April 2015 Thread 9: Let the chatting continue!

[cinnamongreyhound]

Quick new thread as only 2 posts left on old one! Any newbies or lurkers please join us!

Oh dear. Sorry to hear some are having stressful time with work. I handed my MAT B1 form in just before Christmas and got confirmation letter this week. Im on a secondment that finishes end of March, so no need for a replacement.

Im consultant led but have never met the consultant. Just keep getting a different doctor each time. I'd love to see a midwife as I feel the doctors are very business like and it'd be nice to have a less serious conversation from time to time. I mean I can't really rant about my sore bum to a doctor. They'll think I'm crazy!

I've got a meeting with HR next week to sort out my mat leave. My head of dept has been dragging her feet trying to sort out details of my contract, which is due to change just before mat leave, so I've been held up submitting everything until now. Hopefully it will all be sorted before too long, I just want it confirmed. Luckily I won't have to do any official handover as my work is quite self contained and will mostly sit waiting for when I return. I am planning on making detailed notes to my future self though so I remember what the hell I was doing with everything. I forget it all when I go away for a week or two, I'm not going to have a clue after 10 months off!

Employers just sound rubbish in general, I kinda feel like look it's not the first time anyone has ever gotten pregnant and you've had to sort this out! If I need to claim MA then I need my MATB1 back which they have had for 5 weeks now!

I also need to speak to my work's pension provider to see if I can reduce my pension payments whilst on maternity leave - currently paying an eye watering amount, I think around 7.2 per cent of my salary, which is worth it as work contribute loads but it would be good to not have to pay as much whilst I'm off!

Squidge that's so annoying! Fingers crossed it all works out ok x

sorry to say, kismac, that I have found the midwives (a different one each time) universally brusque, rushed and entirely not bothered. I've tried on several occasions to discuss my fear of labour and PND after last time but they just refuse to talk about it. oof.

Brixton, when I was off, I ended up paying the same percentage but of my mat pay. Work paid the same amount.

Kismac I have a very no nonsense mw that is very brusque with me. I actually had her with DD too but I swapped her for a new one who was so nice and friendly. This time I'm sticking with the serious one, I don't feel the need to be coddled as much seem as though I know the drill as it were. At my last appointment I almost got a smile out of her, I'm going to make a game out of it and see if I can get her to laugh before the end

My point is that you don't always get a nice mw who has time for you, but you can always swap them for a new one. I get rather jealous of all you ladies that has a mw that actually answers the phone! I have an answering service where I get a call back hopefully within 24 hours (but if you ring Friday it might be Tuesday till you get a reply) or the delivery suit (which I feel silly bothering about something and nothing when they are always busy and me ringing with silly things is a waste, kind of like going to A&E with a broken finger nail well that's how it feels to me anyway).

I think I'm just pining over the midwife I had at booking in appointment. She was lovely but then I got transferred to different hospital. The doctors are nice but I not as friendly.

penguin I'm giving it another week then I'm going to phone the job centre new claims line to ask for them to send me a MA1 form, then bring up that I'm a bit concerned because my work is 'holding my MATB1 and SMP1 forms hostage" and see if they can suggest who I can phone that's official to get them chivied along, somewhere there was the details for who to phone online but I've lost it.

lauren we have a fab system here that I'm surprised they don't have elsewhere, there is a 24 hour line and during the day it puts you through to the once midwife for your local team, if it can't get through to them, or it's out of hours it puts you through to delivery suite who either deal with your issue or hunt down someone from your midwife team to call you back within an hour. I've never failed to have my problem dealt with, even when it's something stupid like "I forgot to use google and ate some xyz will I die or kill the baby"

Boo that sounds amazing, shame it's not the same everywhere. My pregnant work colleague lives in a little village a couple of miles from us and she can ring her mw anytime and actually speak to her!

Anyone else feeling like a turtle on it's back in bed? I can't quite get comfy (sat in bed reading) and every time I try to shift position I seem to flail a bit before I get my balance I'm the same when I'm sprawled on the couch downstairs too. Not even in the third trimester till Wednesday and the end of pregnancy woes have already started. (heartburn 3 times today)
27+1

Yes, but the nurse cocked it up a bit and had to do two stabs Hidingthefear

I get heartburn every time I eat anything sweet Lauren82000!

Lucky you kismac, I wasnt!!!

Good news they wait until 40wks minipie.

Good news TheBooMonster, mine was 1383g so not much more.

That's their problem BrixtonBunny, try not to worry about it!

Horrible to have a morning like that daholster, kids know how to push your buttons. Good news about the irritable uterus too.

That always drives me mad Heyitsholly, it's like you get pregnant and that is then the only thing in your life!! The bloods were probably normal 28wk bloods and you have to sign for antiD because it's blood product so carries a small amount of risk of contamination.

Good idea Boo I might get hold of the MA forms too then at least I have a head start if I need them.

30 weeks today (as it's past midnight!) time is just flying by!!

Penguin you must be one of the earliest. I'm 30w tomo. Must say I'm starting to waddle, my knees are going, can't walk too fast and have to get up slowly or I feel dizzy and I'm v v hormonal!!! You?

I think Misty414 is furthest along? I'm 30w Monday. Start to waddle a bit as evening comes along but I don't during the daytime and I'm still running, although no idea if my gait has changed.

Bloody cold out there this morning, -7C on car and my legs were VERY cold.

Off for my antiD later, hope everyone has a good day :)

Not finished catching up but saw your post brixton and I understand the frustration as it's the same here. They were supposed to start recruitment last year so that someone could start in Jan and I'd have time to train them but so far they've not done a single interview and have even asked me if there's anyone I know that might want to do it!? I just feel sorry for the 3 people who will be left behind picking up the pieces. And I dread what I'll return to. Maybe I just won't bother (although of course I will lol)
Only got 9 weeks left and they seem to be taking my due date as gospel and that going early isn't even a possibility (same thing happened when the accounts lady went into labour 5 weeks early so they haven't learnt any lessons)

You can download and print the MA1 form at home, although be warned you don't need to print out all the supporting material it comes to 47 pages if you do, the actual form is more like 20 pages. Could you ask you MW for another MatB1 form?

Sorry to hear you are all stressed with work, I am struggling with my hairdressing, my back is sore and I'm not doing full days. I am beginning to think working to 38 weeks might be a tad ambitious.

My MW is fabulous, fun, interested and completely no nonsense, I love her!!

30 weeks today!!!!

Well if you guys are waddling at 30w there's no hope for me and my waddle at 27+2! I can barely zip my coat up by the end of the day. DH keeps laughing at me telling me to suck it in, he called me a whale this morning then said he wanted 9 months off work, could we swap? I said we can can swap when you start lactating!

I feel like i'm starting to get the waddle too and only 27 weeks today. Congrats ladies who are 30 weeks, it feels so long away!

I'm not too waddly yet but feel a bit beached whale trying to get up out of bed.

27+4 - about to hit my next milestone of 28 weeks and improved survival rates

Ordered wallpaper for the nursery last night, can't wait to see it finished. Still need to get a cotbed and some decorative bits. I've got some white frames in various sizes sitting unused so trying to think of/find some cute pictures to put in them. I'd also like a shelf for above the chest of drawers, where the changing mat will sit. I know DH isn't going to be impressed, we live in a new build with paper thin plaster walls that are so difficult to hang things like shelving on securely. We've done it in the past though so can do it again!

Banana I feel like a walrus hauling myself out of bed - not a pretty sight!

In the mornings I'm ok but by the end of the day I definitely have a bit of waddle going on (or at least it feels that way)! Starting to feel a few more kicks and movements higher up now, until quite recently they were all belly button height or below.

29+2

Me too Banana getting up from bed or the sofa is a bit of a mission!

Speaking of which I need to get up, making the most of a lie in before travelling down to London this afternoon for big exam tomorrow. Getting a bit nervous but just want it to be over with. Need to pack - and plan how to fit my maternity back/bump support pillow in the bag too! Plus iron my smart exam clothes!

Lila we must share a due date and thanks will have a look online for MA forms then chase work up next week. Problem is I would need the SMP1 form from them as well (saying I don't qualify for SMP) as well as MATB1 form back. That's what I understand anyway, could be totally wrong! Stupid 6 month fixed term contracts

Good luck tomorrow Penguin!

Has anyone else found that pelvic floor exercises are becoming increasingly difficult? I was finding it easy to do loads of them a few weeks ago and now it all feels heavier and more of an effort to do them properly.

oh dear cinnamon sounds like she needed new glasses!

Lauren I find fizzy drinks and fatty foods set off my heartburn. I have a big fat maternity pillow and wedge myself in that in bed, I do feel like a stranded turtle trying to get off the couch though!

Banana I wish I could say i'd been doing them enough to notice if theyw ere more difficult I did them this morning in bed but I mainly forget.

I think I only waddle when i'm bursting for a wee, the rest of the time i'm ok. won't be long i'm sure
28+4