For all those campaigning for an extension to maternity leave - public consultation info!

[FeedTheFish]

This doesn't affect me personally and I know there have been threads discussing this topic this already but I didn't want anyone to miss this. Here's a chance to join in with a public consultation and share your views with parliament:

m.facebook.com/story.php?story_fbid=1129288250803626&id=183432182055909

I can't seem to copy the text directly but please see attached screenshot with details.

But the implication from these arguments is that these services are likely to be available soon.

They're not.

Baby or ANY groups are not likely at all to be up and running anytime soon. Nor are swimming pools. Could be months or even a year or more. We are not 'getting back to normal' for a very long time.

So how do you make the proposal work? Women on mat leave now with 9 month old babies being given 3 months paid..but in those 3 months they still can't access the groups they want.

So what would be the point? They've had another 3 months paid but are still in the same position they were 3 months earlier. Or is it being suggested they go back to work then take another 3 months paid MAT leave when services are running again?

When would it be valid from and till? We don't know how this is going to go. We simply do not know when full services will be up and running. Could be months or longer.

I have a 3.5 year old that is non verbal and his SLT has been cancelled while the speech therapists get redeployed, he got a whole 6 weeks at nursery (January starter) before the lockdown started and he has no siblings so it's just me, DH and him. He is potentially looking at only having got 1 year of pre school nursery before starting school next summer (if the schools and nurseries don't go back until after the summer holidays) where as summer starters and those children before and after him will have gotten 1 year and 2 terms or 2 full years!

I just don't understand why a baby that is it not at a critical age takes priority? They are no where near the critical age for socialisation or education. Baby groups are a choice and not mandatory. They don't serve any purpose in preparing them for school or building major development skills. They're fun and light socialisation for mother/father and baby.

Should I get 3 months paid leave because my child is going to be almost a whole year behind in pre school preparation for school, because he doesn't talk due to a massive wait on the list for SLT then it being delayed even further due to the pandemic also? Surely I should get 3 months paid leave to try and fill the massive gap with lots of things to help get him socialised and talking due to basically no SLT intervention? Well I don't think I should. It's the way the dice rolled and as a parent, I have to do my best.

I could be asked to return to my office any time. His nursery is closed and no word of when it will reopen. We can't ask grandparents to help as it's against guidlines and they're all shielding. My DH is working on a reduced contract of 4 days a week and different hours of 8am-4pm (instead of 6am-2pm so I can work afternoons) because if he didn't agree, he might have lost his job. He is working during the hours I'm meant to work but I'm currently furloughed so just now it's ok but what do we if I get asked to go back in 2 weeks? What do we actually do? No idea! But we aren't the only people in this position! Lots of people are and are facing taking parental leave and annual leave to try and get by. This petition makes me so angry. The people signing it really have no clue of what real life struggles are. They have more rights than anyone else as women coming off maternity leave so have more rights to ask for flexible working and it be accepted, more rights to be protected from redundancy being on maternity leave and more rights to ask for home working due to not being in the workplace for the past 9 months to 1 year!

If it's a race to the bottom, I'll join. I'll swap with you! I'll happily be someone coming off a years maternity leave with leverage to ask my employer to be reasonable with me and have a small baby that doesn't know what their hand even is over having no leverage with my employer due to being relied on (when we're open) and a 3.5 year old that cannot talk and no help in sight! Swap me! I wouldn't even expect the 3 months extra paid leave because I can juggle this bad situation I'm in right now so yours would be a bloody breeze. Cheeky gits

@YappityYapYap excellent post. When I see people in your position, with children with additional needs, who are in far more difficult and stressful circumstances than many parents and yet you have the insight and integrity to realise that there is no ‘easy fix’ to the situation we’re in, it highlights yet again how selfish this small sector of mothers are, just wanting more paid time off.

This is a shit situation for everyone but it’s a hell of a lot more shitty for parents with children with disabilities. Or for parents who are still having to go to work as front line health workers. Quite frankly coming to the end of paid maternity leave (which is pretty bloody generous already in terms of length) is one of the better positions to be in. And if these mums didn’t have a job to go back to because the business they work for is going under due to the pandemic they’d have a lot more to complain about too

I'm torn. On maternity leave with DS2 at the moment, but hadn't even thought about leave being extended.

My only concern is going back to work in September and if lockdown continues, I'd be leaving DS2 with practically strangers after he's been at home with me, DH and DS1 only since March.

With DS1 I spent most days at baby groups, with in-laws and with my own parents. He knew everyone and I had no issue leaving him with them while I went back to work.

DS2 could potentially struggle with this because he simply doesn't know his grandparents, and actually, they don't know him either really.
I've also got PND and I've really missed my support groups since lockdown begun and being stuck in the house with a demanding four year old and a demanding 7 month old has been tough.

But I don't think I'll be signing this. It happens, it's out of our control. Plenty of other people have been affected by the lockdown, not just Mum's. Yes, I'm disappointed that ds2 isn't getting the same experience that DS1 had but it just can't be helped.

I'm actually more annoyed that I'm at home on SMP, when everyone else in my company has been furloughed at full pay.

I think it's stupid although I would like the maternity exemption for dental to be extended as I have work to be done one my teeth due to pregnancy. I'd had done done but the rest may now come after my year his up

I'm just completely shocked at how precious and entitled this concept is. I laughed out loud when I read the actual proposition.

Babies are not going to be adversely affected by not going to 'baby groups'. Jesus.

God forgot these sort of people ever have to actually endure hardship.

The people whose kids are in NICU for months should get three months extra not those who have to stay home with their babies like the rest of us. It's selfishness at its finest. We haven't even been on lockdown for 3 months .

@BillyAndTheSillies but you are getting 100% of what you are entitled too. They should be entitled to furlough as they can't work . If they could be at work they would be there.

I can't figure out how to comment but I feel quite strongly that this should not happen. There have always been huge groups of mum's who don't get the traditional maternity leave - very premature babies, dealing with severe pnd which means you can't do anything, young mum's who feel isolated, babies with special needs. Even just multiple births or two children close together can make accessing baby groups difficult.

We're all losing huge amounts. My children are losing probably the last 18 months of being able to see their grandma (approaching advanced dementia). Can we have leave when lockdown ends so that we can self isolate and visit her safely? What about the people going through bereavement alone, can they have leave to spend time supported by family and friends?

What about the developmental impact on children who are now going to be living in poverty?

What about people who have potentially been in shielding for 18 months when they are allowed out, or their children who have not been allowed within 2 metres of a parent so they can go back to school (a situation a friend faces).

When we're dealing with major economic and health impacts I just find the petition leaves a bad taste in my mouth.

I don’t understand a lot of
These points. What am I missing?

Midwife run health checks at community centres aren't running

But if you have a newborn now, how will it help you in 9 Months when you’re due to go back to work, to have an extension? The checks will
Be irrelevant by then.

Breastfeeding support groups aren't running (and we all know what a twat you are if you give up breastfeeding, mumsnet)

Same as above

Swimming pools for babies with extra sensory and physical needs are closed

This is a very specific issue with merit

Babies not building relationships other than mum and dad

This is not essential whatsoever

then thrown into nursery with buggar all settling periods

Parents will have to take a bit of time off to settle children in. But it’s the same for older children who have had their routines disrupted. Should all parents get extra time off?!

Babies who can't play on the grass in the park 'because it's not exercise' are confined to apartments

Plenty of people are taking children to the park. Additionally unlikely young babies where the mothers are on mat leave during lockdown really need this.

The reality of child Separation anxiety

This is an issue no matter what, with mothers returning to work at any time

Post birth physio sessions for those who suffered SPD and sciatica

This is a point with merit

And yes, all things child development. Learning, watching, mimicking, new things to touch and feel - learning to engage

Absolute nonsense. Parents can take of this at home. Even without toys - pasta shapes are sensory. Rice is sensory. Scarves are sensory. What a load of twaddle to suggest these sensory classes mean a bloody thing (and I went to all the classes with my first).

As someone else pointed out on one of the earlier threads, people with babies in NICU (premature, prolonged stays) don't get extended ML so why the fuck should someone who has missed a few baby yoga classes get it???

It shows all that is wrong with bloody world. There has been a petition to increase ML for women who have had babies for prolonged periods in NICU and it's never recieved enough signatures to be debated. Yet some entitled twat thinks she deserves more time off to do baby classes and make "mummy friends" and she gets records signatures in no time.

Shocking and anyone who signed it should be ashamed.

The mothers signing this shit are the irritating ones who complain if someone without a buggy uses a lift, or don’t thank you when you move out of the way for them, like it’s their god given right to take up the pavement.

@Crunchymum

Exactly. People are entitled and have 0 fucking clue. It’s shocking how people are supporting this when, as you say, parents with babies in the NICU who desperately need the time, don’t get any fucking support.

@LittleBearPad yes that's my point: Dentists are shut now, so the free dental care should be extended so those who have missed out can access it when they reopen.

@Crunchymum

Exactly! My second spent almost two months in NICU. During my nine month maternity leave he had three operations and other prolonged stays in hospital. When he wasn’t in hospital we were advised to keep him at home during the winter due to infection risk. At least I am an expert at coping during lockdown!

Of course I didn’t get extra maternity leave. It’s horrible to have a new baby in these times but sadly life is unfair like this.

I can’t believe how many people have signed this and agreed with it

Complete utter entitled nonsense

Having a newborn doesn’t trump anybody else’s quarantine / lockdown experience

Of course there shouldn’t be an extra 3 months paid maternity
Ridiculous idea

@soundsystem fair enough; that makes sense. The rest is bunkum.

‘People are entitled and have 0 fucking clue. It’s shocking how people are supporting this when, as you say, parents with babies in the NICU who desperately need the time, don’t get any fucking support.’

This 100%

It just proves to me that sadly, those who are probably the most deserving are the ones who don’t expect the world to revolve around their needs.
Whereas the entitled few, whose biggest concern in life is whether they’ll miss out on a few coffee dates and swim sessions, are jumping up and down screeching that it’s not fair.

It really is disgusting