October 2014 #9 - Into the home straight we go, 3rd trimester here we come!

[sazzlehopes]

old threads is here

Keep up the chitter chatter ladies!

Bump glad the job is safe, what a load off.

Gun would love to hear suggested menu plan, I reckon I eat all wrong too. I could join you in support.

For those that were interested I got my hospital/labour gown today. I love it! Feel very cute in it & it will be great for skin to skin after. Love, love. Will post a pic..

Lulu are you sure that is legal? I am going off at 37 wks & using holiday right up to my due date, if I go over I will use holidays until I give birth, then take maternity from that day. If I go before my holidays will be paid at end of financial year. I thought this was required by law?

lulu ditto what excited said. I think they have to pay you it at end of your holiday year. Mine is calandar rather than financial year and so should be paid what I don't use in dec. I think anyway!

Lulu I agree with Excited and Fedup, if your baby arrives whilst you are on annual leave, I thought you'd get the days you missed out on added to your salary at the end of the leave year, if you can't carry them over.

Bump I'm glad it wasn't bad news at work for you.

I've just agreed my maternity leave dates, the incredibly hot weather and prospect of commuting on a sweaty packed train focused my mind! 8 weeks and 1 day left... that's only 25 commuting days left as I usually work from home once each week and have some leave booked for August. This week's heat has left me exhausted, when I was pregnant last time, even though I had SPD, I still didn't need the grand working day count down to get me through the last trimester.

It's lovely to read how much love/bond all of you who already have kids feel for them. Awwwww.

Re movements like someone else said, when I get a quiet spell the movements I do feel tend to be 'deeper' inside as if baby facing into me, rather than the more obvious alien style movements across my belly.

Glad it's good news on mice catching and no redundancy!

Looks so good excited, I like it a lot!

Right, I'm pretty much done with work for awhile, so have time to actually engage with this whole 'baby arriving' thing.

I get that you change a baby's clothes if it's covered in poo or sick, but if that doesn't happen, how often do you actually change a newborn? Its outside layer I mean? Do you put a different sleep suit on at night if you're trying to do some sort of bedtime routine, or is this insane?

Someone told me to buy 10 x short sleeved vest/under poppered things, and 10 x sleep suits in a newborn size, 2 x hats and a thing to wear in the car/outside (I'm going with the fleece star thing recommended on here) to begin with. And that's all. Someone has bought be some socks for a present, so won't buy any of that.

Realistically if I had an average 8lb ish baby, how long would they be in newborn clothes for before those 10x and 10x things are too small?

I started off thinking all white things, just because it's easier and cheaper, but now I'm looking at stuff, all white is just so boring. I'm finding myself thinking 'ooh, white stuff at night, nice bright colours in the day' - again, am I insane? I'm ONLY doing babygrow type things until it's crawling. No 'outfits'.

Oh, and will swaddle - either big muslins (which I want in some colours too, white = yawn), or a couple of swaddle blankets from Gro.

Moses basket blanket and sheets, and carrycot blanket are on the list.
Sling might be on list - think have chosen one from sling library.

Ideally I buy all this in one hour long internet session. Click click cliiiiiick...

Goats we changed into a fresh grow after bath time and in the morning to help with routine. I wouldn't wear the same thing 24 hours in one go - hence the morning change too. I think J started outgrowing newborn from some shops at about 9lb. Most will have a max weight on the size. In the first few weeks he was easy putting on 0.5lb to even sometimes 1lb a week - so those clothes might only last a fortnight for an 8lber.

I'd add some wee cardigans to your list as depending on how cold October is the vest, sleepsuit, star blanket combo might need a bulkier layer too.

Great, thanks. I'm thinking a routine is good, even if it's not set in stone.

Two cardis enough?

It would be easier if it were closer to due date re a guesstimate at least of birth weight, but sales are on now. I'll leave it packed up until end September just in case it needs to go back.

will do 5 x white babygrows and 5x interesting colours. Even if that only lasts a few weeks it won't be too much of a cost issue.

My company state that your maternity starts when you specify (obv before due date) or as soon as baby arrives so that means if early I lose my annual leave because I am taking four weeks leave before maternity starts on my due date. My friend in HR seemed to think that was the law to be honest, you take annual leave at your own risk really, they don't have to pay you what you missed out on which I thinks unfair.

Two cardigans is fine, I'd buy them in a bigger size like 3-6 months or even 6-9 months as you can just roll up the sleeves to put them on a smaller baby and they'll last all winter. Cardis are stretchy and you don't have to fasten them so they're forgiving. I honestly don't still dress my 21 month old son in some 6-9 month cardigans oh nooooo

My sil has the cardis we had when we were babies, I'll get those off her. Reckon I can clothe this kid for 50 quid in stuff I actually like for inside clobber anyway. We've only actually paid money for a buggy, everything else loaned or given so I don't think that's too bad.

How loud was that thunder last night?! Mega tired this morning as a result.

Yeah, I doubt that my employer's policy is illegal. They're a reputable company. Guess I'll just have to decide whether to risk it or not. Will have a chat to my manager next week.

Have got no baby bits apart from a Moses basket and some clothes lent by my sister. Dreamt I had the baby last night and had no car seat, pram etc!

Lulu plenty of big reputable companies chance their arm on maternity holiday pay.

Hi ladies...omg that thunderstorm last night was horrific...couldn't get back to sleep after it. Went into kids rooms to close their windows & my 3 yr old woke up & was frightened..he & daddy were in their element watching it albeit getting blinded by the lightning strikes!

Re:holiday before mat leave, sparkle is correct...I asked same question last year when preggo with with my daughter. I work for a large private hospital group but my best friend is an HR manager...she says any company that tries to do you out of accrued leave etc is just plain stupid as there's been plenty of cases through the European court in this...maternity law is the one area of employment law where there's not much room for manoeuvre!

Found out recently that 2 ladies on a site I cover did not have the correct work permits (they had expired)..both are on mat leave at the mo & although their contracts have been terminated immediately, they are still entitled to mat pay...apparently only scenario where mat pay can be withdrawn is if the woman ends up in prison?!

Anyway lulu I would go back & query your HR advisor...

That storm was awesome! never seen anything like it, luckily DS wasn't phased & i think i got back to sleep fairly quickly. didn't help clear the air though did it!

Goats i think 10 of each thing is fine. DS has always worn socks under his sleepsuit as his feet get really cold. He was really good at keeping clean as a baby so we only changed his clothes in the morning. They don't recommend bathing every day as it can dry babies skin out so we didn't include that as part of our routine.

I think we have everything for baby in my mums loft so don't actually need to buy anything which is a bit weird, feel like i should be preparing better!

Any criminals in the making on here...?

Awful night sleep here but glad the thunder seems to have made it a bit cooler. Epic storm though! And don't seem to be any house leaks. The baby was wriggling around too which made me feel better as had been worried of there was reduced movement but I think he / she is ok!

Sample for new kitchen was delivered today - loving it!

Ok, so what's the deal if you don't go back to your job after mat leave? Do they Pay you the holiday you have accrued whilst on mat leave or is that just written off?

I have a few hand me downs like vests etc but I'm reluctant to buy too much for dear of babyB coming out and being too big to fit into anything we've bought. Luckily we have a lot of options for buying things quick if needs be. Just seen a changing table/chest of drawers for £35 on Gumtree, bargain!

Was woken at 2.30am by a very scared dog in my face (he does not like thunder) and soon baby was kicking me every time it rumbled! Was up for an hour before they both settled down. Taste of things to come I guess haha!

Have booked my Whooping injection for next week and Mat Allowance form is ready to post.

Thank you for the book recommendations, I've nearly finished The Food of Love. Wondering though, do bf breasts feel like pmt breasts? Ie tender? When she says about not wearing a bra, particularly in bed, I thought it was interesting but given I need a vest with support layer to be comfy at certain times of month, do boobs not feel like that when full of milk? I know they will be engorged initially but I really mean after that. ??

I'm a bit confused by sizing..do we need roughly 10 specifically newborn vests/sleepsuits or 0-3 months ok? What are others doing? Guess it all depends on size of baby really so maybe best wait to get many until they arrive..? Got lots 0-3 month(been given) but no newborn at moment

george the impression I've been given is that it depends more on weight. I guess just get a couple of each and then depending on birth weight you can send your partner out to top up your supply. That's what I'm going to do.

Newborn size generally is up to approx 10lb so yes depends on weight, my 2 were under 7lbs so lasted a few weeks in newborn size. Newborn was too big to begin with was hanging off them!

I am dreading the school and nursery run in this heat this afternoon. There are in two opposite locations so will have to walk a fair bit! OH normally does nursery run but is on a first aid course with work.