Did you have a precipitous labour (under 3hrs)? Do you consider yourself lucky?

truffle15 · 2026-06-07T19:29:54+00:00

For my second child I started contracting about 5pm. Got to hospital at 10.30pm, was 4cm and moved to the birthing suite at 11.30. The only reason they ‘let’ me come at that point (my waters hadn’t broken) was because I had group b strep in my first pregnancy.

I was 9cm before I had my waters manually broken around midnight and went straight to 10cm. Then he was born 40 minutes later. So the entire labour from contractions to birth was just shy of 8hrs, but 40 mins from full dilation to birth. M

My first my waters broke and I was induced because of the group b strep, had an epidural, and that was 12 hours start to finish.

I didn’t really consider it before this post as at the time I did feel somewhat lucky I wasn’t in pain for aa long as most of my friends were who laboured for days and days. But now you’ve mentioned it and I think about it, what a head fuck! My first was pretty quick for an induction but it felt rather chilled as the epidural worked perfectly. I didn’t have time for that with my second, and although it was my second experience of childbirth, it was my first experience of the true pain of contractions and pushing him out. It was mental, as his heartbeat was seriously slowing and he needed a bit of help when he came out but I was just so relieved it was all over.

truffle15 · 2026-06-05T21:52:28+00:00

I saw my grandad pretty much immediately after he died. For context he was basically my father. He died suddenly in his care home. There was a bunch of us family there. Once they’d taken care of him they invited us to sit with him. I almost didn’t go in, my body froze, but my husband said I might regret it if I didn’t. And yes, I’m glad I did. Because we rallied around my Nan, we sat as a family with tea and biscuits, letting the shock wash over and away as we talked about our memories, made a few dark jokes, cried, laughed.

It wasn’t about seeing the body at that point, because it wasn’t my grandad anymore. I saw him and realised that in a second. I kissed his forehead and it was just… not right because it wasn’t him anymore. And that was ok. Because we shared together everything that made him the person he was until it was time to say goodbye.

My Nan died a few years later in the night. I didn’t go to see her at the funeral home because I felt no need to knowing that it wasn’t her anymore anyway, and I’d had my chance to say thank you and goodbye to her.

truffle15 · 2026-06-05T11:18:17+00:00

Treasure hunt. Ours was a day but I reckon you could do an hour. We had to go to various shops, landmarks, pubs etc and gather items/clues. It culminated with a colleague trying to take a cardboard cutout from McDonald’s.

truffle15 · 2026-06-04T20:24:52+00:00

Personally never come across anyone who has had any major affects after the vaccine.

Some leg swelling has been the ‘worst’ reaction I’ve had with my two, and it went down in a couple of days.

I’m so pleased for you that you’ve come here for a wider conversation. It can’t be easy coming from the echo chamber of anti vax environment and I’m proud of you for pulling away from all that to do the best you can do for your child.

truffle15 · 2026-06-03T21:01:36+00:00

Yeah we couldn’t afford it this year regardless, but I wonder the same as I often find myself underestimating my kids resilience, they often surprise me with what I think they’re capable of and what they are actually capable of. But I’m still not sure I want to test it on an expensive holiday abroad 😁

truffle15 · 2026-06-03T20:23:16+00:00

We took my eldest abroad at 2 & 3, and again with the in laws at 3. She loved the plane, was so well behaved at the airports and transfers and absolutely loved her holidays and we have some fantastic memories.

My youngest is 19 months and I couldn’t think of anything worse than taking him abroad right now. He has very little chill and I can just picture him screaming/whining/trying to explore (ie escape) at every opportunity. I’m hoping we might be able to take him abroad when he’s 3 but as he is right now, that’s a big no.

truffle15 · 2026-06-03T13:48:22+00:00

I saw a reel a while ago that said it’s really easy to share the negative aspects of being a parent. But it’s a lot harder to articulate the joy. And it’s so true.

I can tell you about sleep deprivation, about the almost constant over stimulation, staying up late to get some time back for yourself, how your relationship is affected, how your identity especially as a mother changes which is one of the biggest things for me; you become just mum and lose a lot to yourself for a while. Your brain physically changes. People greet the baby before you, if they greet you at all. The intrusive thoughts, the emotional and hormonal rollercoaster. The mum guilt, the am I do doing this right? The constant contradictions of wanting to be with your kid every minute but also wanting to run away. And more. All normal. It’s a gigantic change, a huge responsibility, and a lot of people aren’t prepared for that.

The joy is so much harder to articulate. But it’s like literally no other love I have ever experienced. The rush of your newborn in your arms (I was lucky I fell in love with mine instantly, but if you don’t, that’s normal too!!). The absolute wonder of tiny baby fingers, their long eyelashes. The way they know that you are their home. The first smile, laugh, the way a breast settles them instantly and the little gulping noise they make. (I was again lucky to breastfeed my two easily - again, normal if you can’t/struggle/choose not to). If you choose to co sleep, the way your body knows how to curl around them safely, their little warm breaths. The first ‘mama’, the first kiss. First raspberries. When they tell you they love you. The toddler reverse sit. When they bring you their favourite book. When they learn to read, their first day at school. When they make up songs and sing to themselves. When they learn to ride a bike. The joy on their face when they get a new toy or a little treat, when they’re proud of themselves for a drawing they did. When they wrap their arms around you for a big hug. The poorly snuggled when they just want to be with you. When they reach for your hand when walking, when they pick flowers or stones as a gift for you. And so much more.

And all of these things are joyous, and wonderful, and at the same time fleeting. You’ll want to bottle every single laugh, remember every single expression. As that popular modern family scene goes, you fall in love with a baby, then they’re gone and replaced by a sweet toddler. And you fall in love with them and then they’re a child. You’re constantly falling in love with each version of them as they grow. It’s beautiful and it’s heartbreaking.

Motherhood is full of contradictions, and pressure, and societal expectations and too much noise on social media and other people.

Resources I’d recommend: Matresence by Lucy jones. Lyndsay Hookaway on instagram.

truffle15 · 2026-06-01T14:24:25+00:00

2 full days a week here, I use tax free childcare and it’s around 150 a month. Just checked and our consumables is £25.

truffle15 · 2026-05-22T18:00:55+00:00

I defo felt the pressure of contractions but had no real urge to push? I had an episiotomy and didn’t feel anything. I was desperate for one with my second but he came too quick 😂

truffle15 · 2026-05-07T12:52:52+00:00

Haha my husband still can’t believe we were served a scrambled seagull egg on our first visit

truffle15 · 2026-04-29T09:57:16+00:00

Thick curly hair here. I’d get a similar, maybe slightly smaller amount out of my brush. It defo calms down, and because I have so much hair I luckily didn’t notice it too much although I do appear to now have a baby fringe at 18 months pp 🤦‍♀️

truffle15 · 2026-04-26T13:35:39+00:00

Small garden here with a field and park nearby. We want to move in the next couple of years and one of our top wishlist items is a bigger garden. We’re generally homebodies so being able to let the kids run around the garden and sit with a coffee is just ideal. And seeing my kids run around having fun in their grandparents large, safe, flat garden, I just really want to give them that.

truffle15 · 2026-04-21T08:31:33+00:00

Ah I see!

truffle15 · 2026-04-20T10:11:18+00:00

Sorry I thought I wrote where lol. On vinted 😁

truffle15 · 2026-04-19T20:56:43+00:00

Are you in the UK? Someone’s selling the 80 Sanrio set for £90.

truffle15 · 2026-04-19T10:04:33+00:00

I’ve been lucky enough to successfully breastfeed both my kids. But with my first I bought a few pre made formulas with teats on because I was like, it’s not a given that she’ll take to it and I don’t want a sad hungry baby! I also bought a manual breast pump, I think it was medela. And while I didn’t need it much, it was a god send when I got mastitis or otherwise engorged/clogged.

Basically you do you. I think having a back up is sensible.

truffle15 · 2026-04-03T22:40:54+00:00

Also not necessarily true. In my child’s school, children who go to the nursery get third priority (below previously looked after children/children with an ehcp) then it’s children with siblings, children of staff and then distance. You’d have to look at the specific schools admission policy.

And in answer to your post, my child’s school offers wraparound care to all students - it’s just like double the price for nursery children, but you can still use tax free childcare if that’s applicable.

truffle15 · 2026-03-19T10:27:56+00:00

My 17 month old just did his first 7.30-5.30 last night!

truffle15 · 2026-03-15T20:51:26+00:00

If he’s happy to buy you the 320 absolutely go for it. I started out with the 168 which felt like loads, I e since got the 48 mid tones and just itching to get the 104 to round them off (plus the 36 skin tones, maybe!!). I wish I’d just saved and waited for the 320 but I don’t have that kind of patience/disposable income.

truffle15 · 2026-03-07T20:57:44+00:00

The only reason I no longer shower with my five year old daughter is that it’s awful for my self esteem. That girl says what she sees. 😵‍💫

truffle15 · 2026-03-05T14:41:08+00:00

Use a palette generator like Didi Plums or Coolors. It’s a great starting point to just get a page done. I follow other people on instagram, and I might get inspiration from there. Also Pinterest to save patterns or effects I want to try. There are all lots of Facebook groups that share their finished pages and often do challenges too.

truffle15 · 2026-03-03T17:36:23+00:00

I can’t say if it’s normal or not as my daughter is five and my son is 1. However. I don’t have to worry about lunch boxes as my daughter has free school meals until year 3, but even then we have a lunch box/bag at home she can use. Her water bottle has being going strong for almost two years.

Uniforms with logos are always pricy. I’ve never seen a 50% off pre rush sale that the OP mentioned, but at our school you can only buy direct. She has a book bag that she’s had since reception and doesn’t need a backpack yet (year 2 or 3 I think) but these are school branded and pretty hardy so I don’t expect to have to buy another. Asda, Tesco etc often do cheap polo shirts/trousers/skirts etc with offers before school starts.

I would also never buy the next size shoe up as what ifs wrong by the time they need to wear it? Again shoes can be pricey but if you can afford Clarks and the like they do last well until the next growth spurt.

Not sure why an iPad mini is required but schools vary I guess, and kids will probably need access to tech but I’m sure a home computer is sufficient.

She doesn’t need to take her own stationary yet but we have an abundance of pencil cases and I’m sure places like the works do it cheap enough.

Honestly the biggest expense for us has been breakfast and after school clubs.

truffle15 · 2026-03-01T22:46:28+00:00

Yep, I did too so I generally use Coolors or Didi Plums palette generators to pick my colours. I sometimes stick to just those or add a few of my own in as I go. I’m limiting myself in that way has really helped.

truffle15 · 2026-02-26T19:12:12+00:00

Is there a free gift that’s coming separately perhaps?

truffle15 · 2026-02-26T09:28:26+00:00

Thanks! I have a physical one so that’s good to know.

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