I was waiting for very long time. And could not believe one day she really will be here. I started 10th month of pregnancy so I was exhausted. I did loved being pregnant - all kicks, even those small ones in half way through, when autumn was so far away from us were for me like a blessing.

At some stage when midwife on antenatal classes said: your bag needs to be prepared at least 3 weeks before the term, I did my birth plan. I expected all natural, unforgettable moments, floating in pool in pain obviously, but also with great cooping. I will not say now it was a bullshit. It was the plan which actually never happened. But it was also the plan which got me through totally different scenario.

I packed my hospital bag and half of it was absolutely unnecessary.

I got a list of things from hospital which I should take. Quite long. And I actually felt like someone will check my suitcase if I have everything. And they would probably also weight it like in low cost airlines...

I checked hospital list and here it is what I had packed and what I can say after my stay:
1. Birth plan - was great to have a spare copy, but in my chart was already one. My midwife went through that with me and I even did not to have bend to get my from bag
2. An old t-shirt/night shirt for labour - in my case it was nothing old. I bought new dress for labor. I still wanted to be a woman, look as myself and feel comfortable. So I got dress for labor - Granatova, made in Poland, which I still use as a great option for breastfeeding. Unfortunately website is only in Polish, but if you do need advise, let me know or check IG or contact through FB.
3. Wide opening nightshirt/pyjamas if breastfeeding - as above. I had two dresses. Blue one for labor and striped after delivery.
4. An old pair of socks for labour (your feet can get cold in labour) - I had them but did not use at all. I was actually all the time very warm and sweaty.
5. Personal items: toiletries, tissues, lip balm - do not expect you will do full make up in hospital after delivery. Even when you will be just about to go home. I just was not in mood to stand in front of mirror and do anything with my face. I was actually not at all in mood to stand. I run out of tissues. It was just because most of the time I was looking at my daughter and crying so much. I was just in love and for me she was such a beauty I could not stop my tears. Lip balm - well I used it as usual not more often or so.
6. Wet wipes and handbag size alcohol gel dispenser for personal infection control - nope. First of all there was plenty of those dispensers in my hospital, second: I am not a big fan if killing all bacterias (especially those good ones) on my hands. There was also small wash basin in my room, which was quite handy to wash.
7. Birthing ball (if desired) - it was available in my delivery ward.
8. TENS machine (if desired) - I have never considered to use one.
9. Breast pads - I took plenty of them and actually I did expected a flood. But it never came, at least not in hospital. I did not use any of those disposable ones even till now, as I bought washable bamboo pads which are really comfy.
10. Support bra/nursing bra if breastfeeding - I did not use any. I just needed to get to my breast rapidly as my daughter was inpatient newborn.
11. Sanitary towel packs - I did struggle a lot with those which I bought. They were kind of super slim something, full of plastic and glue. I had change them very soon for proper thick towels made with organic cotton. I just could feel my skin breathed.
12. Disposable/old knickers for after the birth - I took disposable and old knickers also. The first did not work for me. I felt like I was ill and this kind of fabric was just annoying me. Full brief knickers like granny style, 100% cotton worked for me. And they were not old, come on it is XXI century, we all have washing machines.
13. Dressing gown/spare nightwear - I think in my room temperature was about 25 degrees and it is a women hospital. I did not have room in my suitcase for gown so nope. And I was just fine without.
14. Snug fitting slippers with a slip resistant sole - definitely. But I take my slippers even when I go to hotel.
15. Dark coloured towel/one for each day - Yeah. Try to pack 3 towels or so. I had one, brown color.
16. Camera - we took some photos during labor and after delivery. We used also our phones, which were the fastest way of sharing our news.
17. Change for parking facilities/payphone - did not take any. We leave 3 minutes from hospital so we did not need to use parking. And honestly - is it not the thing which can be looked after by your partner? Payphone - everyone use just mobiles, I thing there is some restrictions, but nobody minded.
18. Light snacks, magazines, newspapers - I actually after few months without sugar, wanted a heavy snack. So I got donuts! But any fruit, healthy bars or so are great, especially when you breastfeeding and you starving same as your little one.
19. Own pillow in coloured pillow case (if desired) - I used my pregnancy pillow, it was great for breastfeeding and good additional support for back.
20. Hair ties/accessories - I had mine in hair and did not loose them!
21. Comfortable clothes to go home in (which fit you at 26 weeks pregnant) - you will be waiting for discharge anyway, so why your partner can not get that for you. That is what we did it. Freshly ironed maternity dress.
22. Mobile phone charger - I used power bank, so I was not limited by sockets or cables.
23. Any relevant prescribed medication - obvious!
24. Biro - I have been told I will have to write down all my observations about dirty and wet nappies. Even one of my friends said I will be obligated to use one brand of nappies as they have a strip which shows how much wee they soaked. Nope. I used in hospital eco nappies. No chemicals and nasty odors.

25. Long sleeved grows x 6 - it this case it is better to have more. You never know what pressure will reach first poo of your baby or if she/he will spit up.
Vests x 6 - I even think I used more vest as it was just very hot in ward. Although I could not squeeze my daughter in newborn size, even she was not the biggest baby. So we used only 0-3 months sizes.
26. Cardigan - used one when we were going home. 

27. Hat - one was necessary straight after birth and I took also second - for leaving hospital.
28. Pre washed baby towel - we did not want to bath our baby at hospital so I did not even take it from bag.
29. Pack of nappies (newborn size) - obvious, but for us it was just for our stay in hospital. We decided we will use after reusable nappies. Again Polish brand: Puppi. Only natural fabrics like wool, bamboo, cotton, linen or hemp. 

30. Cotton wool balls/pack - it was ok to have those. Just in case of small wash of eyes or face of baby but it just did not work with meconium. At all. Just get wipes. I really do recommend Irish brand Water wipes. I think they are a little bit more pricy than all those sensitive pampers or so, but they do have only two ingredients: water and grapefruit seeds extract. And cotton. No perfume. Just clear and very handy especially in hospital.
31. Baby bibs x 6 - did not use at all. But I think it is more for formula fed babies.
32. Baby blanket x 2 - even we got hospital one, that was just great to wrap my baby in our blanky and feel a little like home.
33. Cot sheet x 2 (optional) - same think like with blanket.
34. Car seat (to be brought in on the day you are going home) - we just walked home. If you do not leave far away do consider if you really want to waste your time in queue waiting for parking. We did not, so came back with buggy. 

I have heard many advices before I got to hospital, but I would not add anything to the list. Someone mentioned a bottle of water with the cup like you can just squash water for a quick perineal hygiene. But I found myself just using a shower or wet tissue and I healed normally. 

Going to hospital to have your first baby is such a new experience that you want to be prepared for anything. I think the best what you can do is be prepared with your partner as a team. He can always bring you whatever you need or he can just wipe your tears with sleeve. It does not really matter. What matters at this point is little part of you both lying just next to you. Get use to it. 

I am definietly a sweet tooth. As a person passionate in food I have read many articles about sugar and how bad is for our health, but it never took me off of eating smaller or bigger treats. But as my dad is diabetic, in my fifth month of pregnancy I had to do blood sugar test. Easy procedure, a bit time consuming, but overall nothing really bad. I ate tons of sugar day before. I don't know why, probably just cravings and then I went on morning for the test.
I was tested first after all night fasting. You are not allowed to have even a glass of water overnight. Once my hungry blood was taken I was given a huge jug of Lucozade. Disgusting. Honestly who drinks that? And then I had two test: after one hour and two hours. That's it.
Believe me I was shocked when I picked up phone same afternoon and midwife said I have gestational diabetes. One of my result wasn't correct and as they need to be very strict I was qualified as a diabetic. Hurray!
I did not know what does it mean at all. I was not even overweight and I never went on any diet. On the very next day I received a letter with few hints about foods which I should avoid. Goodbye  kinder chocolate bars, bye crispy white toast, farewell orange juice... So what I will eat?
In few days I was also invited for lifestyle class. I got a glucometer and started to check levels of sugar few times per day. I was totally down. Remember when I pinched myself with that little needle I was crying like a little child. My husband was the most supportive then ever. He hid all sweets and chocolates and promised after delivery I will get as many donuts as I will want. But for now I had to quit sugar and control all carbohydrates. I got use to it and I actually get in all pregnancy about 12 kg. My weight after diagnosis stopped for about 2 months and over all even hubby lost some kgs as he did not mind to avoid sugar with me. It is a horrible feeling when I just wanted something sweet so much!
I discovered pop corn. I never got a pop corn in cinemas before. I do like more this homemade version as I just buy good quality organic corn to avoid any burnings and I can add as much salt as I want or even some spices. That is the best evening snack which doesn't cause raise of sugar. I have to avoid my beloved beetroots. Watch portions and be careful with white flour. Also I found great low GI breads and if I don't go crazy my sugar is fine. I eat tons of grapefruits as those are the best diabetic fruit and there was even many research they can help in diabetes. I changed in my pantry regular white wheat flour for wholemeal and discovered spelt. After two months I found magic ingredient: xylitol! That's a carbohydrate made from birch, which is sweet like sugar but has very low GI. That meant I could come back to baking. It was a relief. I changed many regular recipes and found some kind of vegan or diet friendly combinations. Even more when I was doing regular recipes using xylitol instead of sugar I reduced the amount even half. I did not have anything sweet for two months so that level of sweetness was always fine for me. Birch sugar has many benefits. Does not have negative impact on teeth and gums so it is recommended for children. Even my mum, who sometimes has liver pains after a small treat did not feel anything. I became a huge fan of this specific and I am sure I will stay with xylitol after pregnancy just as an healthy option. There is obviously a minus: price. It is much more expensive then regular sugar. But if you do not really have a choice why not spend those few more euro?
If you want  give a try I think my favorite low GI cake with birch sugar is carrot cake. I changed my old recipe and found it same good as the previous version. Enjoy!

Carrot cake

Batter:

100g xylitol
2 eggs
150 ml rapeseed or sunflower oil
200 g whole wheat or spelt meal flour
1 tbsp of mixed spice
1 tsp soda bread

1 tsp baking powder
200 g carrot (peeled and grated)
zest of 1 lemon
1 handful of desiccated coconut

Icing:
125 g mascarpone
125 ml fresh cream

Set oven for 180°C and lie loaf tin with baking paper. Mix xylitol with eggs until fluffy and add oil. Stir in flour, spices, soda bread, baking powder to wet ingredients and then fold in carrot, zest and coconut. Transfer batter to the tin and bake for 35-40 min. To make icing beat cold cream until is fluffy and then add mascarpone. Spread on cake when is cold. You can sprinkle that with any kind of crushed nuts or lemon zest. Yumm!

Last time I admitted I was on the beginning pretty stressed about pregnancy at work. I always just have in my mind stories about mothers to be who lost jobs because of growing bump. I do not want to say it did happened to my employer with other women, but I need to agree I felt quite cautious atmosphere regarding to all procedures.
I must say I love Citizen Information website. I always have since I came to Ireland. That is such a handy institution, which will always help you and will look after all your rights. But you need to mind nobody will convince you what to do to loose as less as you can. Deep reading and study what you are allowed to do with job correlation and how to use this beautiful time. I have today a pack of few guidelines!
Antenatal appointments. You can go for them during your work. You do not need to take day off, run on your break or so. I could organise my time in way when I was going to see my doctor during work time and had paid as usual. My HR was not a big deal and it was just enough to said when I have next term, but sometimes you will need to give 2 weeks notice in written. But they need to accept that!

Antenatal classes. If I could I would go once again. They are just great! I don't know yet if everything will be helpful, but we met many couples, heard incredible stories, learnt how to breathe, change a baby, feed and were just inspired. Our midwife was charming woman with such a positive attitude! I wish I could have her on my labour ward! In hospital which I chose classes are organised as 5 weeks courses. I booked them straight after my first visit in hospital as I've been told they are all booked up in a flash. Ask your employer how many of them you are entitled as paid time off. I went for three classes during my working hours and two had on my holidays. Also my husband's employer was understanding and even though he was entitled paid time off for two of them he did attended with me for all set. We just tried to set our time to have everything sorted and enjoy the together.

Maternity leave. In Ireland we are entitled to 26 weeks paid and 16 weeks unpaid maternity leave. Women are qualified without a fail to maternity benefit through Social Welfare and if you are lucky your employer may pay you some extra money for that period. I do not want to describe all paper work which needs to be done to get benefit, but if you are pregnant check mentioned website and Social Welfare restrictions. Print your documents and be aware that time flies and very soon you will be 30 weeks pregnant! You can start work on your documents up from 24 weeks pregnant and I regret I did not. I would avoid all stress and running. Eventually I sent my application about two weeks late and I was worried if everything would go as it should. Even though I got reply in one week or so and I did qualified. Hooray!
Do not forget your maternity leave is not a holidays. It is a time treated like time in work, so you can have all your annual leave for the year when you go for maternity. In my case it will be two years! So I decided to have some proper holidays as well as just to take some of those straight before maternity leave. I am way to big to run and manage all things at work. Also I don't know when I will have a chance to rest next time!

Paternity leave. That such a new thing in Ireland! Fathers are entitled to paternity leave with effect from 1st of September, which is tomorrow. Dads can take 2 weeks paid same as maternity leave in 6 months after baby's birth. I am quite happy with the option and I am very sure at some stage we will take advantage of it!

If you have any doubts see here:

Antenatal visits
Antenatal classes
Maternity leave
Paternity leave

I am pregnant. What’s next? Every pregnancy test will tell you go to your doctor and check that. But it is a bit tough to decide when. Especially in Ireland. We wanted to check if everything was fine. If you will obviously go on the very next day once you tested you will not see much. Neither will your doctor. Well it is a huge pleasure to see few dots floating inside you or, more professional, gestational sac, but you will never know what is going to happen next. I hold on for about 3 weeks. And suddenly I had huge heartburn and so many emotions inside me. It is not a big deal especially on January stuck on the edge between happiness and sadness. It is bloody windy and even if you will catch those few rays of sunshine it will not build up proper level of vitamin D in your body. Figure it out yourself and be brave to survive this winter depression. In April should be better.

We went to gynaecologist. You can go to gp obviously, but it is quite rare you will find there usg scan to see your little life. As I have never chosen family gp, simply I weren’t sick in Ireland we decided to go to Polish specialist. I need to mention there is a huge difference in treating a pregnant women in Poland and in Ireland. I have never been pregnant in Poland so I am not the best judge, but I really do like Irish thinking.

First that should be normal you going to gp even without any scans, tests etc. Filling up all necessary papers, which your doctor will send to HSE. And then you need to wait. Up to 12 weeks no one will do anything for you. You do your work, live as usual and that is the time when you are not protected as an employee. If you will loose your baby that would it be what probably supposed to happen. In that case you will find help in hospital, you might have some time off at your work and most of people will emphatically understand. But nobody in your first pregnancy will struggle to save it.

My first appointment was like in Poland. I had a scan, we saw and heard little beating heart. That was crucial. 6 week’s pregnancy, heart was beating, baby was definitely there. Time to wait for 12 weeks. And suddenly we were offered care of gp, who is just next door. Ok, why not? But that was like a clever machine, which we did not even push to move. And all about money, thankfully not very mine. I did not have better option at that time, so humbly we accepted the help. But I did not want to make my pregnancy Polish-Irish affair as I just wanted to trust in those methods, which are on daily basis here, where I live. Am I happy with my gp? I do not know. I feel usually a bit ignored, but I think it is just the way how the person treats patients.

I chose hospital that was the closest and did not even know much about it. I filled up all maternity patient forms and I was waiting for first letter, which would invite me for my first antenatal visit.

I was a bit afraid, how can I know all medical pregnant glossary. I just had a tiny baby in my tummy. But everyone was very helpful. If you will consider how many women come to the hospital every day for all visits you will be surprised that queues do not last long even if you have a feeling like a small cog in factory of babies. Does not matter if you will decide for public care, which is entitled for free to you, private or semi-private. Even on public every single time I knew I would get what I would need to.

First visit is a long procedure. The first point and first person who calmed me down was extremely nice guy who could not read my surname and checked me in. I got nice present like every woman did: a magazine about pregnancy and maternity, tons of leaflets and big smile with “good luck”. Then pee. Get use to it! Not only because you are pregnant and you just need to. You check in and then every time grab a small urine container for quick test. Second point was a midwife. She had to write down details about me, my husband and my family health. And that is the point when you need to know a bit of medical words. But do not worry, if you don’t, she will explain. Nobody was standing at me, I had as much time as I should have. Gave all even the most intimate for me details just to protect my baby and have a good care. After this personal interview my chart started to look like diary. There was two things to do – blood test to check my blood type and rubella antibodies and dating scan, which sometimes might be on different day. That is quite important to stick to the time, which was booked for your scan. Blood test will be done anyway afterwards, but usg department is usually busy that any delay may cause you will not be in. Check in first and then wait for your name. For me is the most stressful part, because I never know how they will read it. Usually it is just Marta and a grimace on face. Yeap! My turn. And that was magical. It was not only small pulsating non-heart shaped heart, it was a baby. Tiny one was about 10 cm, moving, floating duckling. So small all the movements were just hidden. That was the one of the most beautiful and touching moments for myself so my husband.

But purpose of that scan was to confirm due date. So here it is, day zero: 22^nd of September.

Quick blood tests and check out, when in a small booklet you will get a note when you should come for the second visit.

All necessities were done. I was not examined down there as the Irish perspective is: pregnancy is not a disease. If you do not have any symptoms that something is wrong why anyone should check your vagina? Pregnancy is a part of life. You do not need to quit your job or take a sick just because you are pregnant. And I do know what I am saying, as I spent my pregnancy up to 8 and half months working on full time.

After first appointment I told my employer I was pregnant and could not believe how many good words I heard, how happy everyone was and how my environment became helpful. I wish all of you could have same experience and I believe that is normal here. My baby became a kicking part of my team and that was just great when I felt my daily activities bounced my belly to calm sleep.

I think it is always a surprise. Even if you have read all about pregnancy and you feel such a big desire to become a mum. Let’s try. That’s always the best part.

We’d been trying for few months. And desire of both of us – me and my husband was just great. Even I found our bed life always as it best if I would not have a clue how actually make a baby, not only love, I would quit. Probably with loudly fight as all women sometimes do.

First I became more aware of my body. We all are, but not always on the same level. I remember every single class from my mum about bees, at school when they gave us samples of towels and small calendars and even family planning classes, which we attended before we got married. But who really needs to know about differences with your discharge, morning temperatures of your body at that stage?

I remind myself those not when I wanted to get pregnant but totally opposite, when we weren’t still ready for a child. Natural conception method can fail, that is true. I have tried that and after a year or so of checking my morning temperatures, observing everyday my discharge and just watching all my carvings, PMS acting I had in my mind I knew myself quite well. There is plenty of guides which you can find online. I have used Kindara app as it is pretty easy, just on hand on my phone and you can always check with community and experts all your concerns. It is not only of having or not baby, but also just about of health. Who did not have big feast of yeast or other bacterial party down there after a flu and good love making? But if you just watch all symptoms you will know what to do.

Conceiving is not easy. Not only because you need to choose the right day and time, but first of all you do not want sex being overwhelming for you or your partner. It is a great fun to do this, and that, and tomorrow, and day after and on the evening and again, but at some stage I thought I just wanted to sit with my bottom down on couch, have a cuddle and watch any movie without love scenes. It is like a race with nature. If you won’t do this again you will loose whole month. And how many months you really want to spend like that?

And then we talked a lot and we did not feel any pressure. Understanding was the most important thing not just every day but also every night. We still had been taking some vitamins and folic acid, watched closer end of my cycles and even though I got my periods as usual we always found symptoms I was pregnant. I used some ovulation strips just to find when is the magic o-day. We ate as usual, had fun and a great sex like always.

And then surprise. We tried both and we made a decision both, so why we should hold on each other with any announcement. And now we could not believe there was few or even few thousand cells in my tiny tummy, which just have started a new life.

Since I’ve got pregnant, as relatively young woman according to all trends which I've noticed in west life, I am struggling with many things in Irish reality.

I hate all those forums, digging and finding info which was up to date 5 years ago. I really dislike all helpful and nice details in apps, which you can download on hospitals sites or almost from every baby shop pages. 

Tons of freezing cold advices. 

Millions shades of pink and blue.

So I promised myself I will do this my own way and if you will dig as I did a months ago, why not find something helpful here?

Welcome! Have a great time!