January 2012 - Thread 3

[ParsleyLion1]

And we're back......

It's my first "Little One" - or LO.

oeisha my work is driving me mad too. Still no risk assessment and I told them I was pregnant at 11 weeks (8 weeks ago!). I work as a sales rep and travel around the UK humping stock in and our of the car and working long hours, so although I don't have any annoying colleagues letting me down, I think at nearly 20 weeks preggers my work should have at least acknowledged the fact I'm having a baby, and perhaps considered I'll be off for a year in about 10 weeks time and they haven't a replacement!

Ok rant over... For now ;)

X

Cakes I've had that a few times too, not a lovely feeling, as though she's trying to jump upwards or something. I prefer the tickles and sideways jabs. So now I have bed envy as well as brownie envy - gah I sound weird!

Livened yes, think so you are mad but won't it be lovely when it's done! My dh is painting the sitting room this weekend whilst dd and I de-camp to my sister's. I can't help because of the fumes of course, that and because I put swirly patterns onto our bedroom wall without realising you can still see it when the paint dried. That annoyed dh into never letting me decorate again .

Oeisha you have to start saying 'no' or at least ringing in sick until they stop taking you for granted. They'll manage whilst you're on mat leave so let them take more care of you. Especially if you signed off a risk assement for 5 hours - start wearing a stop watch or something! Hope you get a good night.

And my top tip for baby knitting - the old lady in the office. I tried really hard last time and made bootees small enough for dolly (tension issues) and the lovely old dear in my office took pity on me. I supplied the wool and she knocked out gorgeous jackets, hats and bootees in unisex colours (we were team yellow last time). I poured my efforts into a plain knit baby blanket, that due to tension used loads of wool and weighs a ton but I still love it. Happiness all round!

DOH! Of course!

Liveded Sounds like they're in denial.

If anyone out there's in a similar situation:

You can do yourself a risk assessment. Usual recommendations such as 7kilo liftin limit (5 for me...again, work are paranoid), regular breaks (every 2h) and not too long on your feet. Reduct lifting where possible. No twisting and lifting. Watch temperatures you work in (not over 45*c for more than 10 mins if poss) and plenty of water. Give them the assessment and ask them to sign it...that'll kick-start 'em.

You need to think:
Tasks & current risk level (usually none, low, medium, high- rated by severity of possibly injury/likelyhood of accident).
What can you do to minimise risk?
What's the risk level now? If still 'high' (such as me now being banned from the freezer, as it's currently got a shockingly slippery floor) then you shoudn't be asked/shouldn't do the task... If 'moderate'/'medium' they should also not be allowing you to do these tasks. If 'low' then these tasks are ok.

They don't officially have to do anything towards a risk assessment if you haven't written to them to tell them you're pg...though it would be sensible if they had this in place (just use the words 'due dilligence' if they look oddly at you).

Have a look at the HSE website...New and Expectent Mothers as it will give you an idea of the potential hazards and a good outline of your rights. Good links to other resources too.

knittiekitty Work did adapt my day to make sure I wasn't on my feet for more than 5h...so not to worry. I just knew the close would be difficult as I would naturally be tired by then. Just pissed me off that it had to happen in the first place. Not the first time this person has dropped a shift last minute. They're gonna have to start being harder on everyone that signs up for ovetime and then changes their mind...driving mental. Causes so many arguments. No other department allows it.

Thank you for the congratulations and glad there are others joining me in team yellow. :)

Cakes - it's exactly like that - like eyelid twitches but in my lower tummy, so I think it could be the baby, yay! Looking forward to feeling the kicks properly. I'd like to meet up for a coffee, that sounds great!

Very impressed with all the knitting and home improvements going on! Fish - we've not started on a nursery or anything yet either, we're thinking of moving and as the baby will be in our room for six months, they don't need one for a year at least. Not sure this is the best plan, but it's the one we're going with.

Livened sorry your work have been so rubbish about the assessment - it is a legal obligation so don't let up on it. In addition to the points made by oeisha mine included being near to loos, wearing sensible shoes as my centre of gravity will change (made me laugh, but I suppose if I had a job where heels are expected could have been good), and having a buddy to help with stairs in case of fire alarms. I think ours was a bit OTT, but it makes the point that there are more things to think about than you might realise. Mine also had restrictions on travel - international and national which may be relevant to you. You may not fit behind a wheel further into pregnancy! Theres also more risk of a DVT through sitting too long.

Hmm, was loads more I wanted to comment on but must go to bed!

Oh yes - there's a thread on here about Bounty - it seems to has been going for three years so far!
www.mumsnet.com/Talk/am_i_being_unreasonable/604539-to-really-dislike-those-bounty-packs-that-get-forced-upon/AllOnOnePage

Hum de hum-scan a week today. I cannot flippin wait!

If anyone gets offered or hears of a changing unit/changing table going spare or extremely cheap please let me know.

hey ladies. My two cents - those of you with stressful and tiring jobs should definitely push for risk assessments! I don't really need one as I mostly sit on my bum all day work with emails and my lovely colleagues have been hefting my heavy book deliveries up four flights of stairs for me. Even with the increased heart rate/weight of pregnancy, I'm still the least puffed out when I get to the top of the stairs! Slackers

So envious of all the people who can knit. I learned as a young child but have forgotten now, but fortunately my grandma, mum, and at least two friends can knit really well. I wonder if it's worth me taking it up? I think sewing is more my thing, if I can get hold of a machine.

Yesterday my mum called me to say that she had been in a charity shop in a rather posh town in N. Yorks. She has a habit of willing things into existence - so, for example, I mentioned I needed a dressing table seat, and lo and behold she stumbled across a perfect one that just needed recovering in a local charity shop. Well, yesterday, she came across a perfect three wheel Quinny pram! She started looking at it, wheeling it around, commenting at what a perfect condition it was in and how lovely it was (you can see where this is going...), when suddenly a woman across the shop piped up "Yes, it is rather lovely, and it's mine!". Cue fumbling apology from my mum and much redness of face . Who knows why she thought a charity shop would have a lovely new pram with blankets etc attached (I hasten to add, no child in it!). My mum's a corker

ghost - that's hilarious! I've walked off with the wrong shopping trolley on numerous occasions, but that really tops it.

Congratulations to everyone on your scans. Ours isn't for another 2 1/2 weeks, but just started feeling a few wriggles so that makes the wait more bearable.

Livened - really keep on at your work. I only have to travel occasionally with heavy bags of books, but the assessor has basically put the kibosh on me going alone and I'll have to take someone with me - funnily enough work suddenly seem fine with me cutting right back on the travel!

Well done everyone starting on your nurseries as well - we'll have to move DD out of the little room, but then we have the problem of where to put her as DH has commandeered the 2nd bedroom as a library and doesn't want to give it up, which leaves the illegal attic conversion (not underpinned and with no heating)! Anyway, I think we'll leave that final argument until about 6 months after DC2 is born, when we're desperate to have our room back to ourselves. At this rate, this poor child will be in a drawer once it's born!

Livened I do the same job as you, and I have had a risk assesment, I even have everyone else loading up my car for me when I go to collect my samples and equipment! I tried to blag driving to the meetings as being far to long a journey in the car meaning I would have to skip the boredom , but alas the boss just said have a couple of stretch your leg breaks. en route, darn it!
Is anyone else counting down the working days till maternity leave? I'm on 47 more to go
I am shitting bricks about my 20 week scan on friday.
Waves to all

Ha just read about your Mum and the Charity shop ghost and bless her she can't even claim babybrain, unless she is in sympathy with you!

Ghost Genius! :) I just had to cope with Mum and MIL both pushing 'baby John' around John Lewis in about 20 different pram/buggie arrangements...did get a funny look when I 'threw' baby John to Mum (not ver far...about a ft). Seriously think that guy though it was my baby...

Anyway, Ghost you're more prone to DVT when pg...so if you're not moving about much they should be risk assessing you anyway (dehydration is very common for desk-workers too).

fish my scan's next Wed too. :S Trying not to get too wound up with excitment or terror... Reading all the 19wk development stuff in an attempt to stay rational.

Ergh, another late at work. At least most of the day is off counter rescuing other people's asses not on my feet.

ghost your mum sounds like mine, how funny! :)

Wormshuffler wow, you must be starting your leave early! I'm planning to start early December. There's still lots of days to go....

I only work 3 days a week and am having 6 weeks off prior to dd also got a weeks holiday in Oct . What's everyone else hoping to do?

she's a gem

Looking at all of your plans for maternity leave makes me . I was merrily assuming I'd work up to christmas! My boss rather tactfully said that he thought we had better get my cover in to start training in early/mid Nov, and I thought bye was just being cautious. Now I'm wondering if I'm being way too optimistic! Dec shouldn't be too busy at work so I thought if I get bad I could work shorter weeks for a start, as well as leave the cover person alone sometimes to get up to speed. Am I totally in denial?

I had 8 weeks off with my first DC when I was full time!

I just got my first round of bump-related rudeness this morning from the post office lady! I haven't been in for a while, so she looked at me and said "Congratulations! You've been hiding that well for all those months" so I said that I'm not that far along really, but definitely showing, so she asked when I was due, and I told her January. She counted the remaining months on her fingers and said "Oh, only four months then, are you sure it's not twins? No? Just big then?"

RUUUUUDE! I told her it's just because I'm short and it's all out the front. I didn't mention that I'd just eaten a massive lunch and that my topshop maternity dress particularly highlights my bump, but I wanted to! At least it's all bump and not just "who ate all the pies" by now. And anyway, I'm 20 weeks, so that's really 4.5 months. And excuses on and on. There's definitely at least an inch of fat on my stomach but underneath that it's pure pamplemousse

Hi every one spent the morning at the hospital to see the consultant, arrived at 9.30 didn't see hime till 10.30. Hd to see a care assistant for bp and after a midwife who scribbled something in my notes. Came home 12 poor dh he was waiting for over an hr with 4 grumpy kids. Good news though as even though my bmi is 43 he is happy for me to stay with my midwife care so long as I have another scan at 36 weeks to check babies presentation for birth. So all is good, I have a feeling that I will have to see the anniesnatist to but for the first time met someone who listened and let me ask my questions and didn't give me the death and disaster talk.
ghosteditor - I think you willhave to play things by ear, I don't work but I have a 3 school pick up and know at some point that I will have to ask for help. Have already scaled down the number of things me and the other kids will do after school.

ghost I worked up to 2 weeks before my due date with DD1, and then she came a week early, so just one week off! It was fine - to be honest I'd have been bored senseless if I'd gone off any earlier - I'm not good at waiting.

oeisha - I can believe it about dehydration - I just forget to drink (and it's not as if I'm even very busy!)

worm - lucky you! I have about 100 to go!

Finally at 21 weeks and 2 days I finally felt my little boy move. I think he knew I needed cheering up and so did a little dance for me :)

Hello everyone!! Back from lovely trip to Hungary. Swimming in the river and eating goulash etc.

Will catch up with the thread when I've got a minute, but right now I'm supposed to be writing down all the string parts on the Beatles Revolver album for a rehearsal tomorrow (procrastinating and putting it off cos I know although interesting it's going to take forever!!)

But.... the good news... after a scary few days of various pregnancy nonsense...is.....
I heard the heartbeat today at my 16(18)wk appntmnt hooray!!!!!!!!!!

So despite STILL not being given a scan date and being told to call back again next week, even though I will then be at 19 and a half weeks (!!!!!!!!FFS!!!!!!!) at least I know the piglet is safe and well for now. hooray!

As for train/horse debate, no frigging idea. But I'd say train if pushed!

Hope you're all well and catch up soon.

Oeisha - I'm really glad you're ok with your rights and what work need to do to reduce the risk for you. I've spent today worrying that I sounded really bossy last night whilst in between worrying that you'll get varicose veins or back strain. Keep at it.
Welcome back redhead sounds like you had a lovely break but really annoying to have to chase your 20 week scan. My 20 week appointment was made after the dating scan which seems too easy compared to the hassle some of the ladies on here have had.
Very funny Ghost, your well meaning mum nearly bagged you bargain of the decade there! I sympathise with your PO experience. My worst experience so far was one of the blokes at work who's usually very flirty saw my bump, smiled and winked at me without saying anything. I nodded and rushed past trying not to blush (or retch). I haven't been back in since so can be more composed next time. Work have agreed that I can reduce my commute by working locally a bit and I'm super thrilled. Tiredness really brings on my wretched retching so it will really help.

Knittiekitty I can be a little forceful when it comes to 'health and safety', so forgive me if I was a bit pushy. I didn't think you sounded pushy at all, just caring. People at work keep telling me to chill out. Generally, I am.I know what I have control over and what I don't and I'm ok with that. Stops me being so neurotic about bump all the time. I'm liking the distraction of work.

I also am planning on working 'til December. Everyone at work's also telling me I'm never gonna make it 'til December. I plan on shifting some of my leave form Oct to Dec, so I can leave early Dec...but people are still looking at me like I'm dellusional. OK they may need to change my work pattern a bit, but it should be possible...surely?!

redhead congrats on the heartbeat hearing!
nanny Gratz on the movement! And I'm pleased to hear you're back with MW care.

As well as the weird 'rushing' feeling I've started getting weird feelings around my bladder. Like nudges. Not painful, but it's the kind of feeling that you think might be...but isn't. The closest thing I can think of is, if you've ever taken off the top layer of skin on you arm/leg/wherever and it's still healing and damp, you then brush it up against something very dry. It doesnt' hurt, just feels weird. Or perhaps if you've fallen asleep drunk in your contact lenses and wake up dehydrated in them and take them out without eye drops etc... Was wondering, as it's intermittent, whether it's just Yolkis bashing me in the baldder...

Oeisha - we've had cats asleep on the bed whilst 'getting our groove on' as you so delicately put it - they do give us an offended look for daring to disturb their slumbers though. We got them both done when they started humping each other, they don't do it any more... probably scared of what we might get cut off next!

Livened - counds like a cunning plan to stop Dh making you paint... I swear my DH shrunk two woollen items of mine deliberately so I'd ban him from doing laundry ever again

Moobee - baby is in with us until we move house too!

ghost - saw a lady in Peter Jones today with the Baby Jogger City mini (the one I want) and grabbed he rto quiz her on it. Luckily she didn;t seem to mind and sang its praises mightily... I didn't try and buy it for 50p, though, so no red faces here!

Was in London today on rush mission to pick up passport for trip to Sweden next week for pleasure and to spend time with my mum. On the trian on the way in I shamed a teenager into taking her feet off the seat opposit (yes, I have turned into that woman) and then we bought a changing mat (oh so exciting) for £8 in Peter Jones (white, with multi-coloured spots. Cheerful and unisex) and I fell in love with a swinging crib which would actually fit next to the bed, but is bigger than the planned Moses basket. Anyway, Mummy stopped me buying it and then I found it on ebay and won it for £16 and my Grandpa is going to pick it up for me cos it's near him! Strike 3 for bargain basement baby!

I also fell in love with a shop-soiled glider nursing chair, knocked down to a measly £208. Funnily enough I didn't buy it, though I did spend a happy half hour in it recovering from the stress of the passport office before my mum managed to lure me out with the promise of pretty knitting yarns.

Anyway - have passport, have crib, have scan tomorrow - am happy
xxx

makes cakes Good luck with the scan. My furbabys are both neutered,have been since about 3 months. Apparently 'humping' usually just the mounting bit, is powerplay in the cat world. An assertion of dominance. There was a moment the other day when Gadget was spooked whilst Gizmo was mid-mounting. The resulting thing being Gaget hurtling down the stairs with Gizmo hanging on to his neck, effectively riding him, for dear life...soo funny....sooo very funny...

I am craving cinnamon in a big way!