November 2015 Thread - Teams Yellow, Pink and Blue selection has started!

[tootsroots]

For all those lovely bumps incubating until last few days of Oct and all November, spilling possibly over to December for the super comfortable babies- come and chat, rant, vent, chant, glow, sweat, watch nails grow whilst doing antenatal pilates/yoga/sleeping/eating/navel gazing and over analyse to your hormones content!

Optional - FB group is up and bumping, PM me with email to be added.

*in her

Glad to hear you're ok pinka. How are you feeling today mrsscarlett? The sonographer pressed really firmly on me at the first scan, which was quite uncomfortable. I hope it isn't necessary at the second.

Unknownthought you reminded me that I'm getting a train to London in a few weeks--fingers crossed I get a seat. Hope your commute is ok today.

Get a Baby on Board badge ask at tube station or get online I just wait till somebody catches the badge then they have to offer! The power!

I'm glad I'm not commuting, last summer was awful. I got offered a seat less than 0.5% of the time (yeah, I worked it out!) even with the badge. I think because I carried small. I had a bloke comment on not needing a badge at this stage, and I went into hospital to have DS that night! The thing is I always feel worse at the start and then gradually better. I needed a seat probably for the first 4 months, but towards the end, not so much.
I think it depends on your route though. I was living in London itself. I hear people are nicer on trains into London.

So far (fingers crossed) I have always got a seat on the tube with the badge. My route in the morning is slightly quieter so I usually get a seat anyway, but it's packed on the way home. There have been a few instances where I've been studiously ignored but someone has always offered me a seat at some point. However it's 95% of the time been a man, I have only had one woman stand up! Actually, once, a man stood up to give me his sit and another woman (probably early 50s so not pregnant I dont think) launched herself over and sat in it!

That's so funny it was always older women that stood up for me and hardly ever men. If it was a man it'd be more a young hoodie type rather than suited and booted as well
I'm glad it's not too bad anyway. I found I got more seats the bigger I got as well. I mainly got the bus though, glad the tube people are nice

I get the tube and arm myself with Lots of water and a chinese style fan.. and maybe a few graps ... a little bag of nuts (M and S for e.g)... oh and a tracker bar... and a back up dairy milk or .

You never know the emergency you may face where stuffing a dairy milk is medicinal e.g when people are rude, you can't sit or stand comfortably , feel faint or more likely I can snaffle it without judgment from DH or colleagues! Actually thinking about this, this packing list is essential for ALL of us.

Have been recommended this thread on the pregnancy board so am marking for myself. Due 10th November and definitely Team Yellow.

Have to agree with the above though - it's always been hoodie types that have given me their seat on the tube/tram rather than any of the city lot!

Welcome Sunshine!

On the way home on the tube yesterday it was hotttt. I was wearing my badge and a bloke half way down the carriage offered me his seat. I SAW all of the people closer to me (ie directly next to me) clock me/my badge but then stare at the floor. It was actually quite funny, I had to climb over them to get to the seat.

mrsscarlet did anyone say anything when the woman did that? Hilarious!

Bowies everyone just looked at her aghast and then a man nearby stood up and pointedly offered me his seat (see, another man!)

I have frequently done the contortion dance down a busy carriage as well to get to an offered seat halfway down while everyone else looks at the floor!

The thing is, that when I'm sitting on the tube I am usually reading and rarely look up so I do understand that people don't always notice. What I find hilarious/annoying are the people who DO look up, clock the badge/bump and then look down really quickly to pretend they haven't seen. Tube travel is not fun, especially in rush hour, so I know that if you've got a seat the last thing you want to do is give it up but still...

I also had one older man stand up with a big sigh and say 'Well I suppose you better sit here then' in a really put upon manner. So gracious - it's not like I'd gone up to him and demanded the seat, I was just standing near him!

Some ladies on MN have adjusted their hours to do 8-4 to miss the real pain of commuting anyone else tried this?

I am not convinced, also - probs will do longer hours as i am unlikely to get at 4 so would have to wait until 6 when i is slighly calmer.. yes i use the tube but it applies to cars /walking etc -- experiences welcomed on whether to ask!

So glad I'm not living in London anymore. Last pregnancy was summer, 2012, living near Olympic Park, committee through Bank every day.
Now I just cycle 4 miles

so glad i don't need to get the train. i dont like them at the best of times.

today work keep asking me when im starting my Mat leave. i havent a clue has anyone else decided ?

i got pinned down and said 3 weeks pre birth. I might change it as have a right to.. nearer the time to closer to birth !

You don't have to give a date yet.
I'm finishing at 33 weeks this time! 39 weeks last time.

Yeah you don't have to say until 25 weeks, and then you can change it anyway, with 28 days notice I think.

I had the VBAC course today. It was quite good actually, very balanced which I wasn't expecting. I'm so confused now though. I've realised it's fear really that makes me want elcs, so now I'm thinking do I go for it? With my medical history I'm nowhere near the 70% success rate though so do I go into a 50/50 see what happens type situation or book in for elective.

I don't think my work are really bothered about getting a date at this stage! My maternity leave will start on 2nd Nov which is my due date (or when baby arrives if earlier) but I will use the 4wks of holiday I've saved up to finish earlier if needed. I've been assured that I won't lose the holiday if the baby comes earlier but need to get that in writing!

You have to notify your intention by 25 weeks but can change it 28 days before like Abbey said. Thats my employet policy, not sure if its standard?

Abbey do you have to make a decision right away or do you have some time to think/talk it through with your OH?

I've got a month until I see the consultant, so I have time. Although they said the c section route would be a fight to get it, so I guess that would require more appointments if I asked for that

I can't remember if I said on here, so sorry if repeating but I was going to do annual leave from mid 36 weeks to 40 but had DS before that and nearly lost the annual leave completely as my maternity leave crossed two holiday years. I got it in the end though but I had to create a fuss. So like Bowies says always worth checking the policy and getting things confirmed if you can

The train is awful. When I commuted so many people ignored the badges, the worst were the overground trains to London from the suburbs. I commute by car now. Have to tell myself to calm down when driving through. I guess all commuting is cut throat and self centred in its own way!
I promised myself that I would try and take work/life more easily after yesterday. Couldn't do it. Ended up in work at 6.30am before leaving and heading to meetings all day. I felt so guilty as I set my alarm, but I think getting stressed about everything I didn't do yesterday and wouldn't have done today would be worse than the early start. Anyone else finding it hard to adjust the pace? Is there even any reason to do so apart from the guilt?! I take my multivitamins, I go to all appointments and still I feel bad. I guess this is part of the joy of motherhood!

I have an interview for a 9 week contract that would finish mid September. I wasn't going to tell them I'm pregnant until they offer the job is that fair or should I tell them after the 20 week scan? I have my final Interview 2 days after the scan should I be honest then. I Can dress to hide the bump?!? Is this dishonest when it won't really effect them!

My hay fever is THE WORST today, had to get an inhaler from the GP as I am so short of breath and some piriton for bedtime so I can at least sleep. Apparently allergies can be far worse during pregnancy and that's definitely my experience, nose bleeds both today and yesterday from sneezing so much. Boo.

I have been doing a 'study' on who gives up seats and barring one woman (today as it happens) it has always been young (under 45) men who have given up seats. This evening we have had our train cut from 12 coaches to 4 which is a special kind of hell. Curse you, South West Trains.

Apologies for the whinge!

I worked until 39 weeks last time and will aim to do similar again health permitting.

Interested to hear VBAC course was worthwhile. I know that fear is what puts me off a VBAC but my first birth was so traumatic that I feel an ELCS is the only way for me to remain in control. After breaking down in my consultant meeting on Friday I have realised that I can't deal with the risk of repeating it which pretty much leaves with me an ELCS.

Abbey I have to decide too- only because of twin pregnancy being riskier. Are you leaning one way or another at the moment? The big selling point for an elcs for me is that it is predictable- you know what your getting and how it will go. VB- who knows? I'm still more inclined towards VB, but only because I've had an uncomplicated one before.

ehealy - I would tell them, if it's a 9 week contract then I can't see it being a problem and no chance of losing you to a permanent role halfway through which is often the biggest risk to a contractor!

Abbey - my consultant was very pro VBAC and kept going through risks of c section (pulmonary embolism etc) but I think in the end they have to allow you to make the decision. They have so much literature around the clinic about your choice that it's hard for them to completely ignore your wishes.

thanks everyone! my policy is the same need to tell them at 25 weeks but they keep asking. ive just said prob my due date and use 4 weeks holiday before.