May 2016 babies - baby clothes, maternity leave and all the rest!

[GrouchyKiwi]

Here's the next thread!

Hello! I'm new to all this (have been lurking on and off for a while) but was wondering if there is room for one more May baby?

This is my first pregnancy and I'm due on 3rd May - scary! We are having a little boy.

Feeling super-disorganised as have been stuck in the house with hormonal migraines for weeks so I'm playing catch-up.

Just wondering if anyone else is suffering with hip/pelvic pain? I feel like a right old woman, I can barely get up and down the stairs!

C

Hope you manage to have a relaxing day to make up for the bad nights, ODog and GunShot.

Welcome, Crafty! Yes, I've got SPD/PGP and it's getting worse almost daily. Walking has become difficult now. I'm going to call the MW tomorrow and see what help I can get - crutches etc, although I'm not sure if I'll be able to use them with shoulder issues I have. Hope your pain isn't too bad.

Welcome crafty. No experience of pelvic/hip pain but you can normally self refer to physio and they will give you some exercises and recommend crutches if needed. Details of stuff like that are in my notes, not sure if it's different for their areas but your mw should be able to point you in the right direction of not.

Thanks grouchy. Part of the problem was that my back was aching so much I could t get comfy so I've done a bit of my yoga dvd (with DS copying 😂) and now having a bath so hope that will ease it. It's all good practise for the sleepless nights to come I guess. 3 hours was a good night when DS was tiny!

Oh no odog and gunshot, having rubbish sleep is the worst feeling. Fingers crossed you can put your feet up for a bit today.

Hello crafty! There's always room for one more.

Grouchy I didn't realise how bad your SPD had got, are you seeing a physio?

Welcome crafty! And sorry to hear about sleep troubles odog and pain grouchy why does nobody warn us about this stuff?
Am coming on for a rant (advance warning!) - DP is driving me nuts at the moment! He was super grumpy and shouty yesterday and doesn't seem much better so far today, I'm knackered and just want to chill out or do something nice but he and I have always had completely opposite versions of how weekends should be spent so I'm never able to just lounge around - but now I really NEED to!! I also want to go and visit my family solo next weekend as I feel bad that I haven't seen them since new year but he always wants us to spend weekends together so is vetoing a 2 night solo trip and suggesting we go together for the day only instead. I won't ask AIBU but I am getting slightly fanatical about the idea of having time to myself before I am NEVER ALONE AGAIN!!!
Rant over, sorry ladies!! Have a lovely Sunday

Welcome crafty hope you get bettr nights sleep ODog and gunshot and the pain gets better grouchy I'm currenty waking around 3-4am every night and tossing and turning for at least an hour before I can get back to sleep.

Sorry to hear your DP is being unreasonable can't I'm currently on a solo trip visiting family this weekend as I haven't visited since Christmas and now I'm 30 weeks I think this may be the last time before baby arrives. My DP was actually glad to get rid of me so he can concentrate on painting the nursery! It's good to have some alone time so hope yours comes around to the idea!

We're starting NCT tomorrow evening and I'm feeling nervous. Feels like we're about to go on a blind date with lots of other couples eeek!!

cant I don't think YABU. I secretly love with DH works late or goes on school trips for a couple of days (he's a teacher not a teenager haha!). Especially as the first few months with a newborn is very claustrophobic sometimes if you get a Velcro one. You really do have no break or time alone with a Velcro BF baby so taking some time now is a really good idea.

Good luck with nct tomorrow frozen. Don't worry if you don't gel with people right away. I'm most friendly with people I really didn't think I would be at our first class. Pub after the classes was a good ice-breaker for us and lovely, longer-baby lunches when everyone was on Mat leave. I still look back on those days really fondly especially today on 3hrs sleep

Thanks all, what a lovely welcome!

Think I shall be calling the MW tomorrow in that case. Ugh! The joy of pregnancy, eh?

odog his work trips have become strangely absent during my pregnancy (except right at the beginning when we were living in weirdland-nobodyknewbutus and I had a meltdown, naturally...) and am dying for him to be away a little bit! Also partly because I'm afraid few work trips now probably means LOTS post baby and not sure I'll be up for that! Anyway have managed to get rid of him convince him I'm too tired for a bike ride and he should go by himself so have got maybe an hours peace....now where did I stash that chocolate?!

Morning all! Had my 29 week midwife appointment this morning, all good, heard strong heartbeat and am measuring spot on (NOT enormous as I keep being told!). Does anyone get weighed at their appointments? I did at the start but not since then, wondering if it depends on the area you live in? (as some other things seem to!)
I also asked about the possibility of the midwife I've been seeing being there when I have my baby, and she has offered that we can request caseload care as we live close enough to an area that offers it. Is this standard outside of London? Seems sensible to request it if we can I would think?

Cant I've never been weighed by the midwife, but I was at my consultant appointment. That was depressing. I'm not sure I really want to know my weight gain. I'm just so hungry all of the time!! I think having the midwife you've been seeing at the birth would be lovely because you've built up trust and familiarity. I'm having my baby in the unit I work with and I really hope it's one of the midwives I know and feel confortable with who delivers him. On the flip side there is one super cranky midwife that I think I would point blank refuse to see as he's always so rotten to me at work.

Welcome Crafty :)

Here the midwives do a year in the community then a year on the wards. To be honest I didn't even notice who my midwife was at DD's birth!

I was weighed at booking in and at the 12 week scan but haven't been since then.

Glad your appt went well cant. I was weighed at 12wk scan and I think last time I wasn't weighed again until I was admitted to labour ward. We also have different midwives working in community clinics and hospitals so the only way I would see 'my' midwife at birth was if I had a home birth and she happened to be on call and available. It's lovely if you can do it though.

Singing the praises of pregnancy yoga today. After doing some of the dvd yesterday for the first time in a week I had no heartburn/indigestion and my back didn't ache all night. Might be a coincidence. Really need to make an effort to do some every day.

What DVD are you using ODog? Would it be alright for a beginner? Even waking to the supermarket today was a bit of a struggle and I feel like I just need a good stretch.

It's the Tara lee pregnancy yoga one. It's says is suitable from beginner level. Well worth a go if you are feeling a bit stiff.

Hello! I haven't posted for ages (because I'm lazy & Facebook is easier) glad everyone is doing (mostly) well!

Can't believe people are thinking of childcare already, I'm completely head-in-the-sand about everything past the new-born stage haha, suppose we should probably look into what waiting lists etc are like in our area (hoping my husband's parents offer a day or two a week but will see...)

can'tbelieve re paternity leave He can get 2 months at full pay so tonight has suggested that I go back to work at that point and he stays home is that separate to shared parental leave? I was happily under the impression that the full 52 weeks could be shared so he could share the time that would be unpaid for me (once the paid SMP 39 weeks) runs out but HR told me last week that no, it's only the paid time off that counts - so I'd have to go back early if we wanted to do that :( If that's a seperate thing though amazing! I'll be going back on payroll mid Jan, but don't have to re-start work until mid Feb as I'll have accrued nearly a month's holiday when I'm off. We're going to be so poor by then (or, by about September...)

I'm finding asking for help to be VERY difficult. Spoke with the midwife this morning and she said there isn't any help available, but she'll talk with the social workers today to see if they can help at all, and I'm trying to get through to my HV team to see if they can help. But I'm also emailing my minister at church to ask him to pass on a request for help to the congregation. Writing that email is hard; it feels wrong that I can't look after my own house and children. We don't have family up here (mine's in NZ, DH's in the south of England) so can't get help from them. I'm feeling a bit useless at the moment. :/

The positive thing is that the MW said they do home visits when people can't get into the clinic so that's good. I need to go in for my 28 week visit because of the whooping cough jab but after that the MW can come to me.

I see my osteopath on Friday and will talk to her about whether getting crutches is a good idea. I can't use the NHS ones because of my shoulders so would need to buy some.

I'm also feeling really sad because this SPD is the final straw, confirming my thoughts that this will be my last pregnancy. DH and I wanted 4 children but I can't do this again.

Sorry for the Me Me Me post; I just wanted to get that all down.

Hope everyone is doing well.

Grouchy that sounds so rough. I hope you hey some help from church, in my experience people are pretty good. You deserve some help, you shouldn't feel bad for asking (although I understand as I'm rubbish at asking for help generally).

I think this will be my last pregnancy too, as much as I would love 3 (in all honesty I would love a huge family), but me and DH both agree that in our circumstances it's probably best to stop at 2. Not 100% decided yet though.

Had my last appointments here today. We leave here Saturday, hopefully I can register at a new GP next week.

Oh Grouchy, I wish I could give you an unmumnetty hug... or even better a bit of a hand. I'm also really rubbish at asking for help, but it's really brave to get over that and admit when you need a hand. Hopefully the minister at your church will come up with something. I think groups of people are generally happy to gather round and help others in difficult situations.

Are you moving gunshot? (sorry if you've already mentioned this, brain like a sieve).

I spent this afternoon arranging and rearranging the few baby bits I've bought. It's the only time I've ever enjoyed anything remotely connected to housework.

Well done for asking for help grouchy! Nobody will think it unreasonable that you need a bit of back-up, I'm sure! Hope some practical help is forthcoming from your RL community.

I'm feeling SO feckin exhausted tonight! DP was insistent that I leave work early and come home and chill out for a bit by which I think he means start cooking dinner which I actually managed to do tonight, but then he went AWOL on me after getting caught up in a meeting and he only got home at 8 (an hour and a half after me) by which time I had cooked for us - just finished eating and I need to go to sleep! No such thing as a nice evening together! and he hasn't even cleaned up the kitchen yet

Think maybe I'm extra tired because of doing 2nd round interviews for my maternity cover today which were a bit useless! First round was while I was on holiday and After who I met today I wondering about the calibre of those who DIDN'T get through the first round?!

Yeah, we move out on Saturday, into the new place Monday (staying with parents inbetween). I'm very overly sentimental generally and I think pregnancy hormones are making it worse, I'm so upset that this won't be our house anymore! We've been here 3 years (DH is in the army so we don't stay anywhere very long) and its the only home DD has ever known. I'm panicking about how she'll cope with moving and about making new friends. I'm sure it'll all be fine once we've moved, just have too much time to think about it all at the minute!

Sorry to hear you're having a tough time grouchy I hope you get the help you need.

Hope the move goes well gunshot

I've got the second interviews for my maternity cover tomorrow. I wasn't involved in the first round and it's now down to 2 candidates. One is internal and I don't think she's suitable so it'll be interesting to see what the external candidate is like.

Had out first NCT class last night which was good and we started decorating the nursery this weekend!

I don't blame you gunshot, moving is never easy! Are you completely moving areas too?

I'm sure you will get a great response from your church community grouchy. Let us know how you go.

Hope the move goes well gunshot. I don't envy you having to move though.

So pleased you enjoyed your nct class frozen. I love the circle of friends nct has given me. Is anyone else doing nct? I would love to do something similar this time around but I don't think I'll manage even the nhs antenatal classes as they are during the day and I'll have no child are for DS.

Currently enjoying a quiet coffee while DS naps after wearing himself out at toddler group this morning. Lovely!

Anyone got any tips for back ache/pain? I'm using a hot water bottle and trying to do some yoga but I'm finding myself having to take paracetamol at night just to take the edge off so I can sleep. I really don't want to keep on doing that (I didn't take any medication for my whole pregnancy with DS so I feel bad irrational I know )