September 2014 - we're over half way there!

[HippyJess]

Shiny noo thread with only 4 full months to go! Where did the time go??

I'm starting my leave on 20th Aug, 2 weeks before DD, but I'm really having a horrid time at work, I hate it so much, wish I could leave now :( I've only got about a weeks leave left to take & wanted to use that between now & then to break up the horror story of being there! Lol God I'm all smiles & sunshine today aren't I!

I'm planning on leaving at 37 weeks, using a weeks holiday & then mat leave will start on 1st September. I'm office based & fortunately I don't even have any client visits in August as they're all coming to me for a change. I still have 2 weeks of holiday to use so keeping that in case I start struggling & can use it to work part time. Dinah, although I normally love my job I can't wait to finish & have already stated a countdown, only 68 more days at work til I finish!

downstairs, yes this is my first! So excited!

I can feel kicks whoop whoop!!

ella I think friendship circles move and change all the time and its fine if your group downsize and split.

Also not sure about the iron, could you call the gp to check?

When am I supposed to get the maternity form to give my boss?
Nazly it should ease the pressure that your boss is recruiting someone else, because you really don't know how you're going to feel at 3 months and if your job is busy, an person will be good. By memo, do you mean email? What did you write? I'd like to do it face to face - but I don't think it's going to happen before they guess!
lilone loads of people ask me abut cravings too! It's the one thing I've not really had (apart from salty food when sick in first 14 weeks).

missing between 20 and 28 weeks from a midwife or gp I believe :)

Missing , yes, email, we also have an online board for memos which we link to emails sometime, anyhow, I kept it very simple... Put it in the title there are some sweets and cakes in the kitchen for all because I have some news, and then I said I am having a baby in a few months... Because email was going to many people I didn't explain too much and didn't go too details of dates, etc; what happened next was that people came by one by one as they read the email and asked questions, said congrats, etc, and then it gave me some space to have a one to one with some of them that I knew this would concern them more, told them that my leave was going to be short, etc.... It went very smoothly... I was dreading having to tell each person separately.... It is very busy at work and it never felt the right time if you know what I mean...

You are right in that it should give me peace of mind, I guess I am just being silly worrying about how work dynamics will change then and if I can really keep my current role... Also perhaps after baby my priorities change without me knowing... Career has always been a top one for me, but perhaps things will change...

Oh and Ella, about iron tablets, that is exactly what I did before my 12th Week, I felt too tired and felt it wasn't natural- I decided to take iron tablet without prescription; when I went to the midwife after a few days for booking appointment I told her and she said it is absolutely fine to take them, but she also said your tiredness could be natural at it this stage and you may not need them; my blood test showed no iron deficiency - and I stopped them then.

Only two things: never take more than the recommended dose if you take one from shelf your self without prescription, second, your digestion system may be affected, which is not very nice... If I were you I would take them to see how things improve, but would ask for a blood test in the next midwife/gp appointment to check iron level for you...

Oh and also, try to eat iron rich food, if you google you'll find iron level in different food; my favourite iron rich item was a cereal bar with very high iron level (look for iron rich cereal bars, there are quite a few options mostly aimed at children)

I finish work mid august and am taking 3 weeks annual leave before my due date which is when my mat leave will begin. I'm then taking 9 months and topping it up with 6 weeks annual leave at the end so I'll have about 11 months off and (hopefully) 10.5 mths with baby.
ella I don't know about taking actual iron tablets but when I was anaemic with my first I took a natural iron supplement called Spartone which was a liquid you add to a normal drink. It doesn't react in the horrible way that iron tablets seem to but is very effective.

Oh dear I was

Argh phone posted too soon!

I was planning

And again sorry guys

I was planning on working up till my due date as I can only afford 3 months off and wanted them all after baby comes! Do you think I'm being too ambitious? I am office based and can work from home some days but also have lots of meeting to attend and it's quite a high pressure role.

I was planning on using my AL to go back pt but get paid ft (if that makes sense) until baby was 6 months, but do you think I might be better using some to take leave earlier?

Apologies for the epic posting fails above

misog you should do/aim for whats right for you, especially if you want to make the most of your ml. Its also great you can work from home some days and alao work in an office. :)

misog a friend of mine worked until a few days before her due date (very fit pe teacher), I stopped at 33 weeks due to SPD, another friend worked until her baby was born (early induction) - everyone is different as to how well they are etc. Maybe plan what you think will work best, and have a contingency too e.g. Ways to make life as easy as possible with shopping, housework in the last few weeks so you can rest as much you can.

I'm not sure when my ML will 'officially' start yet, but I'm so glad I get the summer holidays with my job so I will be able to rest and not worry about work in August. I'm in awe of those who work flat out til their due dates, I had a friend who managed it but she also managed to decorate her whole house while on ML so...

Definitely agree with it being a very individual decision when to start maternity. I have always had a few weeks off before baby comes, but made the mistake with my first of going too early at 36 weeks when I still felt up to working, then going out of my mind with boredom by 38 and a half weeks!

If it's your first, bare in mind that baby may very well be late. Not safe to assume it will (my first came a day early) but most first babies don't come on time. Ultimately it's your decision, don't let work or relatives try to persuade you one way or the other!

My last day will be 25th July as we go on holiday then anyway. Due date is 6th September, but will be induced any time from 23rd - 29th Aug so we know this one will be early, which is great as my actual maternity leave won't start until that week, before is annual leave.

I haven't posted for a little while, had the 20 week scan last week which thankfully was all fine. We are having a blue one! I was convinced it would be a girl so have had to get myself out of the pink zone! Apparently I have an anterior placenta which isn't a bad thing but does explain why I was uncertain about if I was feeling movement for a while. I do feel it now but only after a meal and lying quietly on the sofa. Does this mean that I won't see the ripples etc later on?

Finally feel confident to be added next time the stats are updated polkadotdelight EDD 17th Sept Team blue

Im hoping to work up until the Friday before the August Bank Holiday and then take annual leave until the due date. I can't wait to finish!

I'm hoping to start mat leave 2nd sept and I'm due 13th sept. I am using my al to go down to 4 days a week in July and 3 days a week in August so I should last all being well. I work in an office so shouldn't b too bad. Work r hoping to get mat cover to start last week in July so whatever happens there will b someone to cover work. I am planning on taking 9/10 months off.

Congrats polka!

Am having one of those moments when everything suddenly feels very terrifying rather than exciting and feel quite overwhelmed by all the changes in my life. Anyone else get that?

Also, been trying to look in to what happens at NHS ante natal classes as mine starts at the end of this month. Seems they all vary depending on where you are (as seems to be the way with the NHS!) Anyone else been to them? What was your experiences?

misog I think there is nothing wrong with planning to work as late as possible, but bear in mind that everyone's different and you may be fine but you may struggle. I also plan to work until I drop to maximise time with baby as I can't afford to take off as long as I like. I'd love a year and then to be part time but realistically it's going to have to be a maximum of 6 months and back to full time work. Having said that, I may feel differently when I'm 8 months pregnant in August getting on a packed tube to get to work! My cousin took 2 weeks annual leave before her due date and went into labour on her final day at work! Also, you might take leave and then be overdue! I think it's really hard to plan.
Nazly thanks for that. I think I'll do similar.
The iron tablets you get of the shelf are not strong and are safe in pregnancy (the pregnancy ones I take have 121% RDA of Iron). One of my best friends who is a midwife recommended taking iron, even if Hb is good, because it's good to have good iron stores in case of blood loss.

It's so difficult to know when to finish up at work when it's your first time. I'm not planning on starting actual maternity leave until my due day date but have 5 weeks of annual leave to use up (I think). Will probably take 2 weeks soon and then finish 3 weeks before due date. Not sure how changeable these decisions are once you've informed work!