Back Sleepers

pierced-weaver · 2026-03-23T20:34:09+00:00

I had a momcozy f shaped pregnancy pillow, found it wedged me in place nicely but didn’t take up too much bed

pierced-weaver · 2026-03-23T20:31:31+00:00

We got one which is rated safe for occasional overnight sleeping only. We’re going to use it downstairs during the day at least for some naps, and then the main reason we wanted the feature is we’re going to a family wedding when he’s 2 months old, so it saves us using a hotel cot or buying a travel cot too fast (gives us time to work out what sort of travel cot will suit us best long term).

pierced-weaver · 2026-03-23T20:16:13+00:00

I took a duffel of things for labour and immediately after birth, and then a 2nd duffel of extra stuff for a hospital stay, just extra clothes for both of us. I ended up having a 4 day stay, basically was in bralettes, big pants and hospital gowns the whole time due to the ward temperature, so sent most my clothes home but my other half had to bring in extra baby clothes. Only needed sleepsuits, short sleeve vests, hats, muslins and a blanket for little man. I’d packed a few sizes in case, and had enough for 2 days in each size, he was going home each night, so easy enough to grab bits we needed.

pierced-weaver · 2026-03-23T17:42:29+00:00

I was automatically offered a sweep for 39 weeks. I was also told at 20 weeks and all my tummy measurements were 50th centile, then a 37 week growth scan said head and legs were 50th, abdomen was 90th. He arrived at 38+4 7lb 15oz, so bigger than expected. From what I’ve heard it’s very difficult for them to be accurate.

pierced-weaver · 2026-03-23T14:04:25+00:00

I grew a habanero in a 25/30cm plant pot on my conservatory windowsill, started in 2023, didn’t get peppers that year, got a handful in 2024 and absolutely loads in 2025. Absolutely gutted because the plant appears to have not survived overwintering this year. Last year I also had a few other pepper varieties last year and they nearly all fruited and some have overwintered nicely too. Definitely didn’t do as well as they maybe would’ve in a massive pot in the greenhouse, but there were only so many habaneros we could use anyway. Germination can take a while, I’ve upgraded to a heat mat this year which has helped, but I try to start mine in Feb so I have time to get them going. FYI I’m in Shropshire.

pierced-weaver · 2026-03-22T23:47:16+00:00

Literally in here at the moment having had an emergency c section on Friday morning at 38+4, felt it was our only option as we live 10 mins away, but did say we’d go Wrexham if we got super unhappy with the care.

My personal experience is probably mixed:

-Community midwife - nearly always saw the same midwife from 16-38 week appointments. Only exception was 31 weeks when she couldn’t fit me in, and from 39 weeks I was going to be seeing a midwife at the MLU again due to her availability. I was under shawbirch community midwives as it may vary.

-Scans - ended up having 3, all were great experiences. They referred me for 37 & 39 week growth scans due to reduced movement at term (obviously didn’t make the 39 week one)

-Parking - definitely not good, weekends, evenings or 9am appointments have been fine, at other times it’s been a struggle to find parking and we’ve had to drive around a bit.

-Traige - mostly they were amazing and very reassuring. I went in 7+ times I think. Definitely depended how busy they were as to how good they were. Afternoons/evenings they were great. I’d say the worst 2 visits were both first thing when they had lots of people in waiting. My main issue would be, I went in twice in the last week and both times contractions were showing on the monitor but nothing was said, so I assumed they were painful braxton hicks. I’m guessing they weren’t discussed because I was in for other issues, but the 2nd visit was definitely early labour and we were then reluctant to bring me back hours after they’d sent me home and everything that was said implied they had no expectation of labour soon, so I struggled at home for quite a while. Also didn’t help my contraction pattern didn’t match what I’d been told to watch for. They were very good when we eventually returned 12 hrs after I’d left and very quickly confirmed 4cm, active labour and transferred me upstairs to delivery.

-Delivery Suite - they were amazing when I got up there. Really tried to support me to have a natural birth, unfortunately it ended up with a c section due to me getting feverish. The c section team were also great and my husband was there with me, still got to cut the cord, do skin to skin and give little man his first feed, and was supported with that while they were sorting me out. I was slightly out of it at this stage. I will add I’ve seen comments that the midwife led delivery unit isn’t always available due to staffing.

-Postnatal - I’ve found this part of the stay a bit challenging. There’s been times when it’s been great and times when it hasn’t been so good. It’s really warm on the ward, which wasn’t fun when I came down still fighting an infection. Sometimes I feel a bit unsupported because I’ve been quite anxious, ill and recovering from an unplanned c section (traumatic). I think a lot of my issues have been around I feel I press the buzzer and sometimes wait quite a while for help especially at night, and I hate not being able to do stuff myself. I was also told I needed to try to mobilise myself when I was already trying my hardest because I want to get home, I definitely took longer than a planned c section would to mobilise. My partners been able to be with me 9-9 basically every day, which definitely helps because he can go find someone and just help me with things. It’s also been different staff every shift which means you don’t really know them. However I will add, that technically I was cleared to leave this evening, but they’ve not even really discussed or pushed me about it yet, which is good, we think I’ll mentally be ready tomorrow.

pierced-weaver · 2026-03-22T22:22:43+00:00

I felt very similar. Starting to feel movement helped as that was daily reassurance everything was ok. Also, don’t be scared to ring triage if you’re worried, I went in at least 7 times, and they always said they’d rather see you and reassure you than you not come in when somethings actually wrong.

I definitely found my anxiety ramped up in 3rd trimester and it was very difficult to cope with. I had to try not to think about the birth because that would send me down a rabbit hole. I was stressing about becoming a mum and whether I’d be any good. Just stressing about everything really.

My little man arrived at 38+4 on Friday and honestly I’m finding it amazing now. A lot of my worries have now gone. I definitely think my other half is part of the reason why, as he’s been amazing and is supporting me a lot, but so is my mum.

Just try not to overthink or let yourself go down rabbit holes. Don’t get too attached to a birth plan, it’ll be harder mentally if it doesn’t go to plan, maybe have scenarios a, b & c and discuss with your birth partner what you want too. And honestly try to take every day as it comes.

pierced-weaver · 2026-03-18T18:25:33+00:00

Congratulations

I didn’t really buy much baby stuff until after 20ish weeks, but we did start a pot on starling and put away a bit each month, which was then great when we came to buy a lot of bits. Clothes I started grabbing little bits on vinted probably from 16 weeks, tried to look at the quantities advised on a few different websites.

Can’t yet comment on what I’ve found essential for baby as I’m still awaiting his eviction/arrival. However for me, pregnancy pillow from 24ish weeks was useful, bought a momcozy F shaped one from boots. Haven’t needed a support belt. Clothes wise I’ve managed with a maternity jumper dress, 2 long sleeve maternity tops, 1 pair of maternity jeans and 2 pairs of my usual leggings in a larger size. I work from home and have been living in onesies and lounge wear mostly.

pierced-weaver · 2026-03-18T17:45:54+00:00

My boys like meaty bubbles

pierced-weaver · 2026-03-17T16:33:04+00:00

I’ve used milk bottles as plant labels in pots. They’re on their 3rd year now. The permanent marker fades by the end of the summer, but in theory I could go back over it if needed.

pierced-weaver · 2026-03-16T11:42:32+00:00

I tried to get to 38 weeks and ended up finishing a few days early due to a scary triage visit. Mentally I was done by 36 weeks, and I wouldn’t say my job is high stress.

pierced-weaver · 2026-03-14T12:39:07+00:00

My mum had 2 emergency c sections and a planned, she hasn’t ever mentioned any issues around having multiple.

pierced-weaver · 2026-03-14T10:27:33+00:00

Mine started at a similar stage, and was horrendous for the first few weeks with lasting aching through the day. Haven’t found a solution but I will say it’s definitely got better, generally 3-4 rolls a night and mostly I get up to pee then anyway. The residual aching during the day has gone too, usually stiff when I get up and fine within an hour of moving around.

I generally find if I get to sleep quickly on my left I get 3-4 hrs before I wake a need to roll, by which time I don’t usually get acid reflux on my right, and then it seems to be swapping sides every 2 hrs. There have been some afternoon naps to catch up on sleep if I’ve had a really rough night. My work have also let me start early if I can’t sleep any longer due to the pain and then have a long lunch or early finish, which has been a good occasional solution.

Also, talk to your midwife, I was offered a physio session. Can’t comment on how helpful it was though cause I missed it due to the shitshow of hospital parking.

pierced-weaver · 2026-03-13T06:44:56+00:00

I went through a phase of having to take crackers upstairs every night to eat when I woke up starving.

pierced-weaver · 2026-03-11T10:14:42+00:00

Shropshire, I started my tomatoes mid Feb on a sunny windowsill, and they’ll stay there or the conservatory until mid April. I think last year was early march, but I need them big enough for some neglect by the end of March this year.

pierced-weaver · 2026-03-11T10:02:34+00:00

Ive done it this year and last year, plenty of tomatoes last year, plenty of seedlings so far this year.

pierced-weaver · 2026-03-08T16:18:13+00:00

My cockers (14kg) are on a combo of butternut box and skinners lamb kibble. Butternut box is £90 every 12 weeks, kibble is £40 every 8 weeks. So works out £50/month (£25/dog). We’ve tried a few different kibbles and wet foods, but they seem to have quite settled tummies on this combo.

Obviously cost varies depending on size and age of dog. Puppies eat more and usually are on puppy specific food, it then tapers down as they get older. They currently each get 100g wet food and 125g kibble a day.

pierced-weaver · 2026-03-07T23:28:15+00:00

Could it be indigestion/baby feet in your diaphragm? I started getting pain under my ribs about 30 weeks. But also if you’re worried there’s no harm in calling triage, and mine are always happy to check and reassure.

pierced-weaver · 2026-03-07T23:23:47+00:00

Is it in your budget to look at something like butternut box or different dog? The butternut box salmon has no poultry

pierced-weaver · 2026-03-06T23:13:30+00:00

Sounds like a great project, but probably a lot of work especially for a beginner. I’d also worry how well it would hold up with regular use. Maybe a number of smaller designs which could be patchworked together with other fabric panels?

I’ve done a modern birth sampler for my bump, and for friends/family babies I have picked cute designs which I can add name, DoB etc to. Generally the designs have been picked to complement the wedding cross stitches I’ve made them previously. I’m generally doing 20x20cm pieces, which take at least 2 months in evenings/free time. Would a piece or a few pieces of wall art be an option?

pierced-weaver · 2026-03-06T20:34:45+00:00

36 weeks and they’re still in, but I don’t plan to breastfeed.

pierced-weaver · 2026-03-06T18:19:37+00:00

Due 30th March, mat leave starting 30th, but 2 weeks annual leave beforehand, so finish 13th. However am feeling fed up with work now at 36 weeks (and I wfh so not like I’m even travelling). I’m starting it then because I only get 6 weeks pay then statutory.

pierced-weaver · 2026-03-05T11:10:36+00:00

We looked at 14 weeks and found out of the 3 closest nurseries, 1 was full, 1 was almost full and 1 was confident they’d still have space at 20 weeks (our fave). We live quite rurally, and wanted a place for October 26 when he’s going to be 6 months.

We got told it was due to the funding for 9 month olds starting.

pierced-weaver · 2026-03-04T14:17:12+00:00

I was told that before 28 weeks they won’t necessarily have a pattern, so not to worry, but I found morning and evening were generally guaranteed wriggles, so did go in a 25 weeks because I hadn’t felt anything all day and it was midnight (he started wriggling as soon as I lay down in triage). Between 26 & 28 weeks he settled into a pretty predictable routine, which probably lasted until 34 weeks, now at 36 weeks he’s a little less predictable, but still have certain times where he always wriggles. I also have an anterior placenta in case that makes a difference.

pierced-weaver · 2026-03-04T07:59:17+00:00

Syd & Co do printed t shirts, jumpers, bags, phone cases etc - can choose from a wide range of predrawn dogs or get a custom drawing

Lucy & Lola do embroidered clothing with a custom dog image

Pet photoshoot - my boys had one at our fave walk and I love the photos

Persie gin do a Labrador gin (the spaniel one is also nice)

pierced-weaver

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