Due in April 2007 - Men Beware ....... !!?

[CaptainDippy]

I got there 1st!

Tee! Hee!

How are we all? I've been trying to get online all day, but computer is playing up - Grrrr!

Anyway, better late than never .....

Would love to give my opinion of the unmentionable but fear what i have to say is why she has become unmentionable so i will keep schtum!

Dooby, tears of laughter at the vision of your lovely dog having to be guarded from the local studs! Would have been quite hilarious had the dog started on your coffee mate!

My best friend when I was a child had a dog called Max, who was a nutter. I remember kneeling down at the video machine and he started trying to hump me! GROSS!

Runny, grrrrrr at your boss. Does he not realise how difficult it is to get these appointments, let alone change them.
I only work 3 days a week, and the 2 scans I have had have both fallen on a day that I work. My boss wouldn't dream of asking me to change it to another day. And he is a man!
Can you speak to your HR department?

Bloody hell girls 53 messages already!! You lot talk too much

Have written notes this evening.

The lying on your back thing is strange. When I go to bed I normally lie on my back to read for a while then try to turn onto my side to settle down to sleep. I say try cos that's when the SPD/Hip pain starts and I often find I cannot move without severe pain and or huge clunking noises from my Sacro-iliac. Strange thing is that I often wake in the night/morning lying on my back and can move without too much problem I don't understand.

Regarding SPD Runnyhabbit glad you went and got the crutches. Remember to use them as well and take them with you cos you don't know when you will need them. I find that with the belt thing. I always want/need it when I'm already out and haven't got it with me. Dooby also agree that driving makes it worse. Mine got loads better over Christmas when I didn't really drive and was resting well but as soon as I started driving again it's got worse.

I've got a whole library of books from my first pg which I haven't read at all this time. The only pg books i've read this time are the Best Friends Guides which are great definitely some things only your best friend would tell you or something your good mumsnet friends would tell you

Liath Can't beleive you went on a trampoline Even if I went to the toilet 5 times before hand I'd still wet myself once I got on there I've been leaking for ages when I sneeze etc and still keep forgetting to do my pelvic floors. Really we need every other post on here to be a reminder to do them!!

1becomes3 good luck with the scan tomorrow. Hope your lovely consultant will confirm the sexes for you.

Pesha try not to worry about the scan next week. I know it's easier said than done, but worrying won't change anything. Like I can talk it doesn't stop me worrying but that's what DH always says to me.

Still forgot something.

Runnyhabbit your boss is a bit off. You are entitled to take antenatal appointments off even if you work part time. I'd just tell him that's the only appointment you could get. Mind you my boss is very understanding -bearing in mind he's my husband Take today for example I finished my work so went home 2hrs earlyand I only work 2 days a week anyway.

However, there are downsides. I'm going to be expected to be back at work quite quickly afterwards and don't have an official Maternity leave date. It will just be before my c-section. I'll probably end up working the day before. Still it's great having flexibilty and knowing I'll be paid even if I take time off.

Wow loads from me tonight. Hope I haven't bored you all.

RH - You don't have to give a return to work date at this point. You need to give a certain amount of notice when you do plan to go back though. Can't remember how long it is, but think it has been increased by the new legislation.

Also if it's a small employer which it sounds like it is. He will be able to claim all you SMP back plus some on top. Can't remember how much, but I've been looking into it for our work as I do the payroll.

this is so not fair, was just thinking there was loads to catch up on with other thread, then saw there's a new one too! and i was only on at lunchtime

on the pram/pushchairs front, i forgot i also have 2 double pushchairs awaiting use, so that makes my total much higher!
In my defence they have almost all been second-hand and i've never been a handbags or shoes girl so i guess pushchairs are my thing!

I started with a proper pram, once my ex decided he would be involved with his child he didn't want to be pushing some girlie pram so bought a brand new chicco, i saw a gracco at a boot sale for £5 so had that, then found a gracco 3-wheeler on ebay very cheap so had that but it had a fixed wheel which was a bloody nightmare so got one with a swivel wheel instead, then decided i needed something smaller as he got bigger so bought another, not sure what it is tho, then saw a mothercare jive which i'd always wanted, for £5 so bought that!
currently have in my possesion one swivel wheel 3 wheeler, one stroller, the chicco pushchair, the jive, and 2 double pushchairs, and my gran has the original pram!

writing it down has shocked me, i am so bad!!!!! watch out for the postings asking if anyone wants a pushchair!!!!

oh, and forgot the quinny buuzz i've had since easter

Am I the odd one out?

I don't have any craving at all for chocolate (I've never really had a sweet tooth) did lol at Katy though

and I only have one pushchair, which ds has used from day 1......

Thanks Ange x think he might have a heart attack if I told him I wanted 9 months off! Best I leave that bit open ended for now then break it to him gently....

Too tired to read all posts I'm afraid, but just wanted to say all the best for tomorrow 1B3 - Come and tell us all how it went asap afterwards. I'm sure it'll be fine and it will be soooo exciting to see your wee bubbas again!

Told you I was right about the mudguards, didn't I hotlips!! glad you like!!

Gotta go to bed - exhausted .......

runny i am a temp covering mat leave and had to look it all up so my boss knew what to ask from the girl i'm covering for! at the mo you have to confirm within one month of the end of your standard leave (so after 8 months) when you will be returning, or give one months notice if you plan to return early.

you girls just have to look at this, have been ROFL
the lighter side of childbirth!

Runny, you don't need to let them know when you are coming back from mat leave yet. Most people (maybe that is a generalisation) take the full amount of leave, ie in our case 39 weeks as we are due on or after 1st April. So, you would count on 39 weeks from the date you leave to work out what your return date would be. If you wanted to come back before the end of your leave period, then you would need to give your employer 28 days notice, in writing.

I think you might have to print him off the DTI Guidelines or the ACAS Guidelines, as it will say in there about time off for appointments as well.

If you need anything else, give me a shout and I'll do my best.

Hope everyone is ok today. Dh is having to get up really early (well, early in my book!) becasue his journey to work is taking an age due to roadworks! Such a pain in the arse, as Becky is waking up early too, and not always in the best of moods. Grrrrrrr to roadworks!!

Right, need to shift my butt.

See you later. x

Morning everyone
I developed a sore throat last night and it's so uncomfortable. I got my usual antiseptic throat lozenges out only to find they say to consult your doctor/pharmacist before taking them if you're pregnant. Don't think I'd get a doctors appt, and think the pharmacist would look at me blankly and then say don't take them if the box says not to
Any ideas what I should do? I ended up going to bed last night with a cup of ice cubes to suck!
Can I just check - I thought we were entitles to 52 weeks leave? (3 months unpaid) Or is that just where I work? I thought they would assume you won't be back before the 52 weeks unless told otherwise?

Thats right Katy- 52 weeks with the last 3 months unpaid. And from 1 April next year- 1 whole year off paid!!!

As for the lozenges- I dont know why you shouldnt- but when I had rotten cold I presumed its better to be safe than sorry. And my doctor would laugh if I booked an appointment to ask abouut throat sweets!

Have you tried hot honey & lemon juice? Its very slightly better than nothing...

Warning to you all - be careful when using Sanctuary body lotion!!! I had a massive allergic reaction to it yesterday- was like I'd rubbed myself with deepheat!!! No warnings on bottle about not using when pg, but I was honestly terrified- it took 4 hours to wear off!

I think you're right glitterkitty, better safe than sorry, and I'm actually feeling a bit better now I've had a drink so might just try the hot lemon drink you suggest without the honey, as we don't have any - do you think chocolate spread would do
Your allergic reaction sounds terrifying! Was it a burning sensation?

Haven't had chance to read yet - BirdieBump - I will still be there - please call me on my mobile if you aren't going to make it - otherwise will be sat there on own zero triple seven one, double eight four, seven three one

Have camera!

Hi Katy, yes, I went brilliant red and felt like I was burning all over- I was horrified- had rubbed it on my bump & everything!

The baby started kicking like mad- probably because I was so stressed. Have emailed Sanctuary to let them know.

Oh that's horrible. Can't believe it lasted 4 hours!
Is that the Spa Sanctuary stuff at Boots? Or is it another range?

My lemony drink looks and smells awful, but tastes quite nice, and I think it's helping

yeah, the classic body lotion you can get in boots. . love sanctuary stuff usually too! Had to eat nearly whole coffee cake to calm myself down afterwards

hope all of you who can make the meet have a lovely time - cant wait to see the pics of the bumps meeting for the first time!!

it snowed in glasgow last night. this morning it slushed!

Snow- lovely! (ok- slush maybe not so lovely). London is grey and rainy and dismal. I'd rather have snow- preferably enough to stop the trains from running. For about 6 weeks.

Sorry peeps, You are quite right. We are entitled to take 1 year off, although only 39 weeks of it is paid. So, if you plan to return before the full year is up, then you would need to give 28 days notice.

Sorry, I just keep thinking about the paid portion only!!

Hope you enjoy the meet-up today, which I assume will be inside somewhere! The weather is pants here too - heavy rain and grey.