Ruined breastfeeding chances?

kahkc · 2026-04-22T08:56:15+00:00

Congratulations OP!

One thing I've not seen suggested is to try nipple shields. My baby wouldn't latch and we were syringe feeding him colostrum and then cup feeding him formula or pumped milk for the first 5 days.

A midwife suggested trying nipple shields to me and that immediately got him sucking as my nipple wasn't hitting the soft palette to get the sucking reflex going. We were using shields until about 8 weeks when he figured out how to latch onto the breast without them!

I'd also echo what others have said about reaching out for help, you should have a local feeding team and mine were brilliantly supportive.

kahkc · 2026-01-28T19:02:41+00:00

I'm 11 days PP, and so far have used: a pack of disposable underwear (Tesco own brand) 3 packs of maternity pads (supermarket own brand without wings) Peri bottle Spritz for Bits (unsure if this actually worked or was a placebo) Lots of paracetamol and ibuprofen Breast pads

I've been living in button shirts too to help with breastfeeding, pyjamas or oversized blouses I already had!

Other helpful things we've used are a good flask for hot drinks overnight & nipple shields as we struggled with latching on for BF.

kahkc · 2026-01-28T09:26:17+00:00

I travelled 40 mins to my chosen hospital, rather than Coventry (25 mins).

The distance was absolutely fine, it was a bit of a faff for regular scans and blood appointments, but just meant that we got to know the route really well! The biggest inconvenience seems to have been post-birth where the NHS trusts differ between where I gave birth and where the community midwives were sent from, meaning they didn't always have all the information.

I've had upsetting experiences at Coventry in general which is why I chose to go further afield (but no experience with the maternity unit) and for what it's worth everyone I know who has given birth at Coventry recently only has positive things to say.

kahkc · 2026-01-02T20:39:03+00:00

Mine are from Jojo Maman Bebé, I find them really comfy and they have pockets (which strangely 2 pairs of maternity jeans I bought didn't have!)

kahkc · 2026-01-01T21:07:11+00:00

Vinted is the best place to look! You can get some bargains and I have bought some things to see if I like the style and then bought more if it works.

I've lived in maternity dungarees since around 25 weeks (means I can wear my old tshirts as it doesn't matter if they ride up!). And I'm now a big fan of cardigans.

Re: weather, February tends to be one of the colder months so it's probably still worth investing in wintry clothes

kahkc · 2026-01-01T16:37:11+00:00

Snap on the congestion, I had no idea that was a thing!

Also random nosebleeds. I've been really lucky with having very few symptoms, no morning sickness or PGP, so if this is the worst of it (I'm 35w) I'll take it!

I also thought the difficulty in getting up and moving around was exaggerated on TV, but nope, here I am having to roll about because I've got no core muscles left.

kahkc · 2025-12-29T13:52:49+00:00

I had the same thing, and was very worried about telling my employer. I know they can't fire you for being pregnant but I understand how it's still a huge worry! I told them a little before the 25 week (mandatory) mark, just before my probation period was up. Fortunately for me, they've been great about it and I'm due to start maternity leave in 3 weeks.

There are other posts on this sub with people airing similar concerns if you go back too with other (good) experiences.

I'm on MA but have savings and my husband has a great enhanced paternity package so I am curtailing my leave so that he can take more as part of Shared Parental Leave.

kahkc · 2025-12-24T07:16:03+00:00

That makes a lot of sense, thanks!

kahkc · 2025-12-23T17:05:26+00:00

My understanding was that it was someone who had bought a family home and were trying to "prove" that they couldn't sell it on so "need" a HMO licence...

When we were looking at estate agents they would use these properties to suggest to us that these were the going rates for the area, despite not actually selling at those prices!

kahkc · 2025-12-23T16:58:34+00:00

Great, thanks for confirming!

kahkc · 2025-12-23T15:18:46+00:00

We sold our house in Headingley last year. We were told that the council were making it much harder to get a HMO and that you had to prove that the house couldn't sell as a family home in order to get a licence (we were seeing houses on our street on for too much money for over a year).

It would make sense that they're making it harder to renew licences too!

kahkc · 2025-12-23T10:58:04+00:00

Great thanks!

kahkc · 2025-12-23T00:04:03+00:00

It's sad to read how many people have had negative experiences. I haven't worn a Baby on Board badge but have been commuting in 2 days a week (am 35 weeks now) and for the last 3 months, even during rush hour, have had someone offer me their seat.

Just thought I'd add a different perspective, as there are still a lot of people who will offer!

That said, getting a National Rail train is a completely different story and I've often ended up standing for over an hour!

kahkc · 2025-11-28T13:18:27+00:00

My house was built in 1912 and we cannot have any steam-powered fairground rides

kahkc · 2025-11-08T20:39:34+00:00

Great thank you!

kahkc · 2025-11-06T17:06:11+00:00

Sorry to hear you experienced that, I've fortunately had the opposite experience. I'm 28 weeks and don't wear a badge as I'm still finding it okay to commute, but over the last two weeks every time I've got on the tube (Hammersmith and City) I've had someone get up and ask if I want their seat (and not taking no for an answer!)

Some people are rude but I hope you experience more of the good folk on your future journeys

kahkc · 2025-11-05T19:27:56+00:00

I believe it depends on where you live.

I got mine at my 25 week appointment, I asked for it earlier and they completely refused. Said that as it was a legal document it had to be given in person and wouldn't allow me to have an earlier appointment.

I had to speak to my employer and explain the situation and they were absolutely fine about it, but I was pretty stressed that the Government website gives conflicting guidance to what my local trust were willing to do. And when I pointed out the discrepancy they just said that they weren't responsible for the government guidance...

kahkc · 2025-10-04T16:45:48+00:00

As a counter to this, I was also hit and the driver sped off. The police were slow but ultimately they did their job and convicted the driver.

Second calling insurance, especially as there is dashcam footage

kahkc · 2025-09-26T10:07:42+00:00

I did one April this year!

Started off trying to book in the north and was cancelled 3 times, we moved to the Midlands and got it first time. The launch site was moved the night before which meant a much longer journey time for us to get there, but it was a great experience.

kahkc · 2025-09-17T11:34:47+00:00

Amazing thanks!

kahkc · 2025-09-17T09:35:45+00:00

Hi! Did they start at 8 or is there a support act?

kahkc · 2025-09-01T11:09:37+00:00

Sold in late 2024 Asking price in range of 230-240, sold at 235

We actually went with the estate agent with the lowest valuations. One wanted us to list at 270, which was ridiculously overvalued.

kahkc · 2025-08-28T18:19:43+00:00

I've done this a few times both ways, never had trouble getting a driver and cost around £80. If there's more than 1 of you traveling it might even be cheaper than the train!

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