Due Dec 2012.........the one where we all have at least 1 picture of our little fruits!!

[StaceymReadyForNumber3]

Hi everyone, as we were close to the 1000 message limit i thought i should start a new thread so we could link this one (and we don't all end up wandering in cyberspace for a few days again )

I'm dreading maternity leave financially, I only get MA so we'll be saving up like mad over the next few months. I'm hoping I can take 6 months off, but I imagine it'll be more like 4.
With bio oil I always see it slightly reduced in tk maxx.

It would be good brooke but I only work two days a week for rubbish money! I'll be getting £105 a week or something.

Don't think i will be going back to work. I work so far away that it'll be too difficult to arrange childcare for two & as i only work two days i certainly won't earn enough to pay for nursery fees. We are lucky that DH can afford to look after us all for a while.

I think my bump is emerging i can't do the button up on my trousers today & it sort of feels tight & a bit achy today. Almost like its stretching, very strange sensation.

I'm quite lucky, I get 3 months at 90% pay, then 9 months on standard maternity, which I think is £150 a week?

DH then wants me to be a stay at home mum, as it's what his mum did. I'll probably see about going into childminding though, then retrain as some kind of teacher. I don't really like my job much, so I'm really looking forward to leaving. I think I might even save up all my holidays to use just before ML to get longer off.

Stacks It's £130 ish SMP, and remember they tax you on it. Luckily (?) I don't earn enough to pay tax.

Well I was told today that I'm no longer needed business has been slow so I kind of expected it but not this sudden! It's not a major deal as my wages weren't huge and although it means dh picking up a few extra hours he'll cover it fairly easily. Still not great but I spent all day panicking and dh doesn't seem that fussed. Plus with the nature of my job I'd have been kind of expected to just carry on where I left of the day after the birth so we both have decided that it's probably for the best.

Anyway better news is its ds' birthday tomorrow, he'll be 6 so there's a shiny BMX sat in my lounge right now love seeing their faces when they wake up. So a day of 6 yr olds and birthday cake . I'll comment on the 'bump' tomorrow night

Ah Cod that made me smile!

Oh yeah it isnt as great as everyone made out Acj (was that right?!) - I did some terrible calculations a few months before ttc and it was much worse, when DH looked at it it was a bit more than id worked out so I think I was pleased ish. (most of my darlings only count to 20, I'm numerically rusty)

I think there's some weird return to work thing whereby if you don't do 13 weeks full time when u go back you have to give some back - however I BELIEVE but don't quote me, you can include holiday eg 6 weeks hol, and/or do the equivalent of of that time as part time, though of course you get paid as part time. (is that right?!) Dunno if everyone or just teachers?

My god I'm windy :)

Go to direct.gov.uk enter maternity entitlement and follow the directions... It'll tell you your legal entitlement... Then ask for a copy of your maternity policy if they have such a thing. And yes they tax us...

Family allowance is still around for those that aren't 40% tax payers as well as working tax credits for some, but again direct.gov.uk is excellent IMHO.

P.s sorry to hear that COD

clarella glad I'm not the only one

Clarella that sounds like teachers... Not a legal nuance I've heard of. We do accrue leave whilst we are off, and retain other such benefits too. Do check what your company allows you to do re returning to work though, each company will be different.

Final post for this evening, promise.

wind wind wind and moan. And wind. And moan. That is all I have done this evening.
(going to bed before I'm horrible to anyone else anymore)

I'm a crap pregnant person.
Night all

Oh COD that's rubbish I'm sorry to hear that, it's the shock of it all as well. Hardly what you need during pregnancy.
stacks that's pretty good going, ive been in a bit of a tizz about what I'll get, won't even qualify for proper SMP I think as although I work 16 hours a week my earnings are below the cut off (damn you minimum wage) I'm hoping I can get the 90% of my earnings amount, but I do lose a bit of sleep worrying

I have just been through my wardrobe and fished out all the clothes that do not fit me, or I know won't fit me soon. I am kind of gutted to realise that I have put more weight on my arse than I thought :(

I didn't know they taxed SMP! Balls. I've managed to put a few grand aside from savings - everything else going on house deposit - and we are being given a load of stuff eg pushchair and car seat by relatives but I'd love to take 10 months at least so reckon we need to save a fair bit more to do that.

I too get the standard 6 weeks at 90% then SMP. I earn more than DP and will have to go back to work eventually as no way we could pay mortgage and both live on his salary.

I like my job but work long hours and travel a fair bit and DH has 11 hour days due to commute so really concerned about getting childcare that's flexible and affordable... Also I just don't know how I'll feel about going to work after having a baby, what if I don't want to?

I'm off on hols anyway so enjoy yourselves and I look forward to catching up with the zillion posts in a week's time.

My bladder is getting more kicks than the Greek football team :o:o:o:o:o

Thats cool pidg!

Sorry cod I meant to say that's rubbish about your job. I was so into the picture of your 6 yr old and a bmx :) so wanna be a fly on your wall tomorrow am!

I think teachers have a thing called the burgundy book with all the preggo stuff in it. But I got a thing off the nut website that 'explains' it though DH and I regularly have to try and decipher what it means.

Someone mentioned the 'find your uterus with an orgasm' trick - I discovered that last week it was really funny and a bit freaky!

Friend - my arse has put on 3 inches and the maternity jeans I bought at 9 weeks don't fit my bottom - the rest is fine! Im just not doing all the stuff I had to do prepregnancy at work, my trampoline therapy hour and a half slot counted as a workouts - I often had to change afterwards due to sweat! So my bum is 'au naturelle' now I guess :/ !

Have a lovely time ivana. I think you've got to take each stage at a time re work etc - you'll meet others in similar situations who might help advise.

I'm awake again, bored of waking up!!!

Spent a lot of yest resting as tried to faint while walking my friends dog (and almost every other time I stood up after) no fun at all, hope I'm ok in the morning!

COD sorry to hear about your job, but in a brighter note happy birthday to your DS!

I'm awake, and I don't feel sick!!

My sugar level is low though which is very annoying....

Happy birthday to your ds COD I he loves his bike

I apologise again for the prolific posting but...... I'm so sure I'm feeling movement but because the sonographer said I have an anterior placenta I'm doubting myself!

Before ds1 I worked for a bank, and under their rules I didn't have to pay any mat pay back for non return. However I would get a bonus for going back, but I didn't go back. Someone mentioned acuring holiday while you are off. I never had any intention of going back but still took my whole year allowed and then had a nice lump sum of my whole annual entitlement. Do just be careful though, you only need to give about a months notice of return to work even with a change of hours, however if you leave you have to give your full notice period, in my case 3 months. If you don't you may forfit some holiday in lieu of notice. Just make sure you read your policy carefully as every company is different.

Midwife appointment yesterday and all well. Listening to the heartbeat had made it all a bit more real.been browsing for baby things already but determined not to buy yet. we're moving house next week then off on hols, so plenty to keep me busy (and penniless) till after the 20 week scan

So hard to keep up with such a fast moving thread ! Hope those of you feeling rough will start to feel better soon. Gils, glad the midwife appt went well, and good luck with the move - you'll need a holiday after that!

Off to DS's school fete later, then to a birthday party for a friend's DDs where I plan to pig out on my new found craving, Tyrrells Hot Chilli Tortilla Chips.