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Original poster

PREGNANT MN CHILDMINDERS - come over here......

291 replies

looneytune · 27/03/2008 20:21

Right, as mentioned in the staffroom, there is definitely something in the water!! Due to there being a few of us now, I thought we should have a thread to keep tabs on when everyone is due etc.

I'll put the info I know so far, come and add yourself/your details or even better, copy and paste this list and update accordingly

Crace - C-section booked for ??? May
Looneytune - EDD 23rd June (BOY)
eleanorsmum - EDD ????
MamaG - EDD ???

I know there are others but I just can't remember now (don't you just love the pregnancy brain!). Tori has her baby last night and I think another had theirs recently too but still thought there were more pregnant C/Ms????

OP posts:
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libbysmummy · 30/03/2008 10:51

Oh elanorsmum

I have everything crossed for you hun. It's very hard when no-one seems in a rush to sort anything out.

Will be thinking of you today xxxxx

Original poster
looneytune · 30/03/2008 09:54

Have posted on other thread hun {{{hugs}}} xxx

OP posts:
eleanorsmum · 30/03/2008 09:43

Hi all i'm currently having a threatened miscarriage. am trembling writing this. brown blood after internal scan weds, little bit thurs, lots fri with clots. spoke to ooh doc sadi to rest up over weeekend, scan monday. if worse call back. worse sat, red blood and more litte clots, phones ooh doc told to go to a&e. went got transfered to ward and saw consultant. can't do anyting till monday. internal scan not available. basically tough luck if you bleed at the weekend beofre 12 weeks! am not impressed with royal berks at mo. but am trying to get through today.

oh and dd is still getting more spots.

crace · 30/03/2008 08:48

OO, is it that cut throat around you? Fingers crossed you get a lovely birth anyway, but not because you have to return to work!

I think we just have to do our best, hope they come back and if not.. well hope for more business.

I am really debating about what I will do myself. I will have taken 2 of my under 5 spots with my own children. Dd won't be a rising five for 2 years so I will only be able to fill one spot unless I ask Ofsted for a variation.

However, with a 2.75 year old, a 3 month old and an over 1 I doubt I would want any more to be honest. With MA I am just short £70 a month which I am sure my mental health is worth! I think I will just see how it goes - I know I am taking 3 months, but have up to 9. I do however have the luxury of it being very thin on the ground for c/ms and I have been turning people away.

Original poster
looneytune · 29/03/2008 20:23

Oh OO, I feel for you. I originally planned 4 weeks off but then one of my lovely parents was worried it wasn't enough time for me to recover after and was understandably worried about how I'd be able to properly care for her baby. She felt more comfortable with 12 weeks and so did I so I changed things to 12 weeks. Tbh, I don't know how I'd have managed with just 4 weeks off and having to carry all the babies about again so soon after (I was a nightmare after ds was born and would no way have managed). If I could afford to be on Maternity Allowance for longer, I would (I can't afford to be on it AT ALL tbh), I know it wouldn't take me long to find new mindees but of course I'm very attached to all the children I have now and wouldn't want to change anyway! I feel very luck that:

Mindee 1 (FT) - her mum is going to leave her job (been wanting to anyway) and start a new job when I start back, worked out perfect all round (she did check out nurseries and other childminders but said she wasn't happy with anyone else so at least I feel secure in this one returning after)

Mindee 2 (2 days) - using family

Mindee 3 (3 days) - using family

Mindee 4 (FT after school) - term time only anyway so 6 of the weeks wouldn't be needed anyway. Parents both work contracts so presume one is staying off as not wanting me to help with another childminder.

I know I may end up with some not coming back but they've all assured me that they don't want anyone else so will be returning. Just have to hope nothing changes.

OfstedO/S - is work really that hard to get in your area?

OP posts:
OFSTEDoutstanding · 29/03/2008 19:31

You are so lucky to be having so long off I finish work on 18th August and go back to work 2 weeks after the birth so ong as I dont end up having an emergency c section or anything. Can't afford to risk losing families

Original poster
looneytune · 29/03/2008 18:54

OMG.....I'll make the decision for you!!! If you can afford to go for the couple of days with just one mindee, bloomin well go for it!!! I love my job but it's exhausting having lots, especially when pregnant. Believe me, if I could afford to have longer off and have some quality family time, I would!! Would also ease myself back in gently if I was able to. But, as I have no choice, I'll be back in September with my own 8ish week old, an 8 month old/17 month old (depending on days), a 19 month old, a 4 year old and 5 year old ds. I'll miss the mindees when I have my 12 weeks off but it will make a nice change to concentrate on my own family for a short time Oh, and to not have to clean every night etc. if I don't want to - can't wait

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kkey21 · 29/03/2008 17:52

Wow this is just great.....! I don't tend to post very often but always reading up the gossip!
I am trying to decide what to do after my Mat leave as finacially we can just about manage for me to take a few years out a smy dp has a new 3yr contract....however i would still need to get myself some 'pocket money' so thinking just going back with two days and one child could just be perfect????
Oh decisions are 100 X harder when preg i am sure!!!

fruitloop Good luck with everything-we had a problem conceiving our son who is now 2.5yrs old...after years of problems and 9mths months of charting/trying i fell pregnant with the help of medication with him....

IT WILL HAPPEN FOR YOU! xxxx

Original poster
looneytune · 29/03/2008 15:11

Crace - C-section booked 23rd May
Looneytune - EDD 23rd June (BOY)
libbysmummy - EDD 14th July
ofstedoutstanding - EDD 25th August
kkey21 - EDD 27th August
MamaG - EDD 1st November
eleanorsmum - EDD 11th November

OP posts:
Original poster
looneytune · 29/03/2008 15:10

Hello all, pleased to see some more on the list

crace - thanks for the link, will get that sorted!

EllieM - you had Chicken Pox before? If you have then you should be fine. I've been exposed whilst pregnant and thought nothing of it as I had it as a child. Hope all is ok

libbysmummy - It's hard isn't it! Hey, 3 days a week will be great though, I know all about counting the days I'm so of your 9 months off!

fruitloop - fingers tightly crossed for you that it won't be much longer!!

AskABusyPerson - many congrats again on the birth of your lo and pleased it was a much nicer experience. Hoping this one will be born at home but fully aware it can't always happen, fingers crossed though! I also hope this one is a better feeder as for the first 2 months with ds, I had tears rolling down my face at every feed, it was sooo painful. As I'm going back to work when baby is approx. 8/9 weeks old, I really could do with it being better this time! . I'll look into postponing NCMA membership then. I think it's due around May yet I finish in June for 12 weeks so not sure how that works. As for variation, bloody Ofsted just don't follow a certain procedure do they!! I've recently asked if a new baby I have (started at 8 weeks, now 3 and bit months old) can come back in Sept when she's still only 8 months old. They've agreed and already sent the cert and I'm not due til 23rd June! So I got mine with less hassle HOWEVER it's only until baby turns 1 in December as unlike you, they have done for that child and won't just permanently say I can have 2 under 1's (even though this is the 2nd time they've granted it so it costs them in paperwork each time!). Anyway, enjoy the rest of your lovely time off with your new baby

OFSTEDoutstanding - welcome Have just moved you up the list so it's all in date order

OP posts:
OFSTEDoutstanding · 28/03/2008 22:00

Crace - C-section booked 23rd May
Looneytune - EDD 23rd June (BOY)
libbysmummy - EDD 14th July
kkey21 - EDD 27th August
MamaG - EDD 1st November
eleanorsmum - EDD 11th November
ofstedoutstanding - EDD 25th August

Will let you know what I am having after my scan in a couple of weeks.
kkey we might even have them on the same day

AskABusyPerson · 28/03/2008 19:32

Ah, shame this thread too late for me - I had my little boy on 8th March at 1.05am! It was at home after 4.5 hours real labour (had had vague irregular contractions since 12.30am the previous day!) and was a really amazing experience and totally different to my first labour - very traumatic induction with loads of medical intervention followed by a week in special care cos dd very weak with jaundice and not feeding from me cos not strong enough to latch on and suckle... This time bf going really well and ds doing really well - see piccy on my profile!

Got my mat allowance no problem, and do remember you can suspend your NCMA membership thereby saving a bit more money too!

I had to apply to Ofsted for a variation to allow an under one plus my own baby (is for about 8 weeks cos then the mindee who is under one will then turn one!) At first they rang me to say they could only consider it once I'd had my baby, so why did they ring back a few weeks later to say variation had been allowed - yet I hadn't actually told them about baby by then as he was only 3 days old!!! Still, glad I got it, and it will stay on the certificate - I thought they'd change it back once the mindee reaches one, but they said if I can prove I can look after two under 1's then it stays!

I go back beginning of May, sooner than I wanted really but mindees Mum is waiting for me to go back to work so that she can herself following Mat Leave!

Good luck to everyone with your pregnancies and births, and to FL with getting pg

crace · 28/03/2008 16:14

All fingers and toes are crossed for you FL!

crace · 28/03/2008 16:13

LM - I am in the same boat as you - I may take more than the three months I had intended. My MA will be the one under 5 space I am allowed and I am in no hurry to cover my after schoolie, think I will have enough on my hands! My kids are covered elsewhere too and I may just see how they get on. My ds and dd both start new schools (one going into secondary with SEN and dd starting preschool) in September so may just see how we get on.

I am beginning to despise Fridays, I have 4 full days and one half day each week and it's taking it's toll. As this is baby number three I think things are just worn out! I get BH contrax all the time and it's so painful. Considering I am having an elective labour is NOT what I want.

ENough moaning - off to track down the staff room!

fruitloopwants79eastereggs · 28/03/2008 15:56

Hello there fellow CM's!
I haven't been in here for such a long time and have been neglecting my CM buddies
How are you all?
Well I'm not pg yet but been in the TTC waiting room for what seems like eons! We've been TTC since the beginning of Aug 07.
Hopefully I'll be able to join you all soon cos I know I'll need loads of advise on how on earth I'm going to be able to carry on CMing and maternity and still being able to pay my mortgage
So once the NHS subfertility have finally sorted me out (got my follow up gynae appointment in Aug this year) I'll be in here moaning and wailing about aches, pains and sickness! See you in a few months then! Oh, actually, I've just realised you will have all given birth by then Ah well, perhaps you could leave this room open for me

libbysmummy · 28/03/2008 15:03

Well I am struggling big time and I am only 25wks!

I am going down to 3 days a week from the end of April and then finish completely on 17th June (not that I'm counting!!)

I am actually taking the whole 9mths maternity leave as I will be better off financially, and have found cover for my mindees so I am looking forward to some well earned rest - well as much as you can have with a new baby and a 3yr old at home!!

ps, in answer to a much earlier question I am in Swindon...

crace · 28/03/2008 11:16

No, but I've had it - we had a run in with slapped cheek a couple months ago that I am nervous about but I was post 20 weeks when it happened. Nightmare

Fingers crossed for you

eleanorsmum · 28/03/2008 10:15

any of you had a chicken pox scare? dd has just come down with it today. have alerted all mindees parents, speaking to doc later today. dd is fine just spotty. i had a blood test yesterday and they were doing my cp immunity anyway as i told them dd had been exposed. so will that show it ok, i'll talk to the doc later anyway about it all. i'm sure its psycosematic (sp!) but i'm all itchy today!

MamaG · 28/03/2008 09:54

OK Shosh-Nan, we'll let you off the knitting! I think I'm due 1st Nov - it was a quick flick through the calendar on my phone - I'm 8 weeks and 6 days today, so I just counted the weeks until 40 weeks! Eleanorsmum, I went overdue with both my other two children, so I'll probably be having mine around 11/12 Nov, so make sure you're on time or early and you won't be the last

mindingmum · 28/03/2008 09:11

Congrats to you all

I'm not expecting (thank the lord!!) but I just love baby talk so will be avidly following progress

And I'm a total pram-aholic so good to go on that front too - as my RL friends would say - if you can name a pram/buggy/pushchair then I've owned one

crace · 28/03/2008 08:29

www.dwp.gov.uk/advisers/ni17a/ma/ma_5.asp

crace · 28/03/2008 08:28

No, you can't until 26 weeks but you should get it out about then

shoshe · 28/03/2008 08:28

Sorry girls cant knit anymore, fingers to stiff! (God I DO sound like a Granny, I'm not I'm a Nan!)

So Tori is the first to have and SingleG the last, have I got that right?

Went to see the new baby last night taking her big sister, OMG she looks about a month old she is so big!

And she young Lucy has no newborn mew, she is LOUD, but then ....................

Tori is not exactly the quiet sort

crace · 28/03/2008 08:27

Do it now LT!! Has to be in around this time

I still haven't received word if it's been approved or not - they are a month + around here.

eleanorsmum · 28/03/2008 08:17

morning! this was great idea looney! i'm sure the other cm's in the staff room have got a bit fed up of all our baby chatter!

Don't like being bottom of the list though! am quietly hoping baby will be bit early like dd was! am sure dates will adjust at next scan they better!

i also thought you can't apply for MA until 26 weeks!

just tentatvily asked dd if she'd like a brother or sister and she cried! said no mummy! so won't tell her this weekend then! was going to as we had picture! also got book there's a house in mummys tummy!

So when did you tell siblings and how? please give me some advice!