January 2014 (thread 8) Half way there just about! Finding out pink or blue

[BuntCadger]

New thread for us, can't believe another one filled! Half way there girls :) on the homeward stretch :) xx

Good to see some nice work stories.

I think my mat cover will be someone else in the office stepping into my role for the year. Although not sure when it will happen as the girl my boss wanted has turned it down and is now looking for another job (wants more money and she is all about the money) and then someone else on the team is leaving too so they might need to not only sort my cover but get some newbies in and trained to replace the ones leaving.
Might mean that I don't start training for my cover until v late, which sucks as the last girl who went on mat leave had trained her replacement and was able to sit around chilling for about 2 months. Unlikely to happen to me as don't even know if we will have started training by that point and my stuff is way harder to learn!

No more movement felt since I was convinced I felt it. Think I don't want to say for sure in case I get bad news at the scan on Friday and then I will wonder what the hell I have been feeling!
Am so desperate for the scan now as am looking proper pregnant so want to be sure it is not just me getting fat!

Hope curly is ok

Feeling distinctly like a space cadet at the moment. Been outside for fresh air, took time away from the computer and turned the air con on max but still feel light headed. Really don't want to go home as I'm getting concerned about taking too much time off sick (all ready used half my allowance this year because of a chest infection right at the start). Any suggestions anyone?

Eat something?

Tried eating and drinking but neither seems to have helped. Currently just staring at my computer screen pretending to work!

Did you sleep ok last night, Nature?

Yep slept fine, only woke up when dh came to bed which is normal and he got up with the puppy this morning as well. Bit worried it's my blood sugar going a bit heywire. I was on metformin before getting pg but was told to come off by gp when got bfp so just wondering if it's that.

Can you nip out to a chemist? Often they can take your blood pressure?

No chemist near here but may be able to stop at one on way home. Would they be able to do anything if it was low?

No, but they'd be able to suggest things you could do (drink plenty of water, rest) until you can see a doctor.

I hope curly is ok too......

Well now I'm at work it isn't so bad. My boss wants to get someone in to cover me because if they don't he is worried that if they just spread my work out then then senior management might not see the value un keeping me on! They are cutting heads at the mo so I understand. My role is hard to fill in just a couple of months though I and do know my role is much needed but I can't help but worry about the future. My boss will fight for me to the end but even so.... I am the main earner and its good money, we would be screwed without my job :( only planning on taking 7 months off so hopefully all will be ok.

Sorry that turned into a me me me ramble!

Ugh... Maternity cover.
In addition to my previous comments about my employers' crappiness around maternity stuff, I've found out that my mat cover (well the 80% of it that's not being covered by colleagues) - who is someone I suggested and will be really happy to have covering me - will be paid at a consultancy rate - ie. much more than I am. Which sucks .
My boobs seem to have done a growth spurt - am already growing out of the new bras I bought since being pg, damn body!
X

MrsA that really is galling! Makes you feel like shit doesn't it! Just remember you are invaluable and they don't know what they have in you!!!

Penny how can it be so stressful going off and having a baby - the most amazing thing ever? The run up is crazy anyway, trying to train someone up to do a job that you have probably taken a long time to know inside out and perfect, without having the concerns of the powers that be thinking your position isn't warranted! That would make me soooo mad! I am glad your boss is on your side and is fighting your corner and is thinking of ways to try and ensure the worst doesn't happen, which is definitely something to cherish! Will keep everything firmly crossed for you!

nature hope you start to feel more normal soon. Definitely get checked if no better....

penny that's the same as me - without my wage we're fooked. It does make me feel incredibly defensive about my job.

MrsAVB with the above in mind, they won't want to keep a consultant wage on for a second longer than they have to. It sounds like they will make it easy for you to return! The money thing is annoying, but I'd rather have the security of employment (holidays, pension, sick leave, not having to do a tax return) in the long term.

Hope you feel better soon nature

Just got back from my 16 week appt (which was actually at 18 weeks because I forgot to book it ). Yay for my midwife who listened for & found Pootles heartbeat straight away. It's a bit irregular apparently but sounded like a train, couldn't believe how loud it was! Midwife also said she's 99% certain the 'feelings' I've been getting are a somersaulting small person so feeling very happy

enjoying it does make you defensive doesn't it! That's exactly how I feel. I dread someone coming in to cover me in case they are better than me! I wish I was one of these people who is confident that they can't get rid of me while I'm on maternity cos I have rights etc. some people really take advantage and come out smelling of roses.

space it's amazing isn't it! Wait until you see the small somersaulting person at the 20 week scan. It really was the most amazing thing I've ever seen! You will be sped happy :)

space how exciting! Its just so amazing and I echo what penny said!

penny I too am worried that despite me working my ass off taking all the shit and doing more than one persons job for the last couple of years, someone will come along to cover me and they will prefer the way that person works. However, I also feel like I may want to change my working hours/contract if possible financially when I go back, so am trying to think of this as an exciting opportunity, rather than a super ball of stress....however, if its not financially viable then I will be in the same defensive boat as you and enjoying! Am currently burying my head a bit as I am doing all I can currently to keep things as secure as possible and trying to think happy thoughts....a lot can happen in a year though and things change very quickly at my place....just praying DHs job is safe. We find out more again in a few weeks..... palpitations start and wonders if opening that tub of ice cream would be a good idea

On the plus side I either have wind (which is possible as had my first diet coke in ages this afternoon) or I have been feeling bubs jiggling around on and off for the last half an hour!

for all those having trouble with work and maternity leave, I hope it all gets sorted soon!

nature I hope you feel better soon. There's not much that can be done for low bp, make sure you don't get dehydrated and nap of you need to. My bp is usually about 100/60 but sometimes drops. I went to my GP last year and it was measured at 80/50 but apparently there's no drugs licenced in the UK to raise bp, so she just told me to drink lots and try not to spike my blood sugar as when it dips it can lower bp with it.

All of you who are panicking about Mat Leave, don't forget:

Your right to return to work is protected under employment law. They might like your replacement more, but it's tough tittie. Unless you decide not to come back, they are under an obligation to let you return to your role, or provide a closely related one if yours has changed/vanished.

In terms of training a replacement, I'm sure it would be lush to have a fully trained replacement doing your job for the last month or so, but if you don't, the people who suffer from an undertrained replacement are your employers - who should have started the process earlier so are getting what they deserve. Mine hasn't even advertised for my cover . Not my problem - I'm leaving when I leave, they'll have to come up with something.

nature I took half a day off last week feeling like this. Don't forget in terms of "allowance" ( to sickness being only within allowances) any pg illness related absences are not counted against your whole year tally. See here for details.

I think your specific job is only protected if you return after 9 months, if you return after a year it just has to b at the same level. At least that's how it was when I left a couple of years ago before I had dd.

nature Humpty is right, pregnancy related illness does not count as part of your sickness allowance.

Tarka is quite right. The wording is:

"If you return to work during or at the end of the first 26 weeks (ordinary
maternity leave) you are entitled to the same job on terms and conditions (eg your salary, hours and the seniority of your job) as if you hadn?t been away. If you take additional maternity leave you are entitled to the same job on the same terms and conditions but if your employer cannot give you the exact job back for good reasons, you are entitled to a suitable job at the same level with terms and conditions at least as good as your previous job."

So, if they simply decide to 'prefer' another employee/your replacement, they'd be hard pressed to justify that as 'good reasons', if you took it to a tribunal!
Direct Gov leaflet on pg working rights & SMP etc

Thanks everyone feeling a bit better now I'm on the sofa curled up with the puppy.

I'm a bit confused by pg and sickness allowance. My understanding was that pg sickness can't be used for disciplinary purposes but I'm only entitled to the same allowance in terms of paid sickness. And if I've used up all my allowance and take time off sick in the mat leave qualifying period it will affect my mat pay.

nature I don't know - but I am still that you can have a 'sickness allowance' - what if you are sick more than the 'allowance'?? It makes no sense. You get SSP when off with pg sickness, so maybe that helps?

I feel better that I'm protected by law even of they like the person who covers me better. I just don't want them to be disappointed when I return! I have no good reason to feel like this, Im well liked at work and my reviews are always good. I've been rewarded with a pay rise every year except this year. I think my salary is about where it should be now though so not much more room for a rise. I think it's just that times are tough and they are having to make redundancies and I am scared that I'm making myself an easy target. What will be will be I guess. All that matters is that my little family stays healthy and we will deal with whatever life throws at us :)

Paid sickness allowance (SSP notwithstanding) is not a statutory right, so they can basically make it up as they go along.

Are the SSP rules any different when you're pregnant, then?