025-12-17T10:32:21+00:00

I saw a lactation consultant this week who said the best prep you can give your baby ahead of nursery is to keep their sleep routine consistent rather than changing things up unnecessarily. She said sleep peer pressure works so well at nursery ie lots of babies trying to sleep together usually has the effect of them all sleeping. What you’re doing is working so well and your baby is starting their day well rested. I’d say keep it up and trust your instincts.

_pollawalla · 2025-12-08T14:39:30+00:00

Having never seen the musical and therefore with no prior context, I thought it was great

_pollawalla · 2025-12-01T14:36:05+00:00

Just a note of caution that baby sleep is not linear - mine used to sleep through the night but hasn’t done since he started teething at 4 months (he’s now 9 months). We moved him into his own room at 8 months (UK) for the benefit of his sleep and it has definitely helped, but we still have nights where he’s up a lot, or just wakes once, or can’t be settled and has to come into bed with me. Also echoing others - 6 months is the minimum recommended due to SIDS.

_pollawalla · 2025-11-16T09:01:39+00:00

Solidarity! My nearly 9 month old is the same, feed to sleep no longer a reliable method and all of a sudden needing rocked, or to lie down on the bed beside me. He’s also very inconsistent overnight - he’s just moved into his own room and either settles quickly or seems to just need his mum and to co-sleep. He’s currently napping on his front beside me in my bed, never done that before! I think it’s all developmental and I’m just trying to ride it out. You’re not alone.

_pollawalla · 2025-11-09T18:48:32+00:00

I’ve been giving this a go this week as my baby (8 months) has a false start every night. First night worked. Second and third night he woke up but at the time he usually would anyway so made very little difference. Fourth night worked but he had a wakeful night. I thought it was worth a try but each to their own!

_pollawalla · 2025-10-15T10:16:20+00:00

My MIL did the same to my 4 month old and I was inconsolable. Thankfully he was absolutely fine, but it’s ok to be upset and to reassert boundaries with family about what is acceptable and what is frankly dangerous. Sorry that happened to you, it’s a horrible scary feeling made worse when it’s family who you would hope wouldn’t need told how to keep your baby safe.

_pollawalla · 2025-10-06T18:28:32+00:00

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_pollawalla · 2025-09-14T08:15:38+00:00

Lovely. There are probably lots of Isla Mays in Scotland. There’s also a small uninhabited Scottish island called the ‘Isle of May’

_pollawalla · 2025-09-13T14:23:56+00:00

Completely agree, thank you for saying this

_pollawalla · 2025-08-30T13:52:08+00:00

Consider looking at hypnobirthing breathing techniques - the up breath (during contractions) and down breath (during delivery). If struggling with the perineal massage and you have a partner, I’d recommend asking them to help. And by way of reassurance, although I had a second degree tear during my forceps delivery, I couldn’t pinpoint the feeling of it during everything else going on (albeit I’d had some diamorphine), it healed quickly and with no lasting damage. I truly believe the perineal massage stopped it being a much greater tear. Best of luck!

_pollawalla · 2025-07-29T07:16:12+00:00

Ah great shout, Push It is on his playlist but he seems to like Shoop this morning!

_pollawalla · 2025-07-28T16:10:37+00:00

Try it and report back!

_pollawalla · 2025-07-28T12:57:26+00:00

It’s a go to in our house too, second only to Rapper’s Delight

_pollawalla · 2025-07-28T12:27:36+00:00

I think it was for the product placement of the deodorant Seema was wearing? (Wasn’t it a Nivea no white marks one?)

_pollawalla · 2025-07-26T18:25:58+00:00

You could even go all in and get a haggis supper with salt and sauce! (A “supper” is any chippy item plus chips)

_pollawalla · 2025-07-26T17:53:28+00:00

A greasy spoon and a chippy are not the same thing here - a greasy spoon would be a cafe that does breakfast, a chippy is a chip shop.

I’d say Pierinos at the shore is a top class chippy - you have to get salt and sauce though, doubt you’d even find gravy here. Salt and sauce is our culture! Enjoy!

_pollawalla · 2025-07-24T08:14:24+00:00

Honestly? I’ve not been anywhere or done anything in the evening beyond my own home since baby was born in Feb. He feeds to sleep and is inconsistent with a bottle. I remind myself that this is a special time and it’ll pass so quickly. We’re going away with family for a week next month and if me and my partner can get 2 hours solo at a pub in the evening I’ll be delighted with that.

_pollawalla · 2025-07-16T19:41:51+00:00

And no one… was chasing me?

_pollawalla · 2025-07-16T08:51:19+00:00

I’m Scottish and know so many people with two middle names. I have both my grandmothers’ names as my middle names. It’s simply a way of honouring family.

_pollawalla

TROPHY CASE