November 2013-thread 4- nattering our way through the first trimester

[honey86]

pow... here goes another

Fairy - good luck with your promotion board, I'm sure you'll nail it.

Saundy - hope your first day back at work isn't too stressful for you!

My maternity package is pretty good - 6 weeks at full pay, then 20 weeks at half pay, then down to SMP. I'm not sure whether to go back after 6 or 9 months, DP thinks we can afford 9, but I'm not so sure. I'll also have about 3 weeks of holiday to use either side of that.

I'm like berry I think... 26 weeks full pay. I'll probably go back after 9 months then be broke for 4 years paying for childcare! From the website:

26 weeks' full pay (inclusive of any statutory maternity pay which is due); followed by

13 weeks' statutory maternity pay (if a woman does not meet all the statutory qualification rules for statutory maternity pay, she will only receive pay for the first 26 weeks of maternity leave); followed by

13 weeks' unpaid leave

Total = 52 weeks' leave

Sorry berry said 20 weeks half pay. Guess I am very lucky as 6 months full pay is quite incredible.

Time to get pregnant again!!

Hello everyone

Maternity pay at my company is pretty good, however I've only just started (accepted offer days before I found out I was pg), so I won't be entitled to it :S. I might be able to get MA though, but I'd have to be there for 13 weeks and its a 12 week contract with possibility to renew so I have to hope they'll renew it knowing i'm pg. We'll see eh? Luckily my OH has a good job so we should manage.

Had my booking in yesterday, midwife was lovely and blood test went well despite my fears. My local hospital has a brilliant reputation too do it looks like i'm booked in to a good place.

So all is good. I just wish I wasn't suffering so much with Morning Sickness. Bleeeuugh.

ive a few weird feelings low down - def something changing a bit down there! 9+3 today

fairy are your weird feelings tummy related?
I'm 9+5 and my abdomen feels weird. It's not painful, more like I can feel things stretching and churning!
Am very ready for a nap!

yea its like someone poking from inside! but not sore - just odd

i'm counting the minutes until i finish work at 3....

Thanks fairy good to know I'm not the only one feeling it.
My bump's looking quite large now that I've had my lunch. Weird how the bloat increases so much after eating!

williamina 6 months full pay is simply amazing! May I ask what sector are you in?

i'm feeling left out of the bump monitoring as i havent got anything!

well a bit of a wibbly belly but thats toffee crisps lol

fairy bump monitoring? I'm so bloated I'm wearing my maternity work trousers today . I'm only 10 weeks ffs.

Just meant I haven't got anything whereas some people seem to have popped out already lol

fairy is this your first? Supposedly you show much earlier for subsequent pregnancies. Because we are all loosened and widened after a birth

It's my 2nd pregnancy but first baby if you understand!

My friend was showing at 8 weeks with her first and that made clothes a nightmare for nearly the whole time!

oh my days i just got a second bouquet from another florist at my door the tag had a pic of a wilted dandelion on it saying im sorry i love you.

im struggling to stay angry but im keeping my head screwed on atm n not be won over just by freakin gorgeous flowers

fairy you should be glad you aren't like a whale yet

Honey I love flowers but I love a rational, adult male as my partner more!

If he put a bit more effort into talking to you it might help more than flowers!

But not trying to be mean so please don't think I am!

Wonder will I get SMP on top of half pay? Would be fab if I did! But I won't hold out hope lol

fairy - I don't get SMP on top of half pay. Ours states the SMP will be 'topped up' to half pay.....

I bet I probably won't get the two either. O well!

My appetite has returned! Had to have a cheese, cucumber and lettuce baguette there as I was starving!

Mine just says 12 weeks full pay & 6 weeks half pay, this is the minimum entitlement guaranteed, further arrangements may be negotiated.

So does that mean SMP too or that's it?

Honey - it might be a good idea to meet up and talk maybe? He's obviously realised he's in the wrong and wants to apologise. It's worth listening to what he has to say at least.
It must be a stressful time for the dad too - not excusing his behaviour at all though.

onelittleToddler - I work for Oxford University. But it does mean living in stinky, boring, overpriced, hard-to-get around, conservative Oxford. (As you can see I am lovin' living here).

I said the organization specifically, not to out myself, because I've worked for other Universities and the Mat leave is not all the same. Ditto government organizations and NGOs.