November 2012 - a couple of early arrivals, please will the rest stay put!

[StuntNun]

Previous thread: www.mumsnet.com/Talk/antenatal_clubs/1538202-November-2012-into-the-third-trimester

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

limpit scroll down to the bottomw of the page and you should see a smileys list, with the instructions next to each one;
So for a just type grin inside square brackets ( is there a technical name for those?!) - [ ]

Yup Apple. She always says the same stuff. She doesn't think people should have children unless in ideal circumstances, and not more than one.

Trying to explain why you want a baby to your mother isn't my idea of a comfortable conversation!

I give in with her, I thought she was getting used to the idea now. Doesn't look like it!

If I waited until the circumstances were ideal I would never have any children and I'm sure it's the same for most people. Sometimes you just have to bite the bullet. As long as we put our baby first and he has plenty of love, food and a roof over his head I'm sure it will work out fine.

Hello yoko and limp. Welcome. I'm also a teacher and am enjoying my last week off.

Pass I saw the tummy tub few days ago, called it a baby bin. I'm sure u cud use a regular bucket? or go to ikea n buy a nice bin .

Dixie we had carpet cleaners in n they will not move furniture. They asked us to mice small things like tables stools. But said leave sofas n big cabinates. Theory being they don't get moved so carpet it not dirty under them!
We recently hired a machine from tesco n they were quite good. But would have to b organised to make most of ur 24hours. But u can get it for longer as well.

MW went well. No weight gain again. She told me to take paracetamol at which I laughed n said it wud mk no difference as im used to stronger due to previous back pains. Although I wonder if 8 months off pain killers has meant I'm not as resistant to pain meds as I once was?

Oh well enjoyed my ice cream. N watched midwives. Now am tiered n looking forward to say with sis. But can't sleep. Must turn off my phone n stop looking at mn!

Night night

I've got out of bed as I've been wide awake for ages

I just googled tummy tubs passmethecrisps and I admit I see why your DH says just buy a bucket. I bought one of these as DH and his ex used one with the boys and it'll fit in our big sink or the bath.

Fatima - Yes, hence the need to remember to refresh. Glad you've been reassured and baby is active. Looking at the timeline I wandered off for more than an hour. Where did I go? What did I do? I think I've lost my marbles

A frog just hopped into the living room and sat there staring at me. Surreal. I just caught it and let it go. I can only assume one of the cats brought it in (it seemed far too small to push open the cat flap) but why lose interest in it when it's still alive.

Welcome yoko there are quite a few teachers on this thread!

I am knackered after a long day, and I am seriously craving Pancakes so I need to get up and make some as my mind wont rest until I have made some - and eaten them!! yum, I hope they turn out good.

I wanted a tummy tub really bad last time - when I was pregnant with DD, but it looked like you really needed the stand/stool as well and it all added up. I dont think they baby would fit in one for long, ie only a few months. They do look so cute though. I found I used to just get in the bath with DD and it was lovley. I didn't care that we had to fill the whole bath up. This time I have been looking at a giant sponge that the baby can lie on, not sure if that will be total crap or not.

Evil with you mentioning pasties the other day I got DH to make us some on Sunday, yum. Then today my friend was dreaming of pasties too!! hehe.

I've never had wagamama's and no I am feeling left out!!

I met up with my antenatal mates today (from antenatal classes with dd) and a friend of one of them came along with a new born baby boy calle Paul. It seemed like such a grown up name for a tiny baby! he was gorgeous, but sadly she has PND, not that you would know it to talk to her, but she told us, I hope it helped her to talk a little bit - I'm a bit clueless with it. She has been to her gp and is taking something for it so that is a relief anyway.

sorry for rambling. must make pancakes now.. .. :)

Check with the union. I'd be surprised if you could start mat leave after your edd.

Our trust we have to return the car pass to stop payments but are guaranteed a space when returning. Unions changed that rule!

Good luck today! I have mw later!

I had the sponge thing for DD1 and did not like it. Just had a basic towelling hammock thing for DD2 in the baby bath, cheap, easy to dry, and I thought it was quite good.

detective the NHS works everything out according to the 'week beginning' not sure why. All Mat Leave entitlement is worked out according to that. It has been like that for as long as I have known, and I had DD 6 years ago. Not sure the union will be able to do anything, especially as it is a matter of days, not weeks you are talking about. The company is actually paying OML. A lot of people do not get that.

It is also clear about the bank holiday entitlement. Regardless of whether you are shift worker or not, if you are on Mat Leave when the BH falls, you do not get it. There is nothing you can do about that. Many have tried and failed.

In relation to annual leave, I would consider yourself very lucky that you have been able to bump up your Mat Leave entitlement. I personally think that is a very unfair system as I think it should be standard for all NHS employees, and you should only get unsocial if you work unsocial. My service only works 9-5. We are not allowed to do unsocial hours, or work bank holidays for extra pay. We just get the day off when it happens, which has its advantages true, but I have not been able to bump up my pay by even a penny.

I earn 4 times what my DH earns, do not get unsocial hours, and was sole earner for the first two pregnancies. DH works part time on minimum wage, and does not have a permanent contract.

It may come over as harsh, but I think you are very lucky to be starting your Mat Leave so late. If you had PGP or something else then you would have to start earlier. I think to persue the union over 'a few days' then it will not be worth the stress, and you are unlikely to succeed. If you were to have baby earlier, the mat leave would have to start the following day.

I also think we should be grateful we have a job, and one that pays an ok level of Mat leave, as there are many others on the thread that are not so lucky.

Oh kirrin forgot to say yesterday, dh said he saw you in town!

Welcome Newbies

Hope you start to feel better soon fatima

I have tons I washing to do today don't know where it all comes from with just 2 of us

What does everyone think about animals know and sense that a women is pregnant? Was reading something online about it last night

nervous smell is a big thing. And taste, although obviously furry animals do not usually taste us. Dogs can tell when we are menstruating too. Drug dog often get the smell confused when in early training.

detective with the NHS you can ask to have your pay split over the six months of OMP in equal amounts, thus helping with budgeting. I have done that both times, and not noticed a massive drop as SMP is paid in addition, and at £130 a week is not to be sneezed at. In relation to Tax Credits, £100 of SMP per week is discounted.

Took the boys by myself to Legoland Discovery yesterday to meet some friends who brought their daughter from Hull. 5 and a half hours we were in there and the boys were brilliantly behaved but I do not know what possessed me. I could barely walk by the time I got home. However my awesome mum status is assured. Today is a day of lego building, movie watching and pancake eating.

To those with iron tablets take them religously, eat iron rich foods and lay off the cups of tea before and after you take the tablets. Sorry if this is just stuff you know already but my anaemia with DS1 wasn't caught until I was thirty seven weeks and I had a bit of a hard time afterwards because my iron levels weren't high enough.

what is everyone doing today?

I work for the NHS and they have agreed to average out my wages over the 39 weeks rather than gradually drop it, which it better for me to know what I'm getting each month (though my SMP doesn't start until...week 8 I think). I'm still waiting to find out what they've worked out and how much I'll be getting.

I would agree with VQ a bit here Detective - it must be annoying being told when you have to take mat leave but the fact that you get paid mat leave is increasingly (and sadly) a perk in this day and age. By all means go to the union if its not going to stress you though, but you might find them very busy with folks experiencing redundancy etc and they may not choose to prioritise your case :(

I was shocked that despite being a higher rate tax payer for nigh on 8 years - I would not be entitled to SMP and am only entitled to Mat Allowance by virtue of starting my latest freelance contract on the date I did - if I had started just three days later I would be entitled to nowt. I am also desperately hoping that the wee one doesn't arrive early as that will mean I will not be entitled to anything as I need to have 26 weeks continuous on this contract under my belt before they arrive.

Obviously being freelance means I don't have to go back to work on any specific date and that is a perk, but then it also means I get no sick pay, no wages when I go and see the midwife / scans etc and no paid holiday. We'll be on unpaid mat leave once baby is 36 weeks old as that's as long as mat allowance lasts, but potentially if they arrive early - we'll be down to one wage from day one.

Yay! I get my wagamamas fix today! The friend I had to cancel on last night is only working a half day today so is around to meet for lunch!

And brockle, a day of Lego building, movies and pancake eating sounds right up my street!

Yes vq mine Is the same over 9 months. It makes little difference when 6 months.

Think I'm going for the 9 months off!!

Yes detective may be in a better position that most but that doesn't mean she shouldn't raise it if she feels she's being treated unfairly.

I will be on SMP only from 6 weeks and I'm the main earner but we will manage just as everyone else does. If we earn less we'll just have to spend less.

I HATE trying to find something to wear everyday. I've only got one pair of mat jeans which I thought would see me though but atm its too hot for jeans plus can't wear them everyday due to washing and the waistband on them is really rigid elastic so digs in to my bump alot.

What is everyone else wearing on a daily basis? I do not get on with dresses and I have no tops long enough to wear with leggings.

I did not know you could do it over the 9 months! I plan to take 10 months, and then annual leave and parental leave, going back beginning of Sept, when DD1 will be well established back at school (Scotland) and DD2 will qualify for nursery funding. I will therefore have 3 months of SMP and 1 month of nowt so will likely have a short mortgage holiday.

I may however decide to go back earlier, but I think not. I want to reduce my hours too. In time, I may consider working a couple of nights a week in a nursing home, for the same wage almost, but the kids are too small for that yet. They would all need to be school age, which is a year later for Scotland unfortunately from a childcare payments point of view. If I get my promotion back whilst on Mat leave (bastards!!!) then I could be persuaded to go back earlier, and full time, but they are cutting back all over on higher grades, and with redeployment it means that I do not even get an interview.

Today I am off to the GP and hopefully gonna be shackle free! DD said we could run to school together, but I reminded her of the huge lump I am now carrying. We had a very interesting talk about the heart, and lungs, stomach and umbilical cord, and she listened intently.

Has everyone got a clear idea of childcare arrangements? Tax Credits are all changing so it is very hard to know what help there will be.

YW that is such a bummer over your SMP. Three bloody days! That must take some swallowing, but I guess being pissed off about it doesn't change anything or help in any way. Do you mind me asking how much the Mat Allowence is? I hope your house sells quickly, I imagine it would. I can totally understand why you would want to be on the Mainland and nearer family.

apple I totally agree, but also know the NHS is a big machine, and many have tried, and it is less than a week that detective is complaining about. If baby arrives early, then leave will kick in automatically, and I am concerned that for a few days longer on mat leave, when there is the option for annual leave or parental leave, be it at a lower rate, this will add more to stress levels than it is really worth.

Also detective requested starting Mat Leave after her EDD. That is against what is clearly in the policy. And with good reason.

Morning all!
Thanks Kirrin for the smiley info

All this talk of may leave is mind boggling to me and I think I should probably look more closely at what Im entitled to, but find it all very confusing.
DH21 - I bloody hate searching for things to wear each day, Im gradually growing out of lots of my tops which is a pain and I do wear lots of dresses (mainly because it means you only have to get 1 thing out ouf the wardrobe), but some of them have become indecently short since my bump started to get bigger. I have one pair of underbump jeans which are in constant use and some over the bump jeans which just dont fit well and the over the bump bit is a bit big. I really dont want to but any new clothes though.

Im thinking of going to a Nappy shop today to find out about reuseable nappies. I just dont know where to start, but would really like to give them a try.
Hope everyone has a great day