November 2012 - baby shopping time has really taken off

[StuntNun]

Previous thread: www.mumsnet.com/Talk/antenatal_clubs/1505839-November-2012-nearer-the-end-than-the-beginning

Stats list: www.mumsnet.com/Talk/antenatal_clubs/1485512-November-2012-Stats-List

Oh heck this tax credit malark is v confusing! I think we miss the cut off, just. Feck.

There's times I think we'd be better off not working: a girl I know of is on kid 4 with partner 3 (she's 20...) and has her house, council tax, drug habit EVERYTHING paid for by our taxes. Her biggest worry is whether or not to pop out another one to get a bigger house. I jest not.

My partner and I work very hard and everything we own we have bought and paid for ourselves. We're by no means rich, but it's a nice feeling knowing all our hard work has paid off and noone can take any of that away from us.

My mum was medically retired after a back injury when i was very young but despite not working herself has always stressed to me and my sisters the importance of earning our own living. As previously mentioned I just hope DH and I can raise our child to have the same work ethic we were brought up with.

I thought we wouldn't be getting anything from child tax credits BUT despite both DH & I earning what I would class as reasonable money, we are entitled to something. The exact amount is currently open to discussion with HMRC but I would def suggest you fill out the forms & see what happens!!!

My DH txt me earlier with something along the lines of 'assuming #2 arrives safely & healthily, I think we should have a #3'. I laughed out loud!!!

Sometimes I do think 'sod the work ethic' when I realise that my kids spend more time with the nursery than me

Those who have family who can care for your baby.... You are SO lucky, although it is worth giving thought to how you will cover childcare if they go on holiday, or unwell. Those with a big pool of willing family, you are EVEN MORE lucky. My parents had DD2 2 days a week for 6 months, but they went away in the caravan a lot, and I ended up using all my annual leave to cover that and their sickness, which age 69 and79 was an issue.

Baby is going potty at the moment! Having a proper party, and dislodging the iPad!

Chunky, was it you that had the big payment from them earlier in the thread? I remember you were quite worried at the time in case it was a mistake. If it was you, that is.

Yeah we are extremely lucky. Both of us have a big family and if mum or dp's mum can't we also have his 'step-mum' who has owns a company so leaves the day to day work to others and she's desperate to be involved. Plus his sister lives next door with her baby boy :o) So appreciative of what we have. Plus we're both school workers so the holidays are covered. I feel jammy!

Most Jammy!

I am extremely grateful for my lot really, as Mon-Fri 9-5 jobs are quite rare in nursing.

Yes Valium it was me, it was a mistake, because they'd taken so long to process the initial application that we'd gone into the next tax yr, I hadn't updated my details or something & the computer thought we're earnt nothing for the tax yr 11-12 or I think that's what happened. Even still, I think we're getting something like £500... Haven't updated for this yr yet, due to the chaos in progress with that money; we still have the 7k though!! Need the garage roof fixed so...

Apple re; flexible working. Your employer has to put forward a reasonable but significant business case as for why you can't do flexible working, if you apply under the regulations etc. If I remember correctly, you're entitled to apply once a year, but they don't necessarily have to offer you the hours etc you want. However, it wasn't really an issue as I'm a teacher, & part-time is fairly common.

Re tax credits. Its worth knowing that if you/your DP is self employed they will knock the figure for any loss you make off your total income.

I'm really worried about the flexible working thing because my employer recently turned down requests from two employees who wanted to return from maternity leave and work part time. They took them to a tribunal but settled out of court beforehand. I don't know the details though.

Having said that there are others who have children and work flexible hours. Think it depends on the role and department. We are a small department of five people and only two of us currently work full time. There are so many ifs and buts, it does my head in.

I have agreed with DP that if they refuse and say it has to be full time then I will do it temporarily whilst looking for something else part time. But I cannot afford to give up a job in this climate because you don't know how long it will be before you get another.

I'm working my way through the freezer do I can start batch cooking meals DP as much as he is bloody amazing cannot cook for toffee and we'll live off of Dominoes Pizza after baby is born if I don't.

I told DP last night that I'm nearly 25 weeks, (he had lost a few weeks somewhere) we both had a realisation that it's all a bit real now and not that long to go!

Had a lovely picnic up the windmill but walking gave me a pain in my bump followed by lots of braxton hicks so now I'm lounging on the sofa, really sleepy

I keep getting a bump pain when I walk - its all on the lower right so posted about it possibly being to do with having my appendix out, but as it doesn't occur any other time now, going to assume its normal bump-growing pains!!

Gosh you are so organised Titsalina

I?m organised in terms of having the pushchair, cot, nursery painted, clothes etc but I haven?t really thought much beyond that. Haven?t read anything at all about childbirth. I need to get cracking with that. Not really thought about how life will be with a newborn either. That might be an idea

I am going to dig out my washable nappies again. I have decided. I am even gonna try and do washable wipes.

How are folk getting on with the wash ball thingy bobs. Trying to find ways of saving money.

Interesting about the loss on self employment being taken into consideration. I will ask DH as all he said was he made a loss. Not sure I want to know though. Might have to throw him out after all.

Feeling a bit annoyed at the mo!! My sister is now an HOUR late, after saying she'd pop in for a cuppa. Wouldn't mind but she texted 30+mins ago saying she was on her way. It's 10mins walk at toddler speed PLUS have my 10yo niece here, bouncing all over my lounge on my brand new gym/birth ball (bought it yesterday), partially inflated so not risked sitting on it myself!!! Think only part of this is hormones too. Keep having to walk away before I get cross... Plus feeling knackered! :(

Apple every newborn is different so plan all you like but baby will lead the way. My DS1 could not be put down (now I know he has ADHD) so I did everything with him in the baby sling. He couldn't even go out in the pram, he would just cry and cry. Most other babies are a bit easier to handle though.

Re the birth I would recommend a bit of research but not too much so it scares you. I was completely unprepared for having an epidural and a section with DS1 and I think I could have done with a bit more info so I knew what was being done to me. With DS2 I was amazed that they let me labour standing up, I didn't know that was a possibility. With this DS3 I want gas and air only for pain relief (epidural didn't take with DS1) and I want to stay as upright as possible during labour. I don't want to lie down at any point, even for an examination. I have to be continuously monitored so a birthing pool is out and I'm worried I might fall off the birthing ball!

I would like to refuse to be induced by drip and to refuse to have a venflynn sited but I don't know whether they'll allow that. With DS2 they managed to put the needle into a nerve cluster at the base of my thumb and it was painful for weeks afterwards.

Saw the midwife who shipped me off to the GP. They reckon it could be labyrinthitis so I'm now off work until they review me on Friday. Apparently I can't have any of the required meds due to the pregnancy! Oh well, I guess I'm stuck at home then

peaky so glad you were treated seriously. Hopefully it is not making you feel sick.

Oh gosh. Very hot!
Went to a Zumba aqua fit class. Really enjoyed it. After writing my food list yesterday realised I need to eat more protein. So had a jacket potato n beans n cheese for lunch. Hope that's enough.

chunky my DH is already asking about number 2 n 3! I can just about get my head around this one lol

Off for a walk around shops. Need to do more walking!

Hello all
I'm a bit scared about the tax credits. we have been paid a certain amount towards childcare, wouldn't have got anything if we hadn't stopped childcare vouchers and claimed tax credits instead.
But since january DH has upped his hours, he was part time but was holding out for a full time position which he finally got and I have done extra shifts and have both earned a bit more in the financial year than I predicted to the tax credits that we would. We hadn't expected to get the chance to do this but we did. I am now very scared we will A have them stopped and B have to pay back something. I have no idea how we will survive without/pay money to them and so far have been to sacred to call them. I need to bite the bullet and do it in the next few days

Lilliana It sounds like your mould could be condensation, specially if its on the windows too. We have really bad problems with this. I have cleaned everything with mould spray and got a de-humdifier and had no mould for 6 months
Also- You are right I am no longer listening to others doom and am reminding myself all the positives. Had a big freak out before work again today but now I am here is's not so bad so hopefully I won't feel like that again. AND BREATH.

peaky I had labyrinthitis once, I actually didn't get anything prescribed for it. It was very disconcerting. it got better very quickly. Hope it does for you too!

Been waiting all day for district nurse to come and change my dressing and re-pack the bloody great hole in my back. Not that I'd be out anywhere anyway but I feel like I'm having to constantly listen out for her. It's almost 5 now, is she coming at all?! What time do they work till??

Trying to catch up with the thread but skimmed the posts and there's alot of talk on tax credits and things, just saw an advert on the Telly and it says all have to be renewed by 31st July by phone or post or payments will stop. Not sure if it any use and sure most people know but in case thought of post

dixie I would have thought they would have called by now. I thought they had to give time slots now? Horrid having to wait, plus you should know when they are coming so you can take pain relief and shower beforehand. Hopefully when they do eventually arrive, you can perhaps arrange a set time for future dressing changes.

mrsWee I feel your fear. I have been in tears over the tax credits on many occasions. We have been selected for a review, and I thought all the info had to be in by the end of this month, like it does for the renewal, but realised Friday evening that it was end of May! Had to wait until yesterday to call them. They were fine about it, just said send info in ASAP. You have until the end of this month to renew, so do it soon.

What will be will be. They will not send you to prison, or fine you, unless you have been intentionally fraudulent on a grand scale, like claiming for kids you do not have, or saying you are single when you are not.

My DH had not earned a penny the year before, and earned 1K this year, plus made a loss on self employment. Thankfully he has a very large c**k

The childcare payments is what I am worried about, as we may have claimed for more than we had used, but we had two in at the same time for 3 months, then one in and out of after school care, plus we dropped and increased the other ones nursery hours. I would have been calling them each month. I think they understand that people's lives are in a constant state of flux, which is why they do it retrospectively.

I previously had the childcare voucher salary sacrifice thing too.

Thank you nervous I only ever get to see Disney channel, and they do not put reminders on there!

valium lol at comment about husbands. Also prob would be a good idea to put child tax credit adverts on channels like Disney! That's where the gov has been going wrong all these years! Make total sense to me