September Babies Thread #5 - we're a chatty bunch

[Stroan]

Yet another thread for our September babies!

The Google Doc with stats is here: docs.google.com/spreadsheets/d/1VUDuTLeibUnnaCWCjb-pqUe4Wnq-fTau4HJgmE1XE3c/edit?usp=sharing

This post was edited at OP's request

It's got to come out regardless Cheeky, so it doesn't matter if you think about it or not!

@Knobjockey -exactly!

Thanks florence I'll check it all out. When we discovered twins, I immediately said to DH I'm having a c section. I honestly feel it would be calmer knowing what is happening, I would probably want a positive one, maybe have the curtain down and watch etc if possible. I don't think I could bare having 1 twin naturally then ending up with a csection for twin 2, or assisted delivery again like I did with my DS. The only thing that puts me off is the recovery time with 3 kids!
But I feel if a natural birth went wrong again it would impact my mental health worse than the physical recovery of a csection anyway. I'm hoping the twins are just in the wrong positions and I have to go for csection anyway without me making the decision!

I'm having a planned section. I was quite unwell after my first emergency section as I got an infection and needed further surgery. but emotionally I don't think I could handle attempting a natural birth and it going wrong again. Shame but you can't have it all in life!

Thanks @Florencenotflo I'll download it at some point this week.

C section terrifies me - the thought of not being able to drive for 4-6 weeks is more scary than the concept of natural labour (with the benefit of never having done it before 😉) we're pretty rural... I could walk to the countries worst village shop or a pretty decent pub 1.5 miles away on what kind of passes as a path... and that's about as much entertainment as I'd get 😳 have put lots of family on standby to save holiday for September time just in case. I won't unduly worry, and if it's necessary then what will be will have to be, but I might be on here a lot having a minor mental breakdown if I get cooped up at home for too long!!

On another note I swear my walk has changed - is this possible so early on? Was walking the dog this afternoon and sun to my back I could really tell in the shadow my arms were doing a weird over exaggerated swing and like my hips were rolling... I'm really trying not to say waddling but I'm sure that's what it looked like???

kyles I’m convinced I’m walking weirdly, because I’ve got a load of muscle aches rather than ligament pain so think I’m using them differently.

Does anyone have any magic cures for pregnancy insomnia? For the 3rd consecutive night I’ve woken up after 4 hours and not been able to get back to sleep again, feel beyond exhausted but just don’t seem to be able to drop off again. Don’t even know why I’m waking up.

@kyles101
We're really rural too, in a Hamlet with no shops or facilities - but DH will be home for a month and actually everyone I know that had a section was driving in less than 4 weeks, so that doesn't worry me at all.

None of my family are local - but I don't want anyone staying anyway in the first months. House guests get on my nerves at the best of times - I imagine when sleep deprived I'd go insane!
I'll be quite happy with the TV and plenty of chocolate I reckon.

Having said all this I'll probably pop the baby out with no trouble - but I find that very hard to believe. I'd be the first female in 3 generations to do it in our family!

I get that @boodles101 sometimes it's nice just to know what's happening and when!

@kyles101 I was driving in under 3 weeks after my c section, but I was very lucky recovery wise. I had no infection or complications. But I was feeling the same, I couldn't bear being indoors!

Thanks Florence, that's reassuring - I could probably cope with three weeks... of the sun was shining so I could be in the garden... just lol! To be fair I'm sure at least one week you'd be happy just laying around and feeding and doing nothing. Right?? Lol, getting stressed again thinking about it!!

Megan dh is self employed and has just expanded business so I'll be lucky if he takes a week off 🙄 to be fair I think he'll do very short days the second week too so that's something! That's why I've got so many family on standby lol! Did find out our village that has no other useful or interesting facilities does have a Children's sure start group though that has activities every day - strange!

Argh forthelove I feel your sleep pain, I think I had it for a few days last week but it did pass again prettying quickly. It was strange for me as I usually struggle to get to sleep initially but if I'm woken in the night can get straight back off again. I find nice "make believe" type scenarios eg planning what I'd do if I won the lottery (I don't play it lol) or designing my dream house help (sad I know!!)

That's tough @kyles101
DH going to be able to take 2 weeks holiday and 2 weeks paternity so that'll be a big help - and he starts work early anyway and is home 2-3pm so I'll not be on my own all that long when he is back.

He did want to go back to being self employed before we knew about the pg but I have convinced him to stay employed whilst I am on mat leave so we have the income security and he can get the paid leave!

Weirdly although we live in arse end of nowhere there are NCT classes in the next big village (and next door to DH's fav pub) - which totally threw me as I was expecting to have to go for miles. Funny how it works out eh!

My work are currently reviewing their maternity and paternity leave as we have several competitors that made theirs so much better. They change theirs to 20 weeks full pay on mat leave and 6 weeks pat leave! (Me and DH both work for same company) So I'm really hoping that my work brings it in line with that. They said they were reviewing back in December but nothing announced so far. Would be amazing if they do!

Dp i self employed so no paternity leave here although dare say he will have a couple of days off.

Baby is due during the first week of Sept when all the kids go back to school including DC1 who will be starting high school. It is going to be chaos here.

I can't decide if baby being born a week early would be best maybe. Its a definite possibility as other 4 all born in the two weeks before EDD. But then i would rather a sept baby than an august. Hmmm.

@Megan2018 yes being employed is a massive bonus for those very reasons. Definitely sensible to stay so for a while I would have thought. Ha ha - we have surestart on our doorstep (kind of!) am no NCT for 50 miles 🙄 typical! Oh, I did find breastfeeding support a few villages away though, so although I would have to drive it's not that far and in a nice little village... with a very nice pub too actually now I think about it!!

Fingers crossed for the enhanced maternity and paternity package @boodles101 - that would be great, such a help - mine sucks - statutory and self employed dh!!

How long is everyone planning on having off? I'm having til end of June next year, I'd have had a full year but that's when our financial year end is so thought I'd best come back for that!! Someone I know who's recently had dc1 will go back after 6 weeks - don't get me wrong, I love my job and the feeling of being away from it for so long is a bit unsettling but 6 weeks! Crazy!

Paternity leave? What’s that?! My husband was on the phone to his dad as I was pushing, asking him to feed the cows that morning. And then he was working on the farm again that afternoon 😂

@Farmmama that sounds like my dh except swap cows for lorries!! 😂

The idea of my husband taking 2 days off let alone 2 weeks is laughable. We got by first time bought so I’m sure second time should be okay too.
Just hoping we don’t have 2.5 weeks in NICU again to start with as that will be really tricky with an 18 month old to look after too. He was nearly 7 weeks premature so we were in hospital for a while

Is anyone else having the Group B strep test ?, I've known about this for a while as unfortunately one of my friends baby contracted this and didn't make it, it was on radio 2 about it yesterday and to be honest at £35 for a test it's a no brainer just wish it was spoken about more by health professionals so that everyone was aware of it

*though not bought

I was back on school run the day after dc4 was born. I usually recover well.

@dipsy77 I won't be tested as had it my last pregnancy (not at the time of birth though) so they assume you could have it in subsequent pregnancies. It's a really difficult topic, I have a friend who's baby was very ill but at the same time, it comes and goes so testing wouldn't always identify it. I had it at about 32 weeks and had quite a medicalised birth as a result (continuous monitoring and IV antibiotics) but didn't have it at the time of delivery.

If I was opting to be tested, I would want it done no earlier than 37 weeks.

@farmmama that sounds familiar! My poor Mum laboured alone when having my brother as we had three cows calving on the farm! One c-section which was more exciting than my new brother!

DH only had one week paternity leave last time and I was in hospital for most of it. He's always regretted it. This time, he is on paid sabbatical for 6 months so will be around until October to cover all the driving and nursery drop offs.

The not driving doesn't bother me. With DD, I put too much pressure on myself to get out and about or to keep family happy. This time, I want to hibernate and keep MY little family happy.

I don't drive anyway so that doesn't bother me either

I'm taking just over 12 months.
Taking 2 weeks holiday in Aug then start mat leave 1 Sept as we run on the academic year which is 1 Sept-31 Aug and our holiday year runs the same.
Planning to return 1 Sept 2020.

I get 6 weeks full pay inclusive of SMP, 12 weeks half pay plus SMP and then 33 weeks SMP plus 7 weeks paid holiday. So it will actually be 2 weeks paid holiday, 45 weeks mat leave then 7 weeks paid holiday.

We can't really afford it but as I am only having the 1 baby I want to make the most of it so we will just have to scrape by.

Hoping to return 32 hrs a week instead of 37 as that will take me under the threshold for child benefit!

I might not go back to work at all. If i do i want no more than 16 hours