January 2014 (thread 9) Pregnancy half time is over. Fast growing bumps, braxton hicks and we thought we would worry less!

[Frizz1986]

Hope its ok me setting up a new thread.
Couldnt see one, but if I am just being blind please tell me.....

space, that doesn't sound like fun!

Congrats on the new place humpty

I dont even have a cold or anything but retuned from work, put on the pjs and dhs wooly jumper an am under the duvet so i am ready for movies and nibbles when you all are
Sorry about the possible infection mrsg

tarka cant believe the cheek of some people. I am only borrowing from my sister so i know who things go back to and everything will either be returned in the same condition or i will replace or pay.

Cant believe people have bought stuff. Dh doesnt want to start til oct-nov time. Is that too late?? Still need to do the nursery but might start on that this weekend.

tarka thats bloody disgusting that they would return it in that state I would not be impressed.

mrsg im on my lonesome too as of tomorrow! Dh's boss rang him earlier and said he is booked on a flight tomorrow and going away for a few weeks I just love how specific they are

well my friend who told me she is pregnant last week has found out today she has had an early miscarriage, poor girl. It was suspected last week and confirmed by scan today.

My niece is doing well and back in bristol now at the specialist hospital.

Congrats on the place humpty-I moved last month and told dh im not bloody doing it again for years!!

I cant believe how fast this pregnancy is going. Im 23weeks today and it's flying by. I am having some serious pulling pains in my stomach though, even when im driving or just lazing around not doing much.

frizz haven't bought anything! Borrowing a few bits and have a list of what I think we will need but just can't motivate myself yet! If I don't buy stuff I can ignore the fact that in less than 5 months time this odd sensation in my tummy is going to take over my house as well as my every waking thought!

sarah good news about your niece

mac, extra and space I am joining you in the preggo rage club after my commute home. Some little turd pushed me aside on the platform as he tried to get further along as the train was arriving. I said (V LOUDLY and in my V POSH VOICE) 'DO YOU MEAN 'EXCUSE ME'?' at which point he turned around, sneered and said 'nah, fuck off'.

I'm afraid I rather lost the moral high ground my yelling 'Learn some FUCKING manners you rude cunt' and stalking off down the platform. I got a wink from one older chap though, so perhaps it wasn't as unladylike as I felt

sarah such good news about your lovely niece, still thinking of her.
Sad news about your friend though, that's really tough.

Oh dear humpty what a rude selfish little twat! Next time trip him up!

sarah good to hear the nice is doing well. Sorry to hear about your friend.

I had my 25 wk appointment with the GP today. Got weighed....beefcaaaaaaaake!!!! listened to baby which was nice! I asked about my MAT B1 form, he asked what one of those was! Had to go ask the receptionist to follow it up! The Doc also had NO tips for avoiding cramp. Chocolate blimming' teapot!

And I worked my fricking balls off today.

humpty I bet you felt sooo much better after yelling that at him! Brilliant! Stupid little twot had it coming!

sarah not great news for your poor friend bless her, but great news about your niece! Hurray!,

OK, mind blank.....

tooth how does your GP not know what a mat b1 form is? He should get together with mine! Good job one of you was on the ball!!!

Those who havent bought yet, dont stress. I only started because I like to be super organised and got over excited! I am the one who arrives early for everything, as the thought of being late stresses me out big time! I dont mind having little bits left over to buy - in fact I need some so I can pace myself a bit more - but I just wanted to big items ticked off as they were playing on my mind and I found it so complicated to choose! Still got clothes, nappies, breast pump, bottles, steriliser, mirror for the car back seat and sunshield, blankets, bedding, nursery decorations etc to get, but was gonna wait until after the nct classes before getting those bits.....

Cant believe NCT starts in three weeks! Really hoping its going to give me all the answers! (ever the realist!!!)

I just ate two cream cakes, mine and Dh's! What a fatty!

So much chatter today and I can't remember anything anyone has said (although I do remember something about brownies! Obviously have cake on the brain!).

Dh is still ill. Poorly him. But he did just get to feel bubs kick quite hard which surprised him .

I start pregnancy yoga tomorrow. Hoping it is ok, going to go with an open mind and see if it is for me.

Puppy dog starts training classes this week as well I'm so excited I think she is really going to enjoy it (well I'm going to enjoy it anyway!).

Sarah sounds positive about your niece.

I'm suprised the gp didn't know what a matb1 form is! Shocking!
Had it confirmed today that I accrue bank holidays whilst on mat leave which is good. Has anyone else handed in their maternity letter yet? I have to hand mine in next week so just trying to firm up my plans.

Omg sultana i hadnt even noticed that nct was that close. Holy moley!

What sad news about your friend sarah but glad your niece is making progress.

Gosh, lots to catch up on.

tarka that is so rude of your friend. I'd be furious.

humpty yay for the new house! Still waiting for our move to progess. Streeeeessss!

sarah that's brilliant that your niece is closer to home. Hopefully she'll be up and about soon

I start preg yoga tomorrow too naturegirl. It's a yoga bellies one, which sounds ok, but possibly a bit woo! I just want to do some exercise, not necessarily connect with my inner goddess or anything...

Sorry to all I've missed. Mad busy at work at the mo, and DS is still settling into school. It's his last afternoon with childminder tomorrow after over 4 years. He's still so little, I kind of want him to stay with her forever and not have to go to scary school every day :( that said, he loves his school, has great friends and is thriving, so I guess I just need to woman up a bit and celebrate how we'll he's doing and what a fab young man he is turning into. Pregnancy hormones aren't helping me do this though!

nature your poor DH but at least bubs is keeping him smiling! Yay puppy classes! You will have a fab time - how could you not in a room full of pupsters?

frizz I know! Suddenly snuck up on my from nowhere!,

enjoying bless your little DS! How cute! Great to hear how well he is doing!

Good luck at yoga ladies....ommmmmmmm!

So... Today had a meeting with a supplier I was meeting for the first time. They asked if I was "finishing soon", and I didn't know what they meant... Then I realised they meant was I going on mat leave soon! I'm only 21 weeks and have only put on three pounds... I'm still wearing normal size 10 clothes FFS!!

So I am sulking on the sofa with a Toblerone...

nature that's interesting about accruing bank hols too... I had no idea. Talking to HR tomorrow about how long I'm planning on taking off so will mention then. Thanks!

Oh that's good about your mat leave nature. My work didn't have to let me accrue them with dd because of how my contract was worded (and the fact that they would have been on top of 6 weeks holiday that I did accrue). I argued it for a while but seems there had been no test case in my favour by the time I left. Can't complain too much as I took them for absolutely every penny I was entitled to then handed in my notice.

Angel how the hell have you managed not to balloon?!? Not fair! I'm 25 weeks and have gained about a stone...

nature I also get bank holidays which I wasn't expecting. I'm hoping to be able to get about a year off in total so the whole of 2014!! Woo

Extra week off paid so definitely not complaining about the bank hols . I hadn't realised until yesterday that minimum holiday had been upped to 28 days so even if your work doesn't allow you to accrue bank hols that is the minimum you should accrue.

Getting treated to breakfast in bed this morning.

extra I think I'm about to go on a growth spurt... Apparently I look eight months gone according to yesterday's meeting! I'll go away and get over it now :)

Has everyone decided how long they're taking off work. I'm going to tell HR today... Going for seven months I think...

angel i have told my work that i plan to take the whole allowance. Not sure if thats 52 weeks plus all my hols or if my hols are within those 52 weeks tho.
It all seems a bit confusing but gov website says that you can have up to 52 weeks of mat leave and that you still accrue hols so am assuming you can potentially take 13 months.
You only have to give 8 weeks notice to return earlier and as i like being in control it puts the ball firmly in my court and i know they wont be nagging when i am coming back.
I expect i will go back sooner if the financial situation stays as it as we cant really live off just my mat pay but fx things will get better and i can have as long as possible off with the baby.

I am hoping to have a meeting sometime soon anyway to answer all my questions and for them to confirm everything. Once you have handed in your letter they are supposed to confirm you mat leave in writing within 28 days, but as it took a week for my boss to even pass it onto the hr guy, plus we are currently recruiting due to others leaving, i have a feeling my maternity will get thrown on the bottom of the pile.

I am doing the same as you frizz -saying I'll take a whole year because there's the proviso to come back early with 8 weeks notice. My employers still don't have a maternity policy, despite it being the law and that they've known I'm pg for 20ish weeks as I had to tell them early cos of the vomming. So my letter is going to be a long list of questions asking them to confirm in writing all the stuff they've said verbally. It's very annoying that I'm having to do all of this, research it all myself, and be the one asking awkward questions, but I want to protect myself as much as possible. CUNTPUFFINS
Baby has been much more active the last few days and is starting to be a nuisance at night, was really uncomfortable last night, boo. Better than not being able to feel him/ her moving though.
angel I've only put on 4lbs too from my pre pg weight, although lost 7ish in the first 12 weeks, so the increase since then is nearer a stone. Am still mostly in my normal clothes with bump bands.
Have a good day all