To ask who signed the extension of mat leave and why?

[Tjsmumma]

Self explanatory really..

If you signed it why? Why do you feel you and entitled to more time paid? Do you think being in lockdown is more of a right to more time of PAID than people who have babies who are delivered early or need NICU stays?

I am myself on maternity with a 19 week old and i still do not think its fair to say 'i need more time off paid because i wasnt able to go to a mother and baby group' theres plenty of time to go after.

I can sort of understand if you are due to go back and cant find child care but surely you can be furloughed or claim SSP/Benefits during this time like the rest of the country?

[Fedhimtotigers]

Vaccinations are running as normal here.

Then you can apply for parental leave or use A/L.

Regardless of what personal story someone has this should not be done.

[Pleasedontdrawonyoursister]

Aren’t some (not all I know) having better maternity leave experience?? My friend has just had a baby and she thinks it’s great as her husband is on furlough and she hasn’t got to take the older kids on school run? I agree it’s a load of crap and the government has far more financial worries on its plate as it is.

[GrumpyHoonMain]

If i couldn't go back (im a nursery worker) id claim the necessary benefits or go on furlough like the rest of my company. Its that simple.

That’s good for you but many companies are not offering furloughing (applies most to keyworker jobs) and are highly paid enough that if they quit their jobs wouldn’t receive benefits. In this market I doubt they would be able to apply to another company either.

[LJC1234]

I'm pregnant and think it's ludicrous . I appreciate it's not an ideal time on maternity at the moment but I could not get my head around it at all. Companies can't afford staff as it is let alone expanding leave

[CaptainBlunderpants]

Vaccinations are running where I am too, my friend is a practice nurse and still giving them.

[Tjsmumma]

@MumofBees I get that, i have also missed out on baby groups, but what happened before these groups existed? People still went on and lived grwat lives.

I seriously do not see this continuing until September and that is 5 months away.

You have to take time off, unpaid and claim SSP or be furloughed like the rest of us unfortunately.

[Tjsmumma]

@GrumpyHoonMain if they quit their jobs there is no income surely so they would then be eligible? UC is based on what you have comimg in, if thats nothing you'll be entitled to the full amount. People adjust. What about people who arent on maternity leave? Caring fro their children? Not able to work or be furloughed? Do they get full pay? No... If anything it should be equal not just people who habe had many many months paid not needing to worry to then want more.

@CaptainBlunderpants they are indeed but im high risk and cannot take my DD and obviously others cant so im stuck also!

[Twigletfairy]

I have a 5 month old and think it's bullshit. When I first saw it I thought it was a joke. Especially when it implied that the baby groups are needed for babies development.

Baby groups are for the parents, not the baby. I took my eldest to then and she slept through half of them, and had to listen to all the competitive parenting. I promised myself I wouldn't get sucked into them this time so the only thing we did was swimming lessons.

Some parents will need extra support and talk to other parents. This doesn't need to be at baby groups. In fact in my experience, baby groups can sometimes be more harmful

And as already mentioned, I bet seeing that is a massive kick in the teeth to any parents whos child couldn't come home straight away or spent time in hospital in the first year.

[Xyzzzzz]

I was due to return to work and had settled dd into nursery. Then the lockdown happened. I’m going to have to resettle her again. I’m still on mat leave (even though I am a key worker) because I have no child care. I’m going to struggle settling dd in again. I don’t expect anymore payment on ssp. This couldn’t have been prevented really

[Tjsmumma]

@twigletfairy completely agree! Also any parents who have come off mat leave in the past month needing to go back!

Baby groups are not essential to a babies development, they managed for hundreds of years before hand and babies still socialised and survived!

I get other circumstances can arise and a need for it, but, there is other support available that is available to the rest of the country which we can all happily use! But its clearly less than what others are used to so they want more.

[Tjsmumma]

@Xyzzzzz its tough settling a baby, but it's always going to be! Mat leave extended will actually create a stronger bond then making it harder. Like you say its not like anyone could of prevented it, im sorry to hear you are struggling though x

[Tjsmumma]

@LJC1234 definitely! Going to put more strain on businesses and employers and then the government. Just dont understand it really

[Shitsgettingcrazy]

No nurseries seem to be working or responding to calls/emails so I cant even begin to try to find childcare (I had planned to start doing so when she was 3 months old, which perhaps is late but no one tells you that when you're pregnant).

In this case you do what other parents do. Take unpaid leave or use holidays etc.

[peperethecat]

Yes, I think this is really self-indulgent.

People have lost their livelihoods, the government (and the taxpayer) is already going to have to pick up a huge bill due to this, women on maternity leave who haven't been able to go to Starbucks or baby yoga are a long way down the list of priorities as far as I'm concerned.

Sure, it's sad, but it's sad for lots of people, in much worse ways than this.

Just stay at home and bond with your baby.

[Tjsmumma]

@Shitsgettingcrazy yeah you would assume so!

@peperethecat most definitely, people losing loved ones due to it is probably a lot worse than not being able to meet another mum! Theres even apps to chat ro other mums now. We get all this time to sit and bond and my DP gets extra time with her! We are lucky in that asoect.

[CeibaTree]

It's such a tone deaf campaign in the current environment. People are dying in vast numbers, and these people are upset they didn't have the instagramable version of maternity leave that they have been sold. News flash - nor do lots of people around the world in 'normal' times and they cope fine. Not sure where they think the extra money to fund this extra maternity leave will come from either. I do feel sympathy for people with very young babies at the moment as it must be very isolated, but this campaign is misguided at best and deluded at worst.

[PicsInRed]

Was this the giant incoherent whinge of a petition which was actually started by a man?

[Louiselouie0890]

It's ridiculous, and the arguments on that article are too.

[peperethecat]

Our nephew was born ten days before lockdown and my brother in law has been furloughed. They have a little less money coming in and they haven't been able to move house which they were supposed to be doing, but my brother in law has basically had weeks at home with his baby that he wouldn't otherwise have had.

Other people that are constantly posting on Mumsnet about not wanting too many visitors too soon when the baby is born or worrying about being overwhelmed by over the top in laws must be loving weeks cocooned at home with their baby and no visitors.

I think being at home on mat leave with your new baby and your partner at home rather than at work must be one of the best positions to be in right now.

[Cremebrule]

It’s bloody ridiculous. I’ve just returned from mat leave. Everyone on mat leave is in a fortunate position and should be aware of that. They’re not trying to juggle children and work etc. There are issues re equality of pay for furloughed women returning off mat leave that are more important than bloody baby groups. I loved baby groups but they are not a right or requirement. My baby has been completely oblivious. Would I have liked to have different things with the end of my mat leave - yes. The only detriment to my baby has been having her big sister around and losing 1:1 time.

[Rainycloudyday]

I’m embarrassed for whoever started it, and they are embarrassing mothers everywhere. Every time I’ve seen it I’ve wanted to shout from the rooftops that we’re not all complete selfish morons. Yes there are exceptional circumstances like medical reasons where people need an extension but this petition is about time to go to baby groups-it would be funny if it wasn’t so awful. I called out a mumfluencer on Instagram who posted it and she was completely unable to have a sensible adult discussion about our views on it. It confirmed my opinion that only someone very hard of thinking would sign such a thing.

[Rosebel]

I agree with a longer maternity leave in any circumstances but I don't think it should be paid and I say that as someone who has been forced on early maternity leave and will only be able to take 6 months off.
That's just the way it is though.

[fivesecondrule]

Someone I know just had a baby- her DP is at home on furlough and she's said they're having a lovely time as a little family. He'd, under usual circumstances only be entitled to 2 weeks SPP, instead he's getting 80% plus accumulating his holidays. She said they're sleeping in as late as they need, taking a lovely walk with the dogs and feel absolutely no pressure what so ever to rush around- her DP goes off and does the shopping whilst her and baby sleep- it sounds bloody amazing.

[OneandTwenty]

That petition must be a fake from an anti-feminist, surely.

Basically the message is that women need maternity leave to have coffee with friends and go to baby group.

It's a horrible way to describe what is actually a real physical and emotional need, 1 year off is barely enough for so many mothers - as many mothers might need to start their leave long before baby is actually born...
If you listen to the moron who started the petition, it means we don't NEED any maternity leave at all - you can take holidays to arrange your own coffee groups after all.

Great way to try to reduce our rights, if it's not a fake, I hope the idiot who started it is deeply ashamed of themselves.

[OneandTwenty]

She said they're sleeping in as late as they need
good for her, but a newborn leaving you sleep your 8 or 9 hours a night and having lie-in is pretty rare...