April 2017 #5 - second trimester! Less feeling crap, more feeling kicks

[Celen]

For all those lovelies expecting babies around April 2017

Thanks monkey I'm going to try and call my MW today. It's not horrendous at the moment but don't want it to get worse.

abe that sounds awful! I hope you get well soon.

Have a nice time at your work do everdene... I think it's good to treat yourself to having things done like your nails etc!

4 more days of school... I'm basically counting down the minutes now!!

Hello everyone, haven't been on for a while. Hope abe and jpeg are feeling better. I suffered badly with ligament pain and back pain last time and can feel it starting to come on again - aquanatal seems to be helping me a bit if that's something you can do jpeg? Was also doing Pilates but struggling to get to two classes a week.

Had my 20 week scan last week and all seems to be well, and resisted temptation to find out the sex. I think the scan picture looks exactly the same as my two boys did though!

Counting down to finishing work for Christmas now as I've had a horrible cold for two weeks and am shattered! Then finishing work at end of Jan, so the end is definitely in sight.

Urgh sorry to hear GP was useless Jpeg it's so frustrating when they are like that. Hopefully MW has been more helpful today? I would want to try and get it dealt with sooner rather than later too to stop it getting worse if possible. So exciting that school is nearly finished for Chrsitmas for you"!

Sorry to hear you've been so poorly abe that sounds grim!

Hope you enjoy your work Christmas do everdene even without the drink...that'll be me tomorrow night! Sounds like a good plan having your nails done, we definitely need little treats like that now and then to perk us up! I'm glad I'm not having to find anything fancy to fit into tomorrow night as we are all wearing Christmas jumpers so will just chuck that on with my jeans probably! I did get a cute maternity one though!!

Mammy I was told the same at my 20 week scan, also being re-scanned at 32 weeks. It's my first so don't have any helpful insight to provide though I'm afraid! Just hopeful mine does move up. I think it is relatively common for them to move between 20 and 32 weeks from what I was told.

I think this discussion has been had on here previously, but wondering at what point people are finishing work? I haven't had to give my work a date yet but want to get one sorted. It's my first and obviously I want as much time off after as possible but also trying to be realistic (and want ideally some time before hand to relax/get organised!)

Also, have people had their MAT1B forms yet? I'm guessing we get this at 25 weeks MW appointment?

I have put in for my leave from 13th Mar with due date of 7th Apr. The 39 weeks takes me to early to mid Dec & then I can add a little annual leave on the end & go back to work at the beginning of Jan.

Hi everyone. I'm more of a lurker and don't post much, but I read all the posts on here and keep up to date on everyone's progress.

Marmite my midwife said I'd be getting my MATB1 at the 25 week MW appointment. I can't decide what to do about maternity leave. I'd like to have more time off when the baby arrives, so I'm going to try and stay on in work until as close to my due date as I can. I don't know how I'll be feeling closer to the time though.

How do you all feel about the flu and whooping cough vaccines? I really don't like needles and I just don't see the benefit of having them. My due date is 30th April, so I'll have a spring baby. Is the risk of the baby catching flu of WC minimal? I'm torn and feel guilty at times. Am I being selfish? Do you think I should just 'man up and have them?

I think I said this earlier. But DH is a medic/scientist who has worked on the flu vaccine. Please please please get it. Most people don't die from the flu. But pregnant women are particularly vulnerable.

I got my form from my GP. I am on sick leave of course (because of my repeat hospitalisation) till I got on mat leave whenever that may be.

Thanks Luchi. I think I'll just go and get the vaccines. It's the right thing to do. I just needed a kick up the bum.
I've been reading your updates with earnest Luchi - I really hope you're okay and I hope you don't have to go in to hospital for such a long stay

I think MAT1B is given at 25 week app,.. my work haven't asked for it yet or even done a risk assessment!

I'm hoping to make it to the Easter holidays so that my maternity leave doesn't start until the baby is born. But that's only 11 days before my due date!!! Then I'll try to stay off until mid december but depends if we run out of money!

knitting I'm going to try aquanatal but is always at a time I can't do! I do pilates and I'm forcing myself to go swimming tonight! I have sat down at work as much as possible today and I do feel better. The kids will just have to come to my desk from now on!

Thanks. I am being as positive as I can. I don't mind a long hospital stay if it means that this is what is safest for me and baby.
The husband and I also had a much needed chat about what happens if the outcome of this is not what we want. It was good to vocalise it and talk it through and I think we have both been at peace, somewhat, since then.

luchi you poor thing it sounds so stressful. You have an amazing attitude to it all though.

I'm finishing work at 29 weeks this time ( finished at 37 weeks with ds1 and 33 weeks with ds2). I really suffer with back and ligament pain in the third trimester and am planning to take at least 15 months off (maybe longer) so finishing as early as possible. So have not many days left at work at all! Have a rather large list of things I want to get done before dc3 arrives already.

Cath my husband caught WC in January 2013 and I'd definitely not want it in pregnancy or otherwise. For a few days he couldn't move/cough without being unsteady and physically sick and it took about 3 months for him to feel back to normal. Your baby won't be immunised for a couple of months either so it's really important that you pass that protection to keep them safe.

My arm ached for a few days after the shot but I'd have that in comparison any day.

Thanks guys, my due date is 14th April (Easter Friday!) and id initially thought of finishing at 38 weeks on 31st March but I think putting it back a week to 37 weeks and finishing on 24th March might be more sensible?!

Jpeg my work haven't done a risk assessment either, they're so lax! Hope you enjoyed your swim. I went for walk after work but got absolutely drenched, grim weather

Glad that your and your OH had a good chat about things Luchi and that it's given you a little bit of peace

When are we supposed to book whooping cough vaccine?

Marmite from 20 weeks. I had an invite from both my doctors and the hospital!

Hi All,

Luchi - I hope you're doing ok. It must be very tough on you all. Fingers crossed you don't have another bleed.

I'm due on 9 April and am hoping to work until 24 March. I'm taking a week of annual leave with mat leave starting 3 April.

I'm getting confused about the rules for mat leave. Does anyone know if we have to tell our employer when we expect to return or do they have to assume you take a year and you just give them two months notice when you want return?

My boss is putting a bit of pressure on me to say what I'm doing. I'm thinking of doing shared parental leave with my husband and might take 6 months leave myself and then my husband take 3 months. But, when baby arrives we might decide it's best for me to take it all. We just don't know.

My boss is getting mat cover and has said that it will be difficult for me to come back early as there will be someone in my job and so there won't be a job for me. That's not right, surely?

Thanks Cajun. I've not heard anything - yet another example of inconsistency in the care from area to area I guess! Another thing to add to the list for 25 week appt with MW then. It seems crazy that I've not seen a MW since 12 weeks!

Did other people get the Bounty Pregnancy Information Pack from their MWs at some point as well out of interest? I've never had this, not all that fussed but you get the voucher to collect the Mum to Be pack in it which I would quite like to get and apparently it comes with quite a good folder to keep everything in!

I'm not sure about the rules on ML i'm afraid Kittycat. My manager has been the opposite - totally lax. I'd actually quite like someone to sit down and discuss it all with me!

In other news, we put our christmas tree up last night accompanied by Ikea alcohol free gluwein - not too bad! I tried some alco-free gluwein at the Christmas Markets which basically just tasted like hot juice but this had a decent amount of cinnamon and spice in it which at least made it seem like something other than ribena!

Hi top kitty a few years ago I managed several women through pregnancy and mat leave. I know our policy was that the woman had to give notice of when she wanted to go at 25 weeks and we were not allowed to ask her plans. The organisation made the presumption that she would take a year and write to her 3 months before the end of the year to give her information about a flexible working application. I'm pretty sure that it was law because I work in a very male dominated non family friendly field where we do nothing for women that we don't have to. Now I'm pregnant and 25 weeks next week and my manager hasn't done any of the things that policy said he should have 😖. I'm recording each policy breach should they cause any problems when I want to return. Good luck.

Luchni Really sorry to hear about your bleeds, but so pleased you're in the safest possible hands now. In my previous pregnancy, although I didn't have any bleeds leading up to my delivery, if they had found my Vasa Previa prior to my waters breaking, I would have been hospitalised early on and would have had an early planned C-Section. Please do try to stay positive. It sounds like you and your DP had a very important and brave conversation the other day. I'm sure at times you feel like you're a ticking time bomb, but you can get through this!

Another thumbs up for the WC and Flu jabs here! I had Whooping cough about 10 years ago. Worst thing EVER! I wouldn't ever want to see a baby go through that, let alone my own!

Had a positive Cervical Lengh scan over here last week. at 21 weeks with DS I was at 2.5cm at 21 weeks this time I'm at 3.9cm! Yay for a stronger cervix!

I finish work for Christmas on Friday! Can. Not.Wait!

marmite 24th march sounds amazing!! If I could I would definitely leave then! My swim was lovely thanks, definitely harder than it was a few weeks ago! I've gone from 50 easy Lengths to 30 very challenging ones!!

Topkitty as far as I'm aware they can't ask you when you're coming back. I have said I may come back at xmas just as an idea but then said it could be the whole year. I'm assuming they will hire someone for the whole year? They definitely shouldn't put pressure on you! And you are entitled to come back to the job you left whenever you want!

Congrats on the strong cervix puggle!

luchi hope you're doing ok.

Congratulations on your cervix puggle! I had mine measured too as I'd had the end removed, luckily it was 38mm so pretty strong!

My Christmas do was OK, could've done with a biiiiig glass of red though, but I was very smug today without a hangover.

The form from my work asks me when my leave will be starting and when I'm planning on coming back. How can they arrange maternity cover if they don't know whether it's 2 months or a year?

I do have the option to change my return date but I've got to give a certain amount of notice.

Our work presume a year, but ask if you have any view when you apply (at 25w). I'mm be taking 11m, with DH taking the remaining 5w plus his 2w pat leave. His company's package is much more generous than the NHS's so it makes sense for me to lose the few weeks. Also makes sense for me to return at the start of a rotation, rather than four weeks into it.

Definitely go for the whooping cough vaccine! I've cared for tiny babies with it and it is terrifying, even for an experienced intensive care team. You just can't stop the coughing.

Glad to hear your cervix is behaving, Puggle, another reassuring thing. My fortnightly scans have started, all looking well so far, no fetal anaemia and normal cord insertion (DS was velamentous, which while not the cause of his death was a contributor to his small size).

I've been offline for a little while but all is well with us. I've tried to catch up on the last few pages.
Puggle and chat. My heart goes to you both. You both seem so strong now to be able to confined in us all.
Luchi. I hope you don't end up with a hospital stay but if you then at least you know that you are in the best place.

In.regards to workplace rights, I work in HR and you can be asked to give an estimate of when you are going to return but there should never be a pressure to return early or leave. We have a protected characteristic. If your employer is concerned for the person who will be covering you then they should be advertising the post as "maternity cover" and then the person they employ understands that they will go once you return.
If you haven't had a risk assessment yet then contact your HR team or health & safety team.

On another note, we had our 20 week scan and all seemed well. We think we are team pink again but baby was laid in a very awkward position. I think it was doing yoga in there. I do have to go back for another scan at 28 weeks (due to raised bmi, new process apparently) so we will ask again then.
Other than being absolutely boiling and starting to feel heavy things seem hunky dory here 😊
I have attached a picture of our funny posed bundle of fun.

Yes definitely have the whooping cough vaccine - as Chat says it's not about the risk of you catching it, it's about the fact you're protecting the baby from birth. If you're planning to immunise your baby then this is one you have to take on their behalf!

you can have the whooping cough jab quite late - whereas you should have the flu jab asap as it's about protecting you whilst you're pregnant.

Thanks for the feedback ladies. That's reassuring to know.

That's a funny picture Super - looks like baby has been doing acrobatics.

Puggle - good news on your cervix scan. That must be reassuring.