January 2012 - Will any of us deliver before Father Christmas?

[addictediam]

Hopefully no one else has done it while my phone is messing about!

I would take a sample if I were you oeisha mine got checked at my last consultant app.

Oeisha The consultant always checks the urine when I go - the MWs check it before you go in and the BP.

Ah bugger! Not gonna be an early morning sample then...! Luckily I asked for 2 pots when I last saw MW!

addicted I seem to remember someone saying that anusol is ok in pregnancy. Worked a treat for me post-DD (can't blame you for not wanting to go to the doctor - I couldn't look mine in the eyes for months after he'd done the full exam for those!)

k4mi I had a growth scan as they were worried this one would be small, but at 31+1 it was coming in at roughly 4.2lbs, and overall junior's coming in on the 77th centile, so above average. Based on that, yours does sound pretty much average! I wouldn't worry too much - these things really aren't that accurate.

oiesha what bizarre dreams! Mine are just getting a bit fruity at the moment, fortunately with DH as the protagonist!

Ahh spreadsheets, I'm married to an accountant as well and he's a ss fiend. Not for anything useful though, unfortunately, but we do have a fine ss of all the books we own with pub. date, binding and a mark out of 10 for the ones he's read!

And I'm all for ears on things! I also thought I'd never buy character clothes, but DD has a fine collection of Peppa Pig items, mainly because she refuses to wear non-Peppa clothes at the moment. Sigh.

AAhhh MN just deleted my post!!

I have a old note book that has lists of who we gave what christmas presents to and what was received as with cards. There is also lists of you gave dd what birthday presents/cards.

Asda George has gorgeous Baby Disney clothing.
Dd has a jumper and a raincoat with ears. She gets into character when wearing them!
As a baby Dd had a gorgeous white fluffy WTP snowsuit. Oh I could cuddle her for ages in that suit. Its just a shame that it will be summer when this baby is big enough for it. Oh well that sounds like a good enough reason for a shopping trip!

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Happy First of December Ladies!!!
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My goodness me-you lot are bonkers, I stay away from spreadsheets as far as possible at all times, even when paid to look at them. That sort of thing is not good for you! secretly admires and is jealous of the organised mind

Although I have been musing a theory today-those of you with an analytical mind I was wondering if there is a ratio of energy expended to rest at this last stage in pregnancy. Because today for me the effort of getting up and getting dressed and getting dd to school has meant I needed an hour in bed making phonecalls. Then loading the dishwasher, emptying bins, doing a load of laundry, wiping down the kitchen and making the beds now equals sitting down for an hour with the PC and a cup of chai latte & malt loaf. I wonder if there's a pattern.

Sadly my grandad was rushed into hospital in the wee hours this morning. They thought heart attack, turns out it was just afribulation or whatever they call it-dicky irregular heart. He's on an ECG for 24 hours and after they he may need a pacemaker. Trouble is at his age and state of health (diabetes, asthma, circulation issues etc) the op for it is quite dodgy I think.

addicted piles will respond well to sea salt baths as oiesha says (chuffed to have given some useful advice) in fact I would wholeheartedly recommend sea salt as a post labour essential. great for tears, surgical wounds, piles, cracked nips, sore skin, infections, swelling and relaxation. I have been using preparation H gel on my bum grapes, but they don't bother me too much-just when the constipation has been a problem.

Anyone else got horrible facial acne all of a sudden?? I'm not usually a spotty lady, but suddenly I have what a Scottish friend would refer to as a faceful of plukes (!)

Good morning ladies, sending hugs to debs and hoping you get stronger every day!

I am sending the following question to Ed Miliband today:

Dear Mr Miliband,

I'd like to ask as your view on the Maternity Allowance for self-employed/business owners mothers. It seems very unfair that someone that is employed by a company is allowed to start their own company while on Maternity Leave but a self-employed person is not allowed to keep running their business, that is not even allowed to email, answer a phone call while on Maternity Allowance - apart from 10 days (however even if you only work 30 minutes in a day it is considered a full day)

I do understand that Maternity Allowance is designed so that you can spend time with your baby, but I fail to see how using a few hours a week to maintain your business afloat while on Maternity Leave is of any problem. A bigger problem is to have to shut down your business completely to go on Maternity Leave or have a month off only and have to go straight back to work full-time on your business.

The rules for Maternity Allowance for self-employed/business owners mothers are completely unfair and deserve to be looked at and changed. I would very much appreciate to hear your views on this and how this can be improved.

Many thanks.

They ought to change the law it is utterly ridiculous and I am dreading the completely cut off from my business posture I have to take!

What do you ladies think?

green i hadn't heard that. How would they know and enforce it anyway?

fish I don't know how they enforce it, but it states clearly that you are not allowed to work more than 10 days within the 39 weeks, not allowed to reply to emails from clients, phone calls, etc it is completely ridiculous

As an employee you are not allowed to work more than 10 days either

parsley what I read is that you are allowed to start your own business while on maternity leave if you are an employee and there is no limit on how much on work on your own business then. Will look into it again thanks!

greenlady maybe technically you could start your own business but my employer would probably fire me as I'm contracted to work for them and they are paying me and claiming the maternity allowance. Most employers would take a fairly dim view of that.

fish - I don't have a bath - am extremely of those who do, though at least my landlords have fixed the heating on their swimming pool now, so I can use that to float around in, just not much use for post-labour salt applications! I doubt chlorine has the same effect... :)

I folded and vleaned the bathroom and hoovered/mopped the flat. Am now utterly worn out. So stupid, but I couldn't bear it any longer. Men just don;t see the dirt, do they? Even if they're obliging, willing, helpful ones like DH Oh well, at least flat is nice and clean now...

PS - as for the self employed thing, I take the view that if I don't invoice for it then they don;t know I've done it, so will keep doing networking etc if necessary and any work done will all be invoiced on the same day, so it's only one day's worth. If I'm not being paid for emails, phone calls, meetings etc then I'm not exactly screwing them out of tax or NI contributions, am I?

Mind you - am quite looking forward to a break from work, esp once I have a little one, and am not anticipating doing much work at all, though I will try and make some new contacts if poss.

Just another q re matenrity allowance-how long form when you sent the forms off did you hear back fom them. I need my matb1 back and I want to know if I'm going to get it.

oooh an also can anyone think of a xmas name change for me? I can't make my name work into anything xmassy.

Hi makes they say it does not matter if you are being paid or not you are not allowed to network either...so completely stupid I am seriously considering writing to my MP (we could start a campaign!) as it is totally over the top!!!!

fish I heard back within a week...what about fishstockings for xmas?

Just received my 3 tier heated tower airer from Lakeland and it is H-U-G-E!!!!!

Looking forward to testing it this weekend as washing little ones clothes [smiles]

Here is an explanation of MA - businessplusbaby.com/2010/12/13/self-employment-during-your-maternity-pay-period/

hmmm-it's been over 2 weeks now and I haven't heard anything :(

hiya,

for those who didnt see on facebook, i have finnaly found out why ive been in pain alot---- ive got an infection called bactirial vagisosn which can lead to pre term labour or miscarrage.

ive also got a cyst down bellow which is why i could not wee the other day.

all i can advice is if you have any pains ask for an internal swab to be taken as it the letter i got from the hospital telling me frightend me.

it can only lead to miscarrage if left untreated for too long.

they are keeping a close eye on me as im already border line pre term labour as if its not gone by the time baby is here ame may get the infection and it can effect her lungs.

Wow MZ thank goodness you found out! Are you on anti-biotics to clear it up? What can they do about the cyst?
Hope you are feeling better, must be a weight off just knowing what it is and that they are keeping more of an eye on you now! good luck with everything!

After my pains that time - I had internal swab taken - results are still not back 2 weeks later! How long does it normally take? They said just keep ringing up to check.

zoe ooof bless you babes, hopefully you'll start feeling better now you have antiboitics. Rest well, drink plenty and eat well xx take care xxx

ive got a cream for the infection and antibiotics for the cycst if the cyst dosent clear up withing 7 days its going to get cut off, and i cnt have any anastitc so hope it clears up.

im just glad i know why ive been in pain.

it took over a week for mine from the hospital.