October 2013 - Countdown to D-Day!

[roxvox]

Baby due dates/sexes/name choices here

Warlin I'm taking annual leave from 34 weeks (last day of work 29th August) and my maternity leave starts on 1st October (38 weeks). DS was born at exactly 38 weeks so I'm hoping for a couple of weeks off at least....

I'm finishing at 34 weeks too, 4 annual leave and 2 mat leave before due date, worked till just before 37 weeks with DD1 only had my usual days off and she arrived 3 weeks early on my 1st day of mat leave! worked till about 36 with DD2 and she arrived on her due date! My main reason for finishing early this time is DD2 starting full days at school and I wanted to drop my evening shifts, I am however finding it hard going already though (retail) it was easier when I was management and could sneak off for sit downs!

Just lurking on the November thread (my friend is on there!) and they have had an early birth! She went in to hospital for reduced movement and baby was delivered by emcs at 27 weeks, so well worth us going to be checked if there are any worries, fingers crossed for the teeny baby xx

I'm finishing at 34 weeks too.. 3 weeks before the c section. Tbh, for me, its physically easier bring at work than at home....

1stTimer - that's quite naughty of your bosses tbh - if you cannot do the work they should either find you alternative work or sign you off on full pay. They can't make you take maternity leave early unless you have pregnancy related sickness in the last 4 weeks. I'd be most pissed off at them.

Hello everyone! Is it ok if I join you?
I only just came across this section of MN.
I'm due on 3rd October....
Can I be in your gang?

I'm taking annual leave from 35 weeks and then mat leave kicks in at 38 weeks, and I fully expect to be late . Last time I took annual leave at 38 weeks, mat leave started on due date, and I was 4 days late.

I was very bored last time (in hindsight wish I had enjoyed being lazy more) but this time planned from the outset to finish as early as possible, as want some one on one time with DS for this baby arrives. I went back to work full time when he was 17 weeks, so am really looking forward to spending this bit of time just with him will be regretting this after three days i am sure

I really don't know what to do for the best for maternity leave. I too work in a building where I have to tackle three flights of stairs and the office is horrendously stuffy at the moment, it only had a window right at the opposite end to me. The stuffiness makes me feel sick sometimes.

It's been agreed that I can work from home from 23 September, which is great as it will be more relaxing, but this does mean I'll be working up until the birth.

I have three weeks annual leave to use up which I was going to tack on to the beginning of my mat leave, but I'm now thinking that I might use that 3 weeks before my due date and seeing if I can start working from home earlier.

It's so hard trying to work out when the baby's coming as it could come at 42 weeks and then I've wasted time where I could still be bringing in full pay.

I really don't know what to do for the best.

I started my maternity leave at 30 weeks as I was finding work too much with my SPD. I have 3 children already though and as they're on summer holidays, it's not likely that I will be getting much time to rest or sleep.

Threeblondes.......that's scary. Are the mum and baby ok?

Nellysgirl.......welcome! We are a very chatty bunch.

Lots of crossed posts there, but 1sttimer I'm completely with pseudo there - not sure what can be done now, but they can't force you onto maternity leave that early because of risks with your job, they have to accomodate you.

Actually pseudo you seem to be very up on this, and maybe some of the legal eagles can help. Just sorting out bits and bobs with employers re mat leave, one of which being pension contributions. I'm currently in a salary sacrifice scheme and my employers contribute 50% of my contributions, up to maximum of 2.5%. I currently contribute 5% of my salary. If I continue to contribute 5% of my salary based on mat pay (I get 6 weeks at 100%, then SMP) my contributions will go down a lot in value. Do my employers have to contribute the 2.5% of my current salary, or 2.5% of my adjusted mat leave salary? I've tried googling and it's really not very clear.

My apologies for the really dull post

Thank you! Just having a nosey through - hope you all don't mind.
Can't remember who said they are getting pins and needles in their hand but, me too! V.annoying!
I finished work quite a while ago but that was due to my employer being deliberately awkward and mean to me x

Bowl full I was thinking the same. I currently also contribute 5% my employer puts in 10% I was going to freeze my contributions as I'm the Same as your 6 wks 90% then smp, but it seems silly to freeze it as it's like free money off my employer. Confusion

Welcome nellysgirl

As for finishing for maternity leave, for my first I finished at 36 weeks, and had 3.5 weeks before DS arrived and I loved every second of relaxing, my advice is enjoy!
This time finishing 36 weeks again, but this time, will be more about quality time with DS before the baby comes.

Someone was mentioning about heart burn that wasn't stopping with gaviscon... I got this at 6 weeks (with horrific sickness) and doctor put me on ranitadine which was lovely (I also took this with my first pregnancy).
2 weeks ago, it felt like it just stopped working, gaviscon helped for maybe 5 mins, and I was up in tears at night, and not being able to eat my tea, so doctor changed me to omeprazole instead, since then, I have not even looked at a bottle of gaviscon since. I know everyone is different, but mine was unbearable, and it has now gone, so don't suffer if you think you'd benefit from seeing the doctor!

Your employer must continue to contribute x% of your full salary, as if you weren't on mat leave. You only pay x% of your reduced pay. Basically, pension on mat leave is a great deal for the employee!

So Flyer for instance, your employer will contribute 10% of your normal salary throughout your mat leave, while you'll pay 5% of 90% for 6 weeks, then 5% of stat mat pay for 33 weeks, then nothing, all while the employer pays 10% of your full salary!

Ah ha, thanks Legally - from what I had read I believed that to be the case, but can't find anything on any official type site like HMRC. Don't suppose to can link to something that I can send over to HR shamelessly tapping up free legal advice

From Gov.uk re. working conditions/environment

Health and safety for pregnant employees
When the employee tells their employer they?re pregnant, the employer should assess the risks to the woman and her baby.

Risks could be caused by:

heavy lifting or carrying
standing or sitting for long periods without adequate breaks
exposure to toxic substances
long working hours
Where there are risks, the employer should take reasonable steps to remove them - eg, by offering the employee different work or changing their hours.

If the employer can?t remove any risks (eg by offering suitable alternative work) they should suspend the employee on full pay.

For full details about the regulations see the Health & Safety Executive website.

Pregnant employees who think they?re at risk but their employer disagrees should talk to their health and safety or trade union representative. If your employer still refuses to do anything, talk to your doctor or contact the Health and Safety Executive.

Thanks Legally i'd be silly to stop my contributions in that case.

Here you go Bowl www.maternityaction.org.uk/sitebuildercontent/sitebuilderfiles/commonmaternitypayquestions.pdf

Hi warlin. I actually have 4 weeks annual leave to take, so I have the last 2 weeks in August off with DH, then return to work for 4 days before the next 2 weeks annual leave and that takes me up to 39 weeks, which is when my maternity leave will officially start. So 11 more days of work after today

I think that baby might be overdue too (EDD is 2nd October, but according to my maths that's about a week early), but we'll see what happens! It's both exciting and horrible not knowing. Like you ladies, I don't want to be sat around twiddling my thumbs waiting for baby to come, but likewise I don't want to not get a chance to chill out prior to the arrival!

Welcome nellysgirl. We have a stats sheet if you fancy joining us on it - here

Hey - due on 20th Oct so great to see this thread.
Friend of mine gave birth on way to hospital at the weekend! She has a beautiful baby girl but the dad is still recovering from delivering her in the front seat of the car.
Fingers crossed mine will be more conventional!
Lucy
x

Welcome nellysgirl :)

psuedo and bowl I tried to defend myself with the whole 4 week time period and sickness before edd... But I was quickly shot down and told they could make me go through my gp for a fitness to work report etc etc ... I just don't have the energy to argue with them, it's not what I had hoped for but I'd rather have a job and mat pay than nothing from tempers being lost if you know what I mean?! And first baby I don't know all the legislation to protect me and how it works. My own fault for being a pushover!

On the topic of mat leave, how long do you have to go back to work for before you have to pay some of the maternity pay back if you want to leave? Is it three months?

It's not your fault 1sttimer, no one should be bullied like that pregnant or not. Ooh it makes me so cross that employers behave like that. I know sometimes they genuinely aren't aware of entitlement (but it's their job to find out), but I'm fairly sure in your case they are and are just taking the piss .

Thanks for the link Pseudo - feeling all feisty now!

Welcome Nellysgirl, Lucy and anyone else I have missed .

legally as regards pension, I currently pay 7% and employer pays 12%. I get 6 weeks full pay, 12 weeks half pay and then stat. I have been told that for the half pay, I can continue to pay 7% of that amount but that they will only pay 12% of that amount (not my full salary). Also on stat, I think they need written permission to take anything from you. Are you sure they should still be paying 12% of the my full salary?

I agree with the above 1stTimer they should have offered you another role if possible, rather than forcing you off early.

Thanks for the insight into everyone's mat leave plans. It's so hard to know. I might try and work from home a day a week and see how I go. I had no time off before ds and really want some time to relax. I will prob let ds go to nursery but maybe pick him up earlier as at 14 months I find him exhausting at the moment! Sounds awful and I love being with him but also need the break. Not having a work commute would def help so might suggest that tmw.