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WHEN IT COMES to being pregnant, or parenting a newborn, everyone’s just figuring things out as they go. That’s why it can be so helpful to hear how other people are getting through the mess of it all, from the first nappy change to the countless sleepless nights.
Our Newborn and Baby Parents Panel is made up of parents and parents-to-be, all raising little ones aged up to 24 months.
This week we asked the panel:
What’s one pregnancy side effect you definitely weren’t expecting?
Here are a few of the best responses….
My complete aversion to meat and hot food in general: Any smell or sight of such food causes me to retch immediately. I try to avoid kitchens and canteens as a result. Everyone talks about morning sickness but they don’t explain how it can be a full time job as it is so constant – especially when you are working. I am 15 weeks now and still experiencing it.
- Sarah McGuire
Random and rapid hair growth: Most definitely one of the most surprising changes of pregnancy! It’s not commonly discussed, which is strange considering nearly every pregnant woman/mammy I’ve spoken to has said they have experienced it too.
I’m not just talking “underarm hair is growing faster” kind of hair growth. I mean “my belly is starting to look more and more like Austin Powers’ belly every day…” kind of hair growth! I had no idea.
- Shauna Buggy
How fast I’d start to show: I expected my boobs to get bigger, but by week 11 my waistline had thickened and my stomach had rounded. The women I know who have been pregnant didn’t show until later. I’ve had to realise that truly, every pregnancy is different and every body experiences it differently. You might be showing at three months or might not pop until five – once you’re being healthy, it’s all normal.
- Vicky Kavanagh
My energy levels plummeting: Going from being a fast walker who would overtake people on the pavement, to being overtaken by everyone else was something I didn’t expect. I had to adapt and time my commute accordingly. I thought I understood how things would change, but still a part of me thought I could carry on as normal at my usual pace.
– Kathryn Walsh
My sudden sugar addiction: Pick ‘n’ Mix is my life now. If I had my way I would spend my days eating sugar, sugar and more sugar. Obviously not great for baby or me. Thankfully, so far I’ve managed to limit my daily sugar intake…. kind of. Pass the fresh veg please….
– Miriam Maher
I’m fit, but I had to accept that my stamina was lower: From being a person who was very active – doing CrossFit five days a week for the past four years, and who enjoyed religiously, weekend walks on the beach, I now find myself struggling to make it to the gym twice a week! If I do summon up the energy to go for a walk I find myself in pain for a few days after it thanks to pelvic girdle pain… that damn PGP!
– Laura Ryan
Pins and needles have kept me up at night: The most surprising thing for me was developing carpal tunnel syndrome in both hands later on in the pregnancy. I did expect the usual swelling of hands and feet but the discomfort and inconvenience of losing the power in my hands was quite difficult and took me by surprise. For the last number of weeks, I’ve been awake at night with really bad pins and needles/numbness in both hands.
– Claire Kodjo
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Underground is the way to go in the cities, should have started it years ago instead of the luas, not to late, start it next
@Mick Hannigan: it is but it does take decades to build
Meanwhile irelands four other cities of waterford cork limerick galway are connected by boreen roads from over hundred years ago.dublin gets everything as usual
@speedy: Yet Dublin is still larger than those 4 combined. What’s your problem? Dublin needs the investment more.
@Sean Walsh: stop talking bull.waterford city and south east region alone is 600k.
@speedy: but they’ve spent 20c putting down stone chip dressing on those boreens. When you take into account dublins far greater population that the equivalent of €2b. Obviously yet more money needs to spent within The Pale. Next they’ll be taking water from the west. Oh they are
@speedy: simple move to Dublin They even play GAA
@speedy: so has Tallagh
@Anthony Doyle: Gaelic football haha is for wussies,come down here and we teach yeah a bit of hurling
Freedom of movement will be the undoing of the EU. Massive population shifts from poor countries to richer ones is a recipe for disaster.
@edward: Seems to me that rich countries have been benefiting from such movement for decades if not centuries. Ultimately people go where the work is and is far as I’m concerned anyone who wants to contribute to society to the benefit of themselves and others should be welcomed
@edward: We’re arguably the country that’s benefited most from freedom of movement and immigration over the years. It wasn’t so long ago that we were the ‘poor’ country that people were trying to get away from. But I’m guessing it just people from other countries doing it that upsets you… you’ve just got that vibe about you. .
@Brendan Heery: How have we benefitted? All this mass immigration has done, is lower wages and increased house prices.
@edward: Economy movement is inevitable and unstoppable. The only way to make it net zero is to equalise economies.
The Shinkansen are Japan’s gleaming symbol of technological development.
The Shinkansen are bullet trains that connect cities throughout Japan with top speeds in excess of 320kph.
It is also one of the safest means of transportation, one of the few transit systems in the world that can boast of having no fatal accidents.
Planning for the bullet train system began in late 1930s, Inauguration in 1964.
Ireland is still in the dark ages with our old rail transport system or lack of any throughout a much smaller Island in 2021.
We can do so much better if we just plan ahead & think a little bigger
(but still implement all necessary bid contract precautions/protections to ensure the tax payer public isn’t ripped off by private companies after making low bids to secure projects) .
@Mentis Green: bullet train’s you’re on about
Half the people in Ireland wouldn’t train for a game of 25’s
@Mentis Green: our population is small and our rural housing model is scattered, so empty trains costing 40 or 50 euro per passenger journey in subsidy aren’t the answer in many cases. Rail has a key role in moving people in large urban areas, and between the capital and a few larger cities, but buses are generally more efficient and greener.
@John Mulligan: Crap way to travel tho, if your going to be on the same road you would be in except surrounded by people I don’t see how anyone wants that downgrade? don’t try to lower the bar, raise it. Bullet train 100%
BUSEIEANN HAS JUST STOPPED THE GALWAY DUBLIN 20 AND 20X SERVICE AND HANDED IT OVER TO A PRIVATE OPERATOR WHAT A JOKE WHERE IS RYAN NOW HIDING UNERD LEO COAT I GUESS
So in other words, no EU money for the Cork to Limerick motorway in this decade?
Let’s hope they will get funding for the navan rail line even if this generation does not fully use it the following generations will I hope and appreciate it
A little island off the coast of Europe, and considering Europe’s relentlessness
in pursuing and trying to obstruct out sovereign tax affairs I can’t see them investing to much in our infrastructure
@kevin mc cormack: Raise coorpo tax to 13% problem solved.
Dublin to Derry via Letterkenny , starabane , Omaha,clones , Virginia, kells , Navan , Ashbourne, Dublin airport, Dublin Connolly.
Northwest high speed with cross border funding.
@Hubert Morris MIPAV: that’s some route, how does the bus get to Omaha?
Stop putting everything in to Dublin. Its allready dysfunctional due to over crowding. Develop other cities around the country.
Bus connects is a start for Dublin, however fares should be half of what they are.
@DJ François: Bus Connects is all smoke and mirrors
We can do better than Dart! http://www.thedublinloop.ie
Dublin to Derry via Letterkenny , starabane , Omaha,clones , Virginia, kells , Mavan , Ashbourne, Dublin airport, Dublin Connolly.
Northwest high speed with cross border funding.
Maglev network:
North/south line from magherafelt to cork via Cavan, tullamore cashel
East/west lines: Belfast to derry via Magherafelt
Dundalk to sligo via Cavan
Dublin to Galway via Tullamore
Waterford to limerick via Cashel
Maglev network:
North/south line from magherafelt to cork via Cavan, tullamore cashel
East/west lines: Belfast to derry via magherafelt
Dundalk to sligo via Cavan
Dublin to Galway via tullamore
Waterford to limerick via cashel
have your say