August 2016 number 4 - bumps popping and scans happening, we actually have babies!

[PickleBot]

Looks like we've nearly filled the last thread, so here is a nice new one for you all!

My manager text me saying "the personnel manager suggested you may want to take 2 weeks before and then 3 weeks before your due date so you don't wear yourself out' they think I'm going to take my holiday until I pop and then maternity once the babies here. I'm not being funny but this has been such a hard pregnancy and I deserve a break before I have a new born on my hands. I'll take my holiday when I want.

So after a lot of umm-ing and ah-ing we have bought a Ford B-Max. Tbh, the slidey back doors were a key selling point.

Ooh all this talk about having the summer off is giving me ideas! Christine let the personnel manager suggest all they want, they can't stop you starting your mat leave before the due date! I'm not sure yet if I want to take lots of annual leave beforehand or save it up for after I go back, still waiting for word from HR on how much I can carry forward. Depends I think on whether I go back full time but ease back into it. Anyone come to conclusions yet about going back FT vs PT? At the moment I'm thinking probably PT as my commute means I'm out of the house long hours at the moment.

Midwife told me the other day I won't get my MAT1B until my 25 week appointment - thanks for the reminder (whoever that was) that the employer needs it at least 15 weeks before the due date!

For your leave: they can't deny you your leave so you will accrue it while you are on mat leave. You also get your bank holidays added on to your leave so if you are ft that's another 8 days although they can pay you for them. Other things to think of before you finish work: you are entitled to your child care vouchers from the day you give birth, not when you return to work. If you get statutory mat pay then they can't deduct them from that so you get them FOR FREE! You also get paid for any keeping in touch days you do.

wow, missed a lot in the last couple of days. Some lovely bump and baby pictures!

I couldnt get in for my scan next week when im 20wks, waiting till the next very impatiently!

As people are mentioning Mat leaves - can you start yours when you want?

My "family friendly" company only lets you/makes you start leave on the day you deliver im a planner through and through so deciding between running out of or wasting holiday days is annoying me. Wondered how others handle this or if its something I could challenge.

I'm pretty certain that you have to tell them 25 weeks before your due date when you plan to go on leave and give them at least a month's notice. But as far as I'm aware it's completely up to you when you go on leave and you can probably take them to an employment tribunal if they're insisting leave starts the day you deliver. There's a lot of protection for pregnant women, so definitely worth checking out.

bearhuggy I had a trace of protein in my urine at 16 weeks from the dipstick, but when they sent away a sample a couple of days later it was fine. could just be a UTI and they can give you antibiotics.

I don't think you have to tell them 25 weeks before your due date. You would only be 15 weeks!

Our HR policy is to notify by 25 weeks, i think this is pretty standard. MAT B1s are available from midwife after 20 weeks, if your appointment isn't until 24/28 weeks you can just ring and request it.
this time round I don't see my midwife until 28 weeks, so I'll be requesting it after my scan.

owlina yup, meant 15 weeks before (so at 25 weeks). Typing in my phone, so I'm surprised there's not more mistakes!

Oh that makes more sense! My son is only 2 but I've forgotten all this already.

Yep you need to let your company know in writing (mat b1 form) by the 25th week of your pregnancy of when your due date it. You can legally start your maternity leave from 29 weeks. You need to give your company a minimum 4 weeks notice of when you wish to start your leave but can change your mind at any point as long as you give them another 4 weeks notice of the date change.
If you are ill for ANY pregnancy related reason in the last 4 weeks of your pregnancy your employer can ask you to begin your maternity leave early.

Congrats on all the scans and bumps, and welcome to the new people!!

My 20-week scan is later this week, can't wait.

How's everyone feeling? I have been sooo well compared to the last few months - I have energy, nothing is uncomfortable, I can eat and drink without retching, yay all around! My skin is very dry and I'm going to have to sort out my ring finger which is very unhappy - took my rings off months ago but I seem to have developed an allergy/eczema. This is very minor in the grand scheme of things.

This weekend we have been painting baby furniture! We have repurposed an old chest of drawers into a changing table. I'll post a photo when it's finished.

As for work/mat leave, I can only dream of some of the arrangements some of you have mentioned... I run my own business so I'm going to have to be very flexible and pragmatic. I plan to take loosely 4-6 months off, but I will do a bit of work from home (if I manage!). Luckily DH is also self-employed, so hopefully between the 2 of us we will manage childcare until next spring-ish, and then see how it goes. I think I will be looking at some kind of home childcare arrangement where I get someone to come over and look after the baby as I work, and will enable me to have the baby nearby for breastfeeding etc. Trying not to overplan this as I have no idea how I'll actually feel once the baby is here!

Has anybody planned a break for before the babies are here? We've just booked a few days in the Canaries at the end of April. Last child-free holiday for a long time - I think reading a book on the beach might be a distant memory for the next few years! I was a bit nervous about going abroad because of the Zika virus, so we crossed a lot of places off the list - the Canaries seemed about the only safe, hot place for this time of the year. I've decided I'd rather not fly after 30 weeks - I'm sure it's fine but I might be huge, hot and bothered and not enjoy the holiday as much.

I hope everyone is having a lovely weekend

19+5

stranded we're going to Cornwall for a long weekend in a couple of weeks. I've wanted to go since I was little and it seemed like a good place to go for a final pre-baby break.

Got some weddings we're invited to in late May and mid June. Not sure whether I should cry off since they're over 300 miles away and I'm not sure I want to be doing all that travelling at 30+ weeks pregnant. Am I being sensible I should I go anyway?

hgl I'm going to a wedding at 30 weeks, it's a 4 hour drive each way, but really good friends so couldn't miss it. Not so sure about the hen party the week before though!

hg for me it would depend if you can stay at the venue, maybe travel down the day before and generally take it easy. Also it would depend on how close I am to the bride and groom.

Personally I'm planning to attend UK events until the end of June. July is definitely iffy - but luckily we don't seem to have anything so far! However I've said no to a wedding in Italy at the beginning of July - it's too close to the cut off date for flying and I feel I would be too hot and uncomfortable. And I don't really want to give birth in Italy - getting an epidural is really difficult and they don't use gas and air there. Ugh.

I'm planning on going to my cousin's wedding in mid July (I'll be about 37 weeks) it's about 6 hours drive away, but we'll split the journey in two with an overnight stay. Not going to make it to my other cousin's wedding though, which is at 40+10 and in the USA - have saved a small fortune by being unable to go!

I'm missing one of my oldest friends wedding on 30 July cos it will be the week before I'm due. I did, however, book flights for her hen in June when I'll be 33 weeks. I'm Irish living in the UK so will mean a flight back to Dublin. Am I mad? Part of me thinks I am but another part of me thinks it'll be fine. I guess I'll just have to see how I am closer to the time.

I'm going to see Beyonce at 35 weeks I'm in the seating area and my sister will be driving us though, so hopefully will be fine!

I'm also going to one of my best friend's weddings in May. Will be a really sedate though as she has a toddler and our other best friend has a 6 month old. I've booked an Air BnB that's walking distance from the venue and train station so should be lovely. Might have to miss the walk and pub lunch the next day though (or just meet them for the pub lunch!)

I think having fun plans to look forward to is helping me get through the tougher bits of being pregnant! I think as long as people know we may need to take it easy then it's ok to make plans.

No holidays, but I'm going to Isle of Wight festival at 32 weeks! Can't bloody wait there's me, DD, my dad, his gf, and my brother all going so will have lots of help with DD. We'll have moved house by then too, which cuts my journey time from about 5 hours to

Ooohhh Coco! Team yellow here but I'm secretly convinced it's a boy!

Exciting to hear all the holiday plans! Not sure if we'll get away. We are tied to school holidays and can't do May, so only end of July really! Hoping to get a mini break somewhere by the seaside end of July, not due till 18th Aug so should be OK. Is iow festival a good child friendly one glenco? Me and dh always used to go to Leeds but that's really not child friendly! Would love to do a festival this year, but not sure about ds, he's only 2.

Owl I've never been to IoW before but as far as I know it's a good all-rounder, got something for everyone. DD is happy as long as she's out and about, and loves music, so I reckon she'll love it! I've been dying to take her to a music festival since she was a tiny tot; as it is, she'll be almost 4 when we go and I think it'll be much easier than if I'd attempted it earlier. Festivals are great for kids IMO - freedom, music, playing around in mud/outside - it's their perfect environment! We are staying in a chalet a little bit off the main site though, am not brave enough to camp. I love music festivals, my last time was Reading 2011 (when I got back together with DH!) so it's been a while. Definitely want to check out some of the specifically family-friendly ones over the next couple of years too, heard brilliant things about Bestival.

We usually go camping with my sisters and all the cousins every year, but have had to cancel this year as it is the week before I'm due, luckily they are still taking my older 2, so they'll still get their holiday with their cousins which is nice, and I'll get a bit of a break. We're going to book a week at center Parcs for October half term instead for our main holiday-really looking forward to that, baby will be almost 3 months I think.

In other news ds has chicken pox, so quiet week for us! Scan on Thursday and dh's 40th bday on Friday-hope the spots have scabbed over by then as we've a big meal out planned Friday night!

Just got the results from the hospital trip on Wednesday and the urine sample showed nothing to worry about. How odd. Uh a little get away would be lovely! The OH is going away for the weekend in May for his friends birthday so that's a holiday for me in itself! Maybe il look into something for the same time.