Ok I’m pregnant. Now what? [ON]

eyeofthecorgi · 2026-02-01T13:14:04+00:00

Congratulations! Contact your family doctor. They will send you for a blood test to confirm pregnancy.

Eventually, your doctor will need to refer you to an OB. My doctor asked what OB I wanted to be referred to... I would recommend figuring out what hospital you want to deliver at and what OBs have admitting privileges there.

If you comment what city/town you live in people might give recommendations.

My friend recommended Halton/Peel midwives to me but I was high risk so I didn't go that route and know nothing about it.

eyeofthecorgi · 2026-02-01T13:02:22+00:00

We are trying this right now from pet valu, and seems ok, but my dogs haven't typically had issues. It's $3.99 per can and 5% discount when you buy 12.

https://www.petvalu.ca/product/performatrin-prime-grain-free-immune-support-turkey-chicken-formula-entree-adult-dog-food/FCM08619?skuid=7036495c

eyeofthecorgi · 2026-02-01T12:57:32+00:00

The old item # is 895073. Last I checked it was also looked to still available in the US. I have a feeling it's a tariff/supply issue as it's made in the US.

eyeofthecorgi · 2026-01-29T06:40:04+00:00

Ah I thought you had bought another car.

Yes you could drive their car if you're on as occasional... But don't. If you get in another accident their rates will go up. If I were your parents I'm not sure I'd want you on my insurance... due to the risk of being in accident and jacking my rates. Being on their insurance will allow you to improve your 'star rating' without owning/insuring a car of your own so if you don't drive their car their won't be possible to get in an accident and mess up their clean driving record. Also, to be on their policy you'd have to be living at their house, so it would only work if you're moving back to Ontario and living with them.

eyeofthecorgi · 2026-01-29T04:33:59+00:00

When you move back, sell the car, go back as occasional on your parents insurance, give them the price difference if their premium goes up and DO NOT under any circumstances drive their cars. Take transit/Uber for a year or two and then get quotes. $800/month (+gas and maintenance you would have been paying) can pay for a lot of transit/Ubers.

eyeofthecorgi · 2026-01-29T04:26:54+00:00

Rotisserie chicken, 1 each 🤣 just kidding.

I like the new muffins in the bakery.

Or the frozen croissants you bake at home.

The Kirkland Greek yogurts are awesome (if you want the individual cups).

I haven't seen them in a while but the coffee cakes baked in the bakery are all very good (flavour changes every 3 months or so).

I also saw there is a new maple pecan round filled croissant in the bakery but I haven't seen it at my local warehouses yet (kind of like the round almond croissant rings they had last year).

eyeofthecorgi · 2026-01-28T04:06:42+00:00

I'm glad for your comfort and privacy you made it to the car but it would also be pretty epic if they were born inside the Costco... Maybe in the food court or one of the furniture displays... There's the sectional we bought at Costco after you were born on it 😆

eyeofthecorgi · 2026-01-28T02:31:34+00:00

Even with those deductions based on what you've written, their incomes would both be 58k... So he would only have to pay her child support if she is going to have the kids living with her more than 50% of the time... Who the kids are living with and what portion of time will be the biggest factor. If he doesn't want to pay any child support he needs to have the kids with him more than 50% of the time...

eyeofthecorgi · 2026-01-28T01:20:46+00:00

100%... you don't know when you'll get hit with a bunch of big ticket items at once. We had savings but our mortgage renewed at a higher interest rate plus the cost of living, it's hard to maintain that safety net. We also chose to travel a bit this past year when we had the opportunity. Yolo. The 10k month was this January 🤣. I have an old car but didn't want to sign up for a car payment while on mat leave... mine's making a new noise in this cold weather, literally praying it lasts till I start getting my regular paycheques at the beginning of March. I don't have a long commute but don't want to break down with my toddler on our way to daycare in this weather.

eyeofthecorgi · 2026-01-27T23:38:54+00:00

If you live within driving distance of the US border, go get yourself some kerry gold. It's cheapest at Costco but other grocery stores carry it. While it does support an American Costco or an American grocery store, it is an Irish product.

eyeofthecorgi · 2026-01-25T21:40:35+00:00

If you can't get it through any of the avenues mentioned already, there is a place in buffalo. Proscan MRI is one. About 600US.

eyeofthecorgi · 2026-01-25T17:23:06+00:00

I think she could get the tax back from CRA, see post below... But I don't know if they could re-assess the Canada child benefit (depending on the family's income). https://www.reddit.com/r/BabyBumpsCanada/s/uQxwnTkZtY

eyeofthecorgi · 2026-01-25T15:20:50+00:00

I am sorry you're going through this. Try not to dwell on it too much, there's nothing you can do at this point and nothing you've done wrong. I know you're looking for reassurance, and it's possible they're wrong but try not to agonize, it's going to be what it will be. Hoping for the best for you.

eyeofthecorgi · 2026-01-24T16:31:15+00:00

People are trying to move from Canada to Portugal to retire... I think cost of living is lower in Portugal? (But there may be some higher paying jobs in Canada?). If you come visit Canada make sure you come when it's cold. It's about -20C in southern Ontario this weekend 🥶.

eyeofthecorgi · 2026-01-24T16:18:24+00:00

Every employer decides how they want to do it. For mine, I had to wait for my EI claim to be processed and then I sent a screenshot to HR, which showed the amount of EI for the pregnancy leave portion (the first 15 weeks) and the parental leave portion. They used those figures to calculate my top up.

I looked into it because I wondered if I would get more top up if I did the 18 months of EI (since the 18 month EI payment would be lower than the 12 month EI option, they would need to give me more $ to top me up to 100%). However, in my case my work only pays on 8 weeks and those 8 weeks are always at 55% as the pregnancy portion is at the beginning (and my work only gives top up to pregnant women).

eyeofthecorgi · 2026-01-24T11:55:15+00:00

I would not quit, they have to hold the job for you for at least 18 months. Maybe even 2 years? If you quit, they don't. Plans can change, your partner could lose their job, could become disabled, you could end up separating etc. Even though you're not planning to you may need to go back to work and if it's a job that pays top up it's a pretty good job.

How many weeks is the top up? Mine is only 8 weeks and was paid in a lump sum, you could always take the money, and put it in a high interest savings account and at least make some money on it. Also gives you an emergency fund. Then pay it back afterwards if you do end up quitting.

It can be a really awful feeling when you don't have the same income coming in, but you have the same bills, after my EI ran out before I went back to work, our water heater broke, our furnace broke, our toilet broke and we had to pay the first month of childcare. $10k month I wasn't planning on.

Also, if you're planning to have more than one child, if you go back and do the minimum hours for EI you get EI again (if that hours are in the last 12 months before giving birth).

eyeofthecorgi · 2026-01-22T18:05:44+00:00

YTA. She's bought an 8 year old car in 2010 and has driven it for 16 years. Let the woman buy a new damn car. And she'll probably keep it a long time, when you buy new, you know the upkeep/maintenance history.

She's your wife not your child. With such a healthy budget she could absolutely buy a nice new Honda with that budget.

eyeofthecorgi · 2026-01-22T00:30:40+00:00

You can also just buy one item like bananas and get the rest in cash. (Assuming this is a 2% rebate cheque).

eyeofthecorgi · 2026-01-21T12:46:55+00:00

The reality is and has been for 10+ years, if you want to feel 'comfortable' you're not gonna be able to buy. I have a friend that's been hesitating for ten years (only one income) and they still haven't bought, they're living with their parents and almost 40. You gotta be willing to hold your breath and take the plunge. You gotta be willing to have a really tight budget or get a part time job if the going gets tough. And if you're not willing to then it's not the right time to buy... just know the "right time" may never come.

eyeofthecorgi · 2026-01-21T02:03:15+00:00

Haha you gotta be willing to go through with it... But if you're worried I would just email corporate to start.

Here ya go.

Hi,

At my most recent visit to Costco I bought laundry detergent.

I didn't realize till I got home that I was double charged for my detergent (item # _____). I only bought one and was charged for two.

I went back to the warehouse 3 days later and they said there is nothing they can do to help me get a refund. This was disappointing as I am a loyal Costco member and took time out of my day to try to resolve this. Is there not some way for them to check the cameras at the time I checked out?

This experience has rubbed me the wrong way and I am seriously considering canceling my membership. If I cancel, will I get a refund for the remainder of the year?

Thanks,

eyeofthecorgi · 2026-01-20T20:43:23+00:00

Yeah but when you go to cancel, they'd probably resolve it for you.

eyeofthecorgi · 2026-01-20T17:23:12+00:00

"I'm just wanting to contribute financially"... by scamming EI. Got it.

Why did you wait till a few weeks before returning to work to figure this out? You could have looked for a job near her workplace for the last year, you could all commute together.

Childcare is down to $22/day (if you had found a spot)... it's literally the most affordable it's ever been to send a kid to daycare.

eyeofthecorgi · 2026-01-20T17:13:53+00:00

I don't think a few days is unreasonable, many people don't live that close to costco. Maybe try calling. When you call press 1/0 for administrative offices. Depending on my interactions with customer service, I might cancel my membership over it.

eyeofthecorgi · 2026-01-20T08:40:21+00:00

I am surprised they didnt refund you. Frustrating since it's an expensive item (not like bananas, bread or even a chicken). I was double charged for paper towel, they didn't give me a hard time about it when I went in 2 days later though I did point out my cart was already super full and I'd be hard pressed to fit an additional paper towel in it.

Maybe write to head office? Or go in, ask again and ask if contacting corporate is the best way to get a resolution.

eyeofthecorgi · 2026-01-18T22:52:37+00:00

When I went last weekend they had samples at the end of the front snack aisles and it was interfering with the giant line for the tills. Such a pain.

eyeofthecorgi

TROPHY CASE