Thread #6 - TTC#1 Grads - Sun roasted pregnant ladies

[PotatosMum]

Summers here and bumps are busy growing. Scans photos are coming thick and fast and team pink and blue are rampining up their numbers.

We have new grads furiously POAS, second trimesters eager for their bumps and veterans about to embark on trimester 3 and contemplating baby size with mild terror apprehension.

The weathers to hot for comfort and our pregnancy aches, pains and symptoms are getting on our tits literally in some cases !!

All are welcome to TTC#1 grads thread #6

Welcome ni and congratulations! Yes, I am Team Pink!

Shelb, I've had sickness on and off agin over the last few weeks, but not as bad as the earlier stages of morning sickness.

I'm using bio oil. I tried Palmers oil it wasn't really a fan.

Does anyone else wait ages when they go for midwife appointments? I've never waited less than 40 minutes, despite halving morning appointments. We are cracking on for 45 minutes this morning. I know they are busy but I've got loads of work on and could do without such a long wait today

Bunch insomnia sucks! I'm finding the warmer weather is really making it a lot harder to sleep.

Yep, we've tried all the alternatives with the mortgage advisor. We've all racked our brains but there's just no other options open to us.

Shelb I'm still on the fence about work. I'm going to see how I feel on Friday.
I hope you managed not to vomit on the bad breath breather

Planet all of those stories about fabulous skin and feeling great are lies devised to make you think pregnancy won't suck!!!

Pink midwife appointments here are usually ok but every other appointment is a nightmare!

Cancelled today's appointment only to be told I can't get another one until 25/05 I have asked for a call back to see if I can get squeezed in but haven't heard anything yet. I think I'm due another round of bloods as well and I'm worried that I'll fall through the cracks.
Why is it that Dr receptionists don't seem to appreciate that midwife appointments etc. have to happen at certain times? I really hate the receptionists at my surgery, they make life so hard. I can't wait to move to my new one which should be quieter as it's not central town.

Sorry youre not having much luck potato, hopefully your appointment goes better today.

My skin is actually really clear at the moment when it's usually a bit patchy, but nobody would ever comment or notice because the bags under my eyes counteract it!!

I use Palmers stretch mark cream.

And my midwife appointments are usually on time, but the hospital ones and scans are always about an hour late!

pink our midwife appointments at the doctors are always at least half an hour late.

I'm finding polo mints are really helping with nausea

Hi ni!!! Congratulations! Welcome to the long road of suffering

Congrats and welcome Ni!

Have any of you started thinking about how long you'll take off for maternity leave yet?

I waited 50 minutes in the end. On the plus side, baby is measuring bang on for my stage and I have my Mat B1 form.

I asked about the whooping cough vaccine and she said they won't give it here until 28 weeks.

I'm planning on 9 months off but OH has recently been made redundant so will depend on the job situation.

Oh no sorry to hear about your OH job pink.

I'm in between taking 10 months, or just taking the full year- just got to work out finances

Danni I'm taking 39 weeks plus 4 weeks holiday up front. I can take 52 weeks but I can't really afford to as the last 13 weeks are unpaid

Pink that sucks about OHs job, hopefully he'll find something new before you go on Mat leave.

So, today's mortgage meeting was a bit more positive. We have a decision in principal from the expensive mortgage company and should have a firm contractual offer within 4 working days. I'm feeling a little less stressed although I don't think I'll feel entirely safe until I have the contract in my hands. OH is still recalling cross and upset about what a big difference it will make to our finances especially with Potato arriving.
It does annoy me that for the first couple of years of her life Potato will only be able to have the essentials. At least the DSCs have their mum to buy them things. I'm under no illusions that Potato will care as she will be a baby/toddler but I will care when she can't have nice things because someone else was greedy. Grrr

Glad today's meeting was more positive Potato.

A while ago someone posted a link to whooping cough guidance. I can't find it - can you re post it? My surgery are saying you have to be AFTER 28 weeks to have the jab, and I shouldn't really have it on the day that I will turn 28 weeks

Hi everyone....hope you're all doing ok! Have no hope in catching up, so will just 'pop in' when I can...I am 26+6 today and starting to lose the energy that I had as I get progressively bigger! Sleeping is getting hard too (and I don't do well in the heat).

Hi Ni!!!! And congrats on the BFP :)

Cracking on with nursery/baby purchases! I've been quiet as we have quite a bit to get sorted still....we are going to a NCT Nearly New Sale this weekend, hopefully pick up some bargains there too.

I'd be interested to know the latest on the whooping cough vaccine as well...have the NHS guidelines altered?

Potato that's really positive. As you said potato won't know any different but of course you will.

Danni I'm taking 39 weeks but it's all just SMP as I'm self employed. I officially go on maternity leave on the 1st June. Then hopefully back to work beginning of March if the industry has recovered enough to give me work. If not I'm looking at retraining

I'm taking 9 months maternity and hopefully 3 weeks holiday so I finish in September! I get full pay for 5 months then smp for 4 months.

potato that's really good news about the mortgage. Maybe baby potato won't have as much as you'd like her to have straight away, but in a few years when it will mean more to her, you can spoil her the way you'd like

Pink I can't remember who posted the guidance either but it's definitely just changed to you can have it as soon as you've had your 20 week scan.

Bunch I'm hoping to finish retraining and start my own company before going back to work I'm a bit worried about it but if I succeed and do well I might be able to work for myself full time which will mean no childcare and no making myself socially acceptable for the office

Speaking of work, I've told my boss I'm going back next week, we've agreed that I'll work every other day from home so I'm not straining myself sitting at a desk on consecutive days.

Oh, and to add insult to injury, I think I've strained my wrist because I'm so heavy and awkward that I have to lift myself out of chairs etc.

I've only seen a midwife once (booking in) and it was on time and she was lovely. Since then I've seen a consultant and have never waited less than an hour - last time was over 2 hours!

Good news on everything measuring right pink. Sorry about OH job, is there anything in the pipeline for him?

I'm planning on taking 9 months and then DH really wants to take the final 3 months. That's the plan for now anyway!

Good news about mortgage offer potato

Soda - There are a few opportunities but the industry has taken a downturn so there isn't loads around. Fingers crossed for something soon though.

Full pay for 5 months is good Miley! Ours is 3 months full, 3 months half and then statutory for 3 months. I'd love to take a full year but with a wedding to pay for as well, that's definitely not going to happen!

Has anyone been for a tour of their hospital yet?

I'm taking 10 months, on smp, going to be tight!

Sounds promising about mortgage potato.

Well after giving it the big guns about no constipation I am now BLOCKED!

also just realised I've only got four vegetable types left till baby - I remember the poppy seed stage!

Xx

pink I've had several unplanned tours of ours! Yeah the maternity is brilliant, only issue om having is that now I'm back at work I have to do a desk job as I'm banished from the labs and my god it's so boring! Hope your OH finds a new job soon! I know you live close by so if you want to, feel free to message me with the industry he is in and I'll keep an eye/ear out for you

I'm taking a full year then going back 60%. Had decided this from way before I even got pregnant but I feel even more certain that's what I want now.

bunch I hadn't realised you were self employed, am I right in thinking you do something super clever involving oil? What would you retrain to do?

Yay Ni!

I can't wait to see my midwife; I'll take a book to deal with the wait

I have a pretty decent job, but not sure I can afford to take more than the 6 weeks at 90% pay, plus 6 weeks-ish of holiday allowance. SMP won't be enough for me to live off.. I'm super jealous of your maternity package Miley! I'm hoping my mum will come and stay with us for a few months to make it easier - she's getting frail, but I work from home so might be a good solution. If we go ahead with a new home it's probably going to be tight for a year or so. OH has started putting some of his salary aside to help, but I fear we'll need this for moving expenses!

Glad you're getting there with the mortgage Potato. It's so bloody stressful! Hope the wrist isn't a sprain.

Poppy seed stage is taking forever Shelb! I can't wait until I'm in an obvious-to-the-outside-world pregnancy!

Had my midwife booking in today too! No wait but he appointment was around an hour long. Green pathway low risk. She was keen for me to consider home birth! Was fairly shocked thought I would just get nagged about my weight she didn't pay undue attention. It was great, I was really worried but it was also just really relaxed and informative. I'm hoping Saturday scan will set my mind at ease enough to start getting excited.

Oh also I'm planning a year or 9 months maternity leave we haven't fully decided!

I'm being a SAHM, my body's never going to recover enough to go back to work and I wouldn't want to now. I'm going to do a seamstress course and get making/selling again. It's been a while since I did anything like it so I need a refresher!

Danni I'm due at the end of September. I plan to take two weeks holiday at 37 weeks then start maternity leave at 39 weeks. I get 13 weeks at full pay then SMP for 26 weeks -- then nothing. I plan to go back around 1 May, hopefully 4 days a week. DH will also take some time as SPL - probably a month. I don't think we'd manage on one salary, especially if I can go back part time. Trying to save the rest of my holiday to tag on at the end of mat leave.

canters you remember correctly, both DrWhy and I are in the same line of work. Super small world.
I've thought about teaching and also midwifery, DH is trying to get me to go into a children's clothing business ... I've only Mae a few pairs of trousers But I'd prefer to continue in my current field as I love it. I look at teeny tiny fossils down a microscope. I miss it already.

I'm planning on taking 4 weeks annual leave from near the start of September and officially start maternity leave on my due date. I only get smp from the beginning so want to start it as late as possible!

I'll probably go back partway through August next year (giving dh about 3 weeks or so on his own with the baby while he's on summer hols - teacher) and then it'll probably be in full time nursery.

Planning at the moment to go back full time as I'd struggle to cut hours and still do my job, but will see how I feel at the time.