November 2012 - the boringly named fifth thread

[Stuntnun]

Previous threads:

1. www.mumsnet.com/Talk/antenatal_clubs/1412456-Nov-12-babies
2. www.mumsnet.com/Talk/antenatal_clubs/1432039-Due-in-November-2012-part-deux-no-cringy-thread-name-here
3. www.mumsnet.com/Talk/antenatal_clubs/1438916-November-2012-Duebies-Part-3-insert-cheesy-name-of-choice-here
4. www.mumsnet.com/Talk/antenatal_clubs/1449640-November-2012-bring-on-the-second-trimester

I am a sahm already (well sort of; I run a business with a friend so really I'm a wahm). When I had my ds1 I finished work pretty early and actually it was really nice having that time. I was lucky in that I knew I wasn't going back so didn't have to worry too much about time at the end. I would definitely recommend having a few weeks just to get everything in order.
detective I would really like some energy please. I feel absolutely disgusting. I think I may be sick tonight. Just waiting for hb to get back with some bread so I can have marmite on toast. Hoping that may ease it.
shelly My business is selling children's interiors online. We don't have much baby specific stuff but do have a few ideas for something a bit different if you are bored of the norm. The site is www.littleyellowbirds.co.uk. I hope no one minds me posting the address. I am happy to take it off if you do. There is also a great blog called bambinogoddies which is really good for the latest in baby/kids products.
Right I am off to sit on the sofa and shiver. Night all x

I'm thinking along the same lines as you Tiago. 2 weeks holiday then ML 2-3 weeks before my due date. So I'm probably looking at about the 15-22nd October or thereabouts.

We are not well off by any means but if I went back to work full time I would pay out almost every penny I work for on childcare. I know that is the reality for some people but I don't think it's for me.

I have had a few people offer to help me out already but I wouldn't want to take advantage of anyone. If I do go back it will be 2 maybe 3 days a week if I can fit it around DP's hours, if not I won't be going back. It really depends how flexible my employer is but they are not known for being family friendly sadly. In fact they have two legal cases pending at the moment against former employees who were refused flexible working.

I'm a sahm - did try going back to work, but the childcare cost, parking etc meant I was only earning literally a few pounds a day profit. That and the stress didn't seem worth it when I could be spending the time with my little girl. It may jeopardise my chances of returning to work when the kids are at school, but I chose to take that risk. Am going to set up my own business soon hopefully and will see how that goes.

Am the breadwinner in my family so will be finishing as close to due date as possible, then using holiday then starting mat leave as late as I can. I'll probably have 6 months off if my parents will help us out financilly(they did when I was off with DD). Then DH will drop to working two days and two nights instead of three days and two nights as we can't afford nursery for two days for 2 of them. Think we're largely sorted but I do worry about DH coping with 2 of them on his own for 4 days a week - I'd struggle with that.

I think that's the difference between teaching & other jobs though - I don't pay parking, I get school hols off and I earn a relatively good amount (although its peanuts if you add up all the weekends, 60hr weeks & holiday days I've had to work in the past, but that's the job...) so it is worth me working. Plus, given the fact its my sister that looks after DD, and only for 2 of the 3 days I work (DH does 5 days in 4) makes it very profitable for me to work. However, if I wasn't in this career, it wouldn't pay for me to work.

nervous I got mine in a bag of hand-me-downs so I'm not sure. The label says M2b - is that mothercare? It's good anyway!

I have a tonne of annual leave with no particular need to take it so I'm planning on taking the whole of Oct off, and then starting mat leave at 39 weeks.
With DD I worked until 39+3 and she was born at 39+5 - I don't think I'll leave it so close this time!

M2b is mothercare :)

Mat leave wise - mine is all sorted. 5 weeks annual leave starts 1st October, but I will be working extra shifts during that time. I need all the money I can get to save up for mat leave! I then go on mat leave at 40+2!! I suspect I will stop doing any extra shifts in week 38. But will take it as it comes. I probably need to do 10-12 shifts over 3 weeks annual leave if I can get them.

I then will take 6 months leave plus an extra 4 weeks annual leave at the end if I manage to save up enough. If not, will have to go back straight at end of mat leave.

I'm most excited about getting christmas off for the first time! The whole of christmas! And not have to celebrate it on like December 29th or something ridiculous like that! I had to leave mid way through christmas dinner last year :(

It is the one time in the next 40 years I will have it off. So am damn well making the most!

Energy passed to those who require it... has it worked?! Gimme feedback

American Pie was completely hilarious by the way! I have panda eyes from crying with laughter! Recommended!

Oh please give me some energy detective I'd just borrow it and only need a few hours!!

Car is still in the garage so am on the bus again today. Not as much fun as yesterday though as it looks like I have to wait 20 mins for the next one with no bus stop or bench - poor show council!

I have been given a book to read though called double trouble. It's looking like a smug guide to twins but I'll have a go. 4 pages in though and it's so far taking the pee out of those who can't tell what an identical and non identical twin is?! so I can't see me sticking with it, I'll prob through it off the bus!!

Im a sahm, have been since 12 weeks preg with ds! (not through choice, job made redundant and then had a temp job) we just scrapes by on dh's earnings and our savings then once ds was born we qualified for a bit of help with our rent so we've been comfortable since then so I'd rather be here with ds for now.

2 days til scan!!!

Scraped*

I think, until very recently, it has been financially better sense to rent. Unfortunately, DH & I decided that was just throwing money way & we could afford a mortgage 6.5yrs ago... So now, we do have a house (well the bank does) but we wouldn't really qualify for help I don't think. I think if you've only ever rented, its a bit easier to give up work, but I could be wrong!!!

Sounds very annoying nebbo I hate smug authors.

Yes chunky I think you might be right. Unfortunately or fortunately depending on which way you look at it, we don?t have a mortgage so if I gave up work we would qualify for help with our rent and council tax. If we had a mortgage we wouldn?t.

Also if I go back to work we would have to pay full rent and full council tax and we are just above the threshold for tax credits plus we would have to pay for childcare so actually we wouldn?t be a lot worse off if I didn?t go back. Quite sad in a way that that?s how it is but if I?m not going to benefit much then I?d rather be at home with my baby for a while.

You'd be surprised how high the tax credits threshold is when you have a child BTW, or rather I was - I think it £58k for the yr I applied. It only took them 18mths to process... I think that is quite a lot of money for 2 people to earn & still get help!! I would also agree that, if it actually ends up costing you money to work, why bother??!!

I would add though, that I am taking the full yr off so despite not getting annual leave & stuff, I won't need to go back until October/November 2013. I can't complain about working '3' days (ends up being more like 3 days in school & a couple of nap times at home...) 38wks a yr (if you don't count the 'voluntary' unpaid holiday work...). I get to spend a hell of a lot of time with my DD.

12+2 today & spent about 5mins heaving & attempting to throw up on an empty stomach this morning. The last few days lulled me into a false sense of security

Currently watchbh

Damn phone...

Watching Annie as demanded by my DD, who is cuddling up to me on the sofa, whilst we wait for the surveyor to come. Finally the sale seems to be progressing!!!

Morning!!! Feeling loads better but 15weeks tomorrow and I have a tiny bump lol. I plan on 'working' until the 27th oct (whatever the nearest sat is!!) but will actually be using leave before then. Will ideally take 6 months mat leave then do 30 hours a week. Maybe 25. I wish you could work it out more easily?! Looking at another nursery today. They are also having a meeting about whos going to do my job. It's amusing my greatly as you'd think they'd actually talk to me about it first?! Apparently not!! I did a 32km horse ride Sunday!! Was fab!! Horse very tired so riding her wonderful now!!

I wish I could work out what I'm going to do but my company's maternity policy isn't freely available so I'll have to wait until after my scan to ask for it as HR have an open plan office with our Learning dept so if I ask for it everyone will know. I don't want to go back to work after as my childcare costs will be £1150 per month but I might have to if I want to get the maternity pay (90% of salary for six months). It'll take a bit of Maths to work it out. I've just completed a grievance with them about lack of promotion but they found against me so there's no way I'm staying with them with no promotion in four years.

Promotion(or lack of) simple here. No money, no promotions!! Good old nhs :)

Glad to see good news with scans and more low NT results

I'm going to be SAHM, would be to hard for us to do it any other way as partner works ridiculous long hours and I would just work to pay child care so by me stopping at home we'll only be abit worse off so hopefully manage fine

Have a day in the house today with a never ending list of things to do :( the house is a tip and there is no food at all apart from
Dog food which isn't very appealing, and I really don't want to go shopping, so hoping to do online with a delivery tomorrow and tonight's dinner? No bloody idea

I think I'm going to start mat leave early October and if I can would love to go back 3 days a week. I don't know how flexible work can be though unless I can find a cover who will want to job share when I get back.

Is anyone else suffering with lack of sleep? I've been averaging 4 hours a night for weeks now and feel like sh*t every day as a result.

Morning, I have a lot of juggling to do with maternity leave/holidays,etc as I have two jobs (and have just applied for another) and doing a funded full time phd. As I work from home and never really see my bosses, haven't told any of them yet - can't face all the sorting out. Will probably go back after 3/4 months, but doing stuff while baby is napping and in evenings (plse let it be a good sleeper!)

Was so fed up with feeling/being sick I actually asked the MW today for any advice. Don't know why, as I already knew the answer (grin and bear it basically). I am 13.4 weeks now and keep panicking this is going to be it til November now. I just want to eat normally again!

Sorry to sound like I'm moaning, I know lots of people have exactly the same, but its just really getting me down at the moment.

Keep moaning Daisy that's what we're here for! Hopefully it will pass soon now that your in the third trimester. I still have the odd queasy feeling but it's a million miles away from how awful I felt at nine weeks.

14 weeks tomorrow!
Scan Friday.
Then it's the weekend. Woo!