December 2012 - Halfway to our Christmas elves and fairies!

[WeeJo08]

Hi everyone!

I think I did this correctly! Eeeek! Probably not I think we still have a few messages to go on the old one, so it's here for when we're ready :)

WeeJo

Yeah I only get SMP statutory everything at my shitty job! I'm going to do over time in September and ask for my holiday pay in October to bump up my 90%

Ah well if it's crappy then sod it, wait as long as you possibly can. Or be very vague if someone directly asks you when you'll be back.

When is everyone planning on finishing for Mat leave? I am going to try to go to 39 weeks but use up at least 2 weeks of holidays before that finishing on 1st Dec (due 22nd). But I'm waiting on a cardiology consultation at the minute (just for palpitations) and that could all change depending on what they say.

Im thinking maybe the begining of dec, but im not sure if i will make it that long!
how much notice do you have to give them of your maternity leave starting /the date changing ?!

Bubbless I took this from my handbook.

If an employee wishes to change the date of the start of the Maternity/Adoption Leave, they should notify their manager, in writing, at least 28 days before they wish to commence their Maternity/Adoption Leave (or, if this is not possible, as soon as is reasonably practicable beforehand).

I'm thinking first week of December too (due 23rd). I know what you mean Bubbless I can't wait for December!
I've not noticed any extra hairs but boy I'm bubbling no end and no longer know if its the baby or wind!

catching up.. I keep leaving it far too late and then having a mammoth read at work (oops)

Staceymreadyfornumber3 - the crumb has a thing for tomatoes too!! I like them so it's not too bad but it's got the stage i am eating them like grapes, by the bunch. Its seems to prefer vine ones, which is getting expensive..

my DH has informed me my boobs are growing, although not by a huge amount yet I think - more that I have a more 'squishy' cleavage, as I have ahem, don't all kill me at once for this not entirely 'real' boobs. so not sure how much they'll grow compared to normal ones, but we shall see. shouldn't interfere with breastfeeding I'm told though (I did ask them to make sure of this when I got them originally..)

quite seriously alarmed by the amount of water you need to drink before the scan! ours is on Friday (eek) so on the one hand looking forward to it because it'll be nice to see the crumb, and hopefully find out what it is at last, and also worried because it's what I do, so am back to panicing about it having some awful problem to be discovered. am hoping all is well, there's no reason for it not to be, but I just worry.. will drink pints of water just in case and then try not to explode. when we went for our first scan we had to wait for 45 minutes to be seen, so we'll see if I manage.

pram talk - what do people think of the Stokke prams? they look like everything perfect and the sort of pram that you buy once and use for everyine after that. not fully in our budget but would be if we save from now till advent of the crumb?

last questions - think i can feel it now1 feels like bubbles going pop - does that sound likely to anyone??

utopian i want fakies as mine are quiet large and heavy and droop like im 90 but was told i couldnt bf with them?!?!

and i was sick before my scan so all of my thousands of pints of water came back up, i had about half a glass and it was fine for the scan.. so dont drown yourself!!

I haven't been told I need to drink anything before my 20 week scan I just have an appointment card, just like with my 12 week scan. Don't recall having to drink anything before my 20 week scan with dd either

Maazaa I've been serioulsy molting since about 8 weeks, but still haven't gone bald! Everytime I wash my hair, the bath seems covered in it!

Mini contrats on the scan and have fun at IKEA. I'm totally . DH hates IKEA and point blank refuses to go, so I never get to go there anymore.

Joining in on the drinking before scan line, I wasn't told to do so before my 12 week scan, but when I got there the receptionist asked and gave me a really disapproving look when I said no. She advised me to drink 'as much as I could fit in' there and then, which I really don't think was of any use at all. As for the 20 week scan, no instructions again, so I think I'll just have as couple of glasses before I go and see what they say.

bubbles it's 28 days where I work too, but if I'm off sick in the (I think) 4 weeks before ML starting they can also force you to start ML early.
utopian my scan letter says drink 1 pint starting an hour before your scan. For my 12 week I just bought a 750ml bottle of water when I set off and made sure that was gone before I went in, seems much more bearable compared to what some people have mentioned. They had no trouble scanning me, and I had to do a wee when I got to the hospital because I was going to wet myself. Will do the same next week, hopefully without the wee beforehand.
mini didn't even see you were going to Ikea, me and my mum have a baby shopping plan for later in my pregnancy. Ikea is our thing, whenever something big is happening that requires Ikea we go together, eat in the restaurant and have loads of fun. When I lived at home we used to go on random Thursdays if my step dad was out and had left the car because we were only 10 minutes away.

I'm thinking of starting ML in October just because of how worked up about working I am, don't think I can make it to December feeling as I do. I have to go back once this sign off is finished so we have some money, but I have a week off at the end of August so knowing I only have a month left when I go back from that will make it a lot easier for me. My Dr is also recommending I go back on reduced hours.

I think I'm going to go on ML end of October. I love the run up to Christmas so want to make the most of it

Ooh very at you October ML ladies. I will definitely be coming back to work (main breadwinner) so will be waiting as late as I can possibly manage before going off. I have a good maternity package though, so as long as I don't get made redundant before then, I can hopefully have a year off.

All I need now is a lazy, sleepy baby who likes lie-ins and naps [naive fool emoticon]

It's something to do with insurance here, I think minimum 4 weeks before and 6 weeks after there is no work allowed the name translates as "mother protection". But I think sometime in November will be when I give up.

Am shattered this week. Yesterday and today I've gone straight to sleep after lunch for an hour or so... very odd. It just sort of sneaks up and knocks me out then an hour later I'm trying to crawl off the couch and wake up again...

Also had a sudden attack of very uncomfortable thrush :( wasn't allowed to buy something at the chemist so had to go to the Dr but the bonus is that is was free!! :) ahhhhh thats better

Those visiting IKEA, I do like IKEA and DP doesn't mind going as long as he can have a couple of hotdogs, food seems to work on most men Fingers crossed for those with scans coming up, mine is on Monday....

I usually hate the run up to Christmas because I'm pushing my way through the crowds to do my shopping. Hopefully early ML means early Christmas shopping so I really can just focus on me for the last weeks and enjoy it all more. And I finally live in a house with space for a tree, not had one for 3 years so putting that up will be really nice. Usually it goes up on my birthday (23rd) but I'd like baby to come home to it, so will go against tradition and do it earlier.

Our nearest IKEA is an hour and a half away, DP doesn't really like anything that involves spending money, he's a bit that I'm trying to plan next year's holiday!

I'm having trouble sleeping too.

Sorry about the thrush Nutella it's no fun

utopian I have had the bubbles popping thing - not sure if it is gas or baby!

Stokke prams look good and the baby is nice and high (and they can double as a high chair if you are in cafes, bonus!) but I have heard they are a bit unstable as they don't have a square frame, more a single "stalk".

daydream my ikea trip is on another thread - have been asking about what to buy! I like Ikea but DH hates it, however he will have to come with me as I can't possibly lift all that heavy stuff by myself

Not sure what to do about maternity leave - I had planned to stop work 2.5 weeks before due date, however this thing spotted at the scan today puts me at slightly higher risk of early delivery (eek) so maybe I will need to have some time off earlier to make sure everything is ready!

I was really worried about being desperate for a wee so I ignored the advice and she told me my bladder was nearly empty. She still managed to get some good pictures though.

Everything is fine, all the organs seem to be in the right place and everything looks good although the baby is slightly big for dates. If I was so sure of my dates (due to fertility treatment) she would have said the baby was two weeks on from the current date.

The big news is that we are expecting a boy! I am delighted that it is a boy and that everything is fine. There is a slight regret that it isn't a girl but I will get over it and I am very happy that everything is good!

Re maternity leave, im thinking november as i have a long commute & only do two days plus i won't be going back. I'll see how i get on tho.

I'd like to have lots of time free in the run up to christmas to get presents etc & its my birthday on the 24th dec so im hoping baby isnt a week late

I havent been advised to drink anything for the 20 week scan & dont recall being told to when i had DD either. I filled my bladder too much for the 12 week scan that the sonographer told me to 'let a bit out'. As if, once i started peeing it all went but she still scanned me fine. Ill take a bottle with me & take sips

minipie I'm pretty sure my sister had the same thing in her pregnancy. Think they induced her a couple of weeks early.... she had other health factors too though

Congratulations FriendofDorothy a lovely big boy!

Congrats on your little boy Friend

Congrats on your boy Friend
Mini Congrats on seeing your little girl again and you'll be seeing her again soon too

Not long 'til my scan, Friday afternoon and I'll be able to go and see my mum before and after as the scan time is in the middle of visiting I'm not drinking anything extra this time, I had to go to the toilet 4 times during my 12 week scan and it was hell.

I feel much better today, good job really as we are going to see the Olympic rowing tomorrow. I'm supposed to be getting packed to go at the moment, but don't feel very motivated I've also got a bit of a problem, it hasn't rained for a while so I haven't been wearing my waterproof and now it won't do up. So I'm going to have to hope it doesn't rain tomorrow.

As for my hair, I'm losing less than usual, but all that will change after delivery. Last time, after I'd get out of the bath it was like there was seaweed in the water!

It's not being hungry that's getting me up in the night, I don't have much of an appetite at the moment, it's a raging thirst, regular as clockwork at 3 in the morning. Cue much stumbling round the house in search of water.

Congrats in all the scan news!

utopian I'm in ur boob club...although mine look mahoosive now! I was a d am still getting into a dd but I doubt for much longer. My implants were under the muscle so I was told it shouldn't be a problem bf. my mum also had implants...get her! And she breast feed both my brother and I.

I've gone for the stokke...loving it. Have a look on eBay there are some bargains! If you don't mind 2nd hand.

With you all on the irregular sleeping crap night last night like a zombie today. Just had a screaming match with a man in m&s car park - totally my fault but being irritable and irrabtional... ooophs am feeling bad now!!!

Congrats on scans ladies, have fun at the Olympics kate - I cried watching the footage of the rowers winning just now (bloody hormones).

I'm planning to work to 38 weeks but go down to 3 days a week for 3 weeks before then as I have holiday to use up and full weeks might be more than I can handle. I work once a week from an office 2 hours' drive away so I'm hoping they will let me cut down my trips there too, as it tends to mean a 13 hour day.

willyou how was your employer?