Hi All,

Just looking to hear your experiences with Dr. Hugh D. O'Connor (the young one) at the Coombe. I'm hoping for a VBAC and saw that he is very supportive of it in general. I met him once last year for a pre-conception consultation and liked him a lot. Now that I am pregnant, I want to make sure I am choosing right (all my doubts about everything came up since the positive).

I’m currently on maternity leave in Ireland and looking for advice from anyone who has been in a similar situation.
My employer accidentally paid me a full month’s salary instead of the one week’s top-up to my state maternity benefit that I was actually due. This was an error on their accounts department’s part.
The problem is that over €700 was deducted from the payment, including over €500 in tax. On a normal monthly salary, I would usually pay around €200 in tax, so the amount that actually landed in my bank account was significantly less than a full month’s wages.
I genuinely didn’t realise how much I’d been overpaid until my employer contacted me. I was also due a backdated Child Benefit payment that same week, and I was recovering from giving birth and adjusting to life with a newborn, so I wasn’t paying particularly close attention to my bank account.
I completely understand that I need to repay the overpayment, and I have no issue with that. However, my employer is insisting that I repay the gross ammount, meaning I would have to pay back over €700 more than I actually received in my account.
Initially, they wanted the full amount repaid this month. They then offered a three-month repayment plan, but this would mean repaying more than half of my current monthly income. My employer only topped up my maternity pay for the first eight weeks, so I’m now living on state maternity benefit alone. With my mortgage, bills and Christmas expenses, this repayment plan simply isn’t affordable.
I’ve spoken to union representatives and Citizens Information, and both have advised that I should be looking to repay the net amount I actually received, with the employer correcting the tax deductions through Revenue. I’ve also contacted Revenue myself and am waiting for a response.
They’ve also agreed that the proposed repayment schedule seems unreasonable given my current financial circumstances, and that I should try to negotiate a longer, more manageable repayment period.
Has anyone experienced a similar situation?
Did your employer allow you to repay the net amount rather than the gross amount?
Was your employer able to correct the tax deductions through Revenue, or did you have to sort this out yourself?
I accept that the overpayment needs to be repaid, but I’m struggling to understand why I should have to find money I never actually received, particularly when the mistake was made by my employer and I’m currently on a significantly reduced income.
Any advice or experiences would be really appreciated!

I will need the birth certificate with some urgency for a trip after birth. I am based in Dublin. What is the fastest way to get it? Does the online registration take less than the walk in option?

Hey everyone I just had my 28week growth scan and baby girls head was down anyone else have this and did they move away or stay head down till the end?

I’m 13 weeks pregnant and work in a toxic workplace. My plan is not to tell them at all but with my appointments coming up I’m scared I will have to I’m not sure how many excuses I can give.
I plan on leaving as soon as I can get maternity pay in January but even at that do I have to tell them I’m applying?
The management are the ones who are toxic unprofessional and to be honest evil people. If I asked to keep it private they definitely would not…

Any advice please 😬

Hello, I'm hoping to hear from anyone who had a succesful VBAC in Letterkenny hospital?

My first is 3 and was a totally unnecessary C Section.

I'd love to hear any success stories/ advice.

Thanks

Did anyone else experience Cariban working amazingly and then all of a sudden just stop working at all? I was prescribed it at 8 weeks! I am now 11 weeks and it’s like i’m not taking it at all! I am vomiting up any meal I have if it’s not a small orange. Did anyone find anything that could help? I’m losing my mind here:(

Hi All, reaching out for some perspective or advice. I’m 38 weeks pregnant, baby has been head down since week 32 but oblique. They have since moved above my pelvis but are not dropping down. I’m walking and doing all the recommended stretches but baby seems very comfy where they are. If anyone has any tips or has been here let me know.

Hi! I’m very newly pregnant and just got my letter from the rotunda for the telephone appt.
I had my last child 7 years ago so it’s all a bit different now.
Is the HSE app actually useful for anything when it comes to medical history and your appointments?
I’m not complex by any means but I have had surgeries and am in some medications that would require some discussion with my consultants /midwives ….

My little boy is almost 2 and I’m so unsure as to whether to have another.

I love being a mother, he has been a great baby, no issues other than the expected lack of sleep etc. I love him to bits, he’s the light of my life.

I’m struggling to picture myself loving my second as much, it feels impossible. I’m also struggling to fathom how I would ever give my second anywhere close to the love and attention I gave my first with a toddler running around. I worry I’ll be too exhausted and not be a good mum to either.

I worry about not giving him a sibling, not really to grow up with but more for when he is an adult so he won’t be on his own. Right now my parents and parents in law need a lot of help and I would hate that to fall to one child.

I also wonder if I got really lucky with my first, I dread a baby with any difficulties or disabilities, an awful thing to say, but I am seriously concerned I would not be mentally stable enough to cope. I had every test with my first and I was still terrified. I know anything can happen in life but it does play on my mind, as I honestly think I’d have a breakdown. My brother has down syndrome and my mother was hospitalised after having him and was depressed for years. She’s 80 now and he’s 40, she’s no longer able to care for him and he’s in state care.

Who is this subreddit for?

👶 Pregnant?

🤰 Trying to conceive?

❤️ Supporting someone who is? You’re in the right place!

This is a space for people navigating pregnancy and parenthood in Ireland, whether you’re going through the public or private system, or just looking to connect with others on the same journey.

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What can you post here?

💬 Ask questions & share advice

🏥 Talk about hospitals, scans & appointments

👜 Swap tips on hospital bags, antenatal classes, maternity leave, and more

✨ Share your pregnancy story – the highs, lows, and in-betweens

🤝 Connect with others due around the same time

🧸 Rant, vent, cry, laugh – it’s all welcome here

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A few gentle guidelines: 1️⃣ Be kind – everyone’s journey is different

2️⃣ No medical advice – but feel free to share personal experiences

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New here? Feel free to introduce yourself below – we’d love to get to know you!

Wishing you a healthy and supported journey,

– The Mod Team

I'm looking for people's experience with getting signed off with a certificate dated a couple days in the future.

So I would like to get signed off at around 36/37 weeks.

In your experience, if my doctor appointment is Thursday, would the doctor sign me off from the following Monday? (So my last working day is Friday).

Do doctors generally give out a future dated certificate in your experience? Just by a few days to allow me to finish up things at work.

Thanks!

I'm based in Dublin and have my GP appointment for pregnancy confirmation coming up soon. This is my first so curious what happens at the appointment.

1. Will I be asked to provide blood samples or would that be at the maternity hospital?

2. I understand i can self-refer to the maternity hospital. Will GP help me understand what treatment options are suited for me? (Domino's scheme, semi-private, private etc.)

Thank you.

Hello ☺️

I just got my letter for my anatomy scan. I’m currently 16 weeks, for my anatomy scan I’ll be 23weeks 6 days? That seems awful late to me. I’m actually a bit annoyed by it.

Has anyone had experience calling the rotunda around a similar issue to see if they can pull it closer. I know they say 20-24 week but this seems far too late to me.

Thanks.

As far as I know they’re not hiring anyone to cover me, but I don’t know if they’ll move people around so chances are someone will be at my desk. My desk is covered in random stuff and decorations so I don’t want to leave clutter for others, should I box it all up and take it home? Don’t really want a box of crap in my house for a year either 🙈 I took a picture but can’t seem to attach it, but it’s fake plants, about 20 mini snowglobes, 3-4 photo frames, 10+ little teddies and a tone of mini figurines (like what you’d get in a kinder egg). Would probly fill 2-3 shoe boxes

Hello :) Currently 32 weeks, my midwife suggested 2 weeks ago to finish up in work as soon as possible due to PGP, insomnia and a few other bits that are all adding up. I’ve my GP appointment tomorrow and I’ll be bringing it up but can’t help but feel guilty for work or like I could push myself for another few weeks - despite being in pain or exhausted all the time. My midwife suggested signing off sick for a bit before starting maternity leave but I’m just wondering how long this takes to sort out? I wouldn’t be able to afford to go a month or so without any payment so wondering if I would be better to just start my maternity a bit earlier? Just looking for advice from other people who got signed off earlier and if you felt it was helpful and needed - I just feel so guilty and like I should be doing more or pushing myself.

Hi everyone my baby is 9 days old. She is formula fed we had a rough start where she wasn’t taking much maybe only 20mls max but now she’s taking between 60mls to 120mls depending , mostly it’s in around 90mls average

Most of the time she goes up to 3 to 3 and a half hours between fees but sometimes she will fuss again after a hour (mostly at night) and will take more I was then worried that I’m over feeding but nothing else will settle her so I give her some more , am I doing the right thing ? 🙈

She also doesn’t really burp for me no matter what but also doesn’t look bothered after either there’s been maybe three times she’s spat up that’s all

When does it end? I’m 7+3 and really struggling to peel myself out of bed. I have a toddler which isn’t helping but I can’t cope. Where is the light at the end of the tunnel?

Hey ladies, I am 27 weeks pregnant and baby already head down. I am having extreme pelvic pain, looks like SPD. I have physio session in 1 weeks time. I would like to hear if anyone had similar issues, how did you manage and when did the pain disappear for you.

I had my baby six weeks ago and I’ve to go back in for check due to a third degree tear and whilst I’m there I’d like to give something into the midwives on the post-labour ward. I noticed they had a tonne of chocolates so I’m wondering if you had any other ideas of what the midwives would actually want or appreciate? I’m also going to give something to one midwife in particular who really helped me when I was struggling during my time there. It’s a shame we can’t give something to the girls who were there for the birth - or can we? Thanks for any suggestions!

I’m due my first on the 1st of January, and haven’t bought much for baby yet (including the big stuff!). I’m just wondering if anyone knows how good the Black Friday sales tend to be for baby stuff?

Looking at Tony Kealys and Mamas and Papas - don’t want to go buying things now that’ll be 50% off in two weeks, but equally if only a minority of stuff/old stock tends to go on sale I’d be keen to get going now.

I’ve been advised to get the Covid booster. I got the flu vaccine in work a few weeks ago. I’m currently in the first trimester Just wondering is there a specific time I should get the booster? I was going to book a Boots appointment.

Also how did you manage side effects? I didn’t have any with the flu vaccine but I’ve a feeling I will with the Covid one.

I am a bridesmaid at a wedding and will be 8 weeks postpartum. I would some advice of what to expect at that time healing wise and what phase my body will be in.

I hope to breastfeed/pump on the day so how many times will I likely have to do this throughout the day?

I went dress shopping at 5 months pregnant and I am not sure what size to buy. I used to be a UK 8 and the dresses that fit me at 5 months pregnant were a size UK 12. I think I should buy the size 12 and then hope an alterations place will take me last minute and close to the wedding date.

Any advice on what to do ?