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?

[cacaca]

Why did people sign it - sense of entitlement I would imagine. Just as well they don’t live in America where they get next to no leave. I’m gutted that I had classes booked as I finally felt confident enough to attend and that my child was at a stage they might benefit. It’s shit but I’m not campaigning for more time off.

[Yurona]

Should parents of ill children, of premature children etc have extended paid parental leave? YES. They need it.
Should people who missed a couple of sessions of baby sensory etc get more paid maternity leave? No. baby classes may be nice, but are really, really not a necessity

[Tjsmumma]

@fivesecondrule exactly our position! My DP usually worked 6-5 and barely saw her and didn't have the best bond, now they have an amazing bond and we are loving the time! Dont understand why people are really complaining about it in regards to mat leave!

@OneandTwenty you'd surely hope so!! Its ridiculous

[BlessMeDarkFather]

To be honest I'm quite glad I dont get to go to the baby groups the HV kept suggesting! I couldn't think of a worse way to spend my mat leave. The petition is laughable.

[Fedhimtotigers]

The BF pages I'm on are plugging it like it's a human right.

[maria860]

I'm the opposite I wish I was on mat leave now when my partner is off work (self employed no paternity pay ) so he could help me and no school runs I wish my baby was born would be much easier to look after a baby for me right now with the kids off the clubs they do after etc so I don't understand why they want extra time off am I missing something ?

[newbingepisodes]

I'd advise you to get jabs ASAP there's a huge outbreak of measles at the moment - plus other things too.
PHE has said imms should continue as normal. I got my DD jabs on Tuesday as normal.

[Tjsmumma]

@newbingepisodes as far as i can tell she isnt due that until she is 1 anyway? She is 4 months at the moment and they are just top up jabs for thr inital jab she had?

[Tjsmumma]

@BlessMeDarkFather i wanted to but im quite an anxious person as it is! Not really my cuppa tea! Getting baby into nursery young does the same thing

@Fedhimtotigers seems to be the same on the sites im on!

@maria860 me either i just dont quite understand it all

[Smoggles]

I am sure most employers would happily let them have unpaid maternity leave at the moment, but no, paid because the world owes them baby groups, no.

[Smoggles]

The BF pages I'm on are plugging it like it's a human right.

Literally nothing about that surprises me

[Madwife123]

Entitled people want everything paid, until they see the tax bill at the end of this. As NHS staff I’ve had my days off cancelled, annual leave cancelled, holiday cancelled, wedding cancelled. I’d be happy with a bloody weekend off right now and people who have been off for 9 months eBay extra!

[PippaPegg]

@Fedhimtotigers eh? No employer can force you to return early from mat leave.

I've had to extend my mat leave into the unpaid part. Without childcare I'd have to request furlough but neither mine nor DH employer are furloughing anyone at the moment.

Stat mat is around £146 a week not exactly breaking the bank.

[2outof3Mightbebad]

Because people sometimes feel like they're taking the piss but it's legitimised if it's what they're 'entitled to' and so then they feel less guilty about it.

So the more of what they're 'entitled to', the better.

[PippaPegg]

Loving the race to the bottom on this thread.

No one wants to look at Sweden or other countries that have more generous parental leave.. wouldn't it be better if all countries had better provision?

Smacks of "well I didn't get X so no one else can"

[islandislandisland]

There's a post from the house of commons on Facebook asking for people's opinions on this that I've just seen

[Bubblesbubblesmybubbles]

I think the ONLY justification I've seen i can understand was one lady saying her colleague has officially gone back for one day, then onto furlough at 80% for another month. She was a bit upset she won't get the same extra time (not money, just time) with her child as shes been off 2 months so far.

I agree unpaid......maybe?! But DC1 is going to be far more impacted by this than DC2 when they arrive any day now

[Tjsmumma]

@islandislandisland that's what got me to ask!

@PippaPegg that's not what im asking about though. In that instance everyone woukd from now not a select few eho thought they were entitled for no apparent reason. How about people who have just returned back they are more entitled to mothers of babies who have just been born as they have plenty of time left but in the same token they had plenty before? No one needs more paid leave, they want it.

[Tjsmumma]

@islandislandisland oh and they want people to go via website to ask bjt majority clearly haven't read and are posting it velow it 🙄🤦🏼‍♀️ stupidity at its finest

[Hampsand]

Loving the race to the bottom on this thread.

It's pretty selfish in the middle of a global pandemic when millions of people are likely to lose their jobs, or are struggling by on fuck all to want an extra 3 months paid because they've had a baby. FFS.

[Tunnocks34]

I chose to end my maternity leave as my husband was made redundant. I would have loved an extra three months but ultimately, people are dying and losing their livelihoods. It seems completely selfish to expect an extra three month off so I can go to bloody baby groups!

[Tomorrowillbeachicken]

Wonder if they wanna swap it for carers allowance payment

[babydungarees]

I think it’s nonsense, I’m currently on mat leave with a 6 month old and don’t agree at all. I work in healthcare in a 9-5 role but if I can’t find a nursery place by September my manager has agreed I can go back to shift work instead & will work nights & weekends so DH can look after him while I’m at work. I would never expect a mat leave extension, and am not in a position to take any extra unpaid leave so have found a way to make it work.

[Tjsmumma]

@tunnocks34 im really sorry tohear that! Definitely i think its totally ridiculous imo some of these people clearky have no grjp on what society is really like!

[T0rt0ise]

I don't think those of you saying it's excellent having husbands at home so it must be the best maternity ever realise quite how isolating it is and quite how little support there currently is. I'm not saying I agree with the petition but please don't think this is a good situation for new mothers to be in. My husband may be at home but he is still working full time. There are no face to face HV appointments, six week checks, breastfeeding support etc. There are many cases of PND that are going to be missed. I haven't had my c section wound looked at since the dressing was removed 8 weeks ago. Please don't say to new mothers that they have it good. We do not.