February 2019 part 4

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New thread ladies... not long until the first 12 week scans.... mines a week tomorrow!

@welshweasel oh so jealous!! I nearly had a breakdown going back to work I was so tired. I'm hoping that this time I'll be a bit more relaxed about it all and will definitely sleep train earlier and introduce / try bottles earlier too although I intend to breastfeed (mostly so I don't need to get up in the middle of the night 😂)

I get 3 months full, 3 months half and then statutory for up to 6 months. It had occurred to me that DH could take 3 months of it as statutory but he said he doesn’t think he place would allow that, which doesn’t sound right. I also have about four weeks hol to take. Haven’t thought about dates too much as it feels too early before I have had my scan to say everything is ok...

How did you get on in hospital @AliceRR?

Second "12 week" scan is tomorrow as first I was too early at 10.5 weeks so should hopefully be able to tell work properly next week only my line manager knows at the moment.

I'm also quite lucky and get 6 months full paid followed by 3 months stat and last 3 unpaid. We are planning on shared leave with DH taking over at 8 months. He is then taking a career break for a year to be a sahd. His work is very flexible and he can take 2 years off and they will hold his job. He's really excited about it!

That sounds great @twiglet! What a fab company he must work for!

I've just noticed to my horror that my stomach seems to have fine hairs growing on it!! Is this a pregnancy thing? Pls tell me it's not just me!

@jeanzbeanz - defo a prego thing. With my first I had a big hairy (not thick lol) line down my stomach. It went don't worry lol x

twiet that's amazing! Lovely to hear of more dads taking shared leave.

welshweasel my DS was (and still is at 2.5) a dream sleeper, must be something in the Welsh air he was sleeping through at 8 weeks. I don't know what I'll do if I don't get another good sleeper! Be very, very tired.

jeanzbeanz not just you. Tweezers at the ready.

@since2016 I think I have lots of plans/ hopes that need mixed bottle and bf, even if it's expressed milk. I really hope that it's possible as DH is much better at early mornings than I am.

I think I'm going to have 9 months as I only get statutory leave and I'm the bigger earner at the moment. Might be able to go and do some weekend work before I go back to my normal 3/4 days. I get 6 weeks annual leave. Probably will try and go off mid January for 6th February due date and leave my accrued leave for the end.

@AliceRR how did you get on at the hospital? Hope all is ok x

@emalady it's completely possible. Make sure to get lots of support early on and take all the advice you can get from the professionals (breastfeeding support workers) and see if the midwives can recommend a local breastfeeding group. They're basically just coffee mornings with specialists on hand to help of needed! But so nice to mix with other mums and get tips from them about expressing and bf!

I get 6 weeks full then 12 weeks half pay whereas OH gets 6 months full pay, so I'll probably be going back to work after 4.5 months and OH will take over for 6 weeks, then I might go off again for 3 months (depends on a nursery place being available or not). So I'm really hoping that little one can cope with a mix of BF and bottle asap! Not only for going back to work, but also because I value my sleep.

@emalady I second what @DragonFlew said. Just take all the advice. Nct breastfeeding support is excellent too. We really struggled at the beginning as she was in NICU and tube fed but given everything else had gone wrong I was determined to make it work! Got some amazing support in the hospital (partly why I'm going back). If you're going to express I'd recommend getting a cheap hand pump first - it was fine for me although I also used the hospital pump which was amazing. I know quite a few people who spent a fortune on pumps and then didn't / couldn't use them.

In my experience - bf isn't easy for everyone. It certainly wasn't for me and requires a lot of persevering. Baby and you are learning a new skill. Totally worth it though.

Oh and also re the groups - so nice to have other mums for moral support in public feeding. I remember flashing half of JL when DD was 5 weeks old 😳😳😳

I earn such a low amount that I'll have to more or less quit working, as we can't afford childcare. I freelance though, so I'm hoping I can fit in a little bit of paid stuff when my husband is home. He's planning to spread his holiday leave throughout the year, so I'll get a couple of days a month.

Does anyone have hot flushes?

Only started last night which is ironic now the weather has cooled down!!!

@since2016 we have signed up for NCT as I heard a lot of good things about the group and social aspects more than the actual teaching so hopefully the breastfeeding session will be useful. I'm on medication and have been told will need a couple of days observation to check little one is OK so might get a bit more hospital support too.

I had cmpa as a baby and still don't get on with dairy, not sure if what I have now is going to make any difference to the chances of the kid being affected.

@emalady I'm still very good friends with 2/4 girls from my NCT class - from a social perspective I'd really recommend it. THe breastfeeding session was actually the best bit information and teaching wise.

Fx you get good support in the hospital - I'm sure you will be absolutely fine x

Ps. Sorry! Don't know much about CMPA and dairy allergies. May be a good idea to avoid dairy in the first instance in case baby has a reaction and slowly introduce?

How do you sign up to NCT?

@AliceRR Hope you get seen... I’ve been given an emergency appointment via 111 before, they then sent me to A&E, I was there around 6/7 hours then discharged and had to go for a scan on the Monday as there is no EPU over the weekend. In total it took about 10 hours, cannula and exams... but no answers until I could have a scan.

Hope you’re getting on better! I’d not bother with it on a weekend again..

@Baby160P you can search for a local course through their website:

www.nct.org.uk/courses/antenatal

They aren't cheap but well worth it: made 2 amazing friends from when I did it with DS.

I'd like to go to an antenatal class for the social side of it but I will be having a planned section so I'm not sure whether I can?!

You sure can @FrowningFlamingo. One of the ladies on my course was having a planned section. There are sessions on childbirth but many more on feeding, looking after a baby and the emotional effects of becoming parents.