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

@KnobJockey we went for the mothercare orb all terrain and love it, they're on offer still I think, you can get black, teal or a dark red colour and mothercare do a 0% payment plan if you need to spread the cost...doesn't come with the carseat but you can get compatible ones if you want to use it on the pram base!
I'm so happy we went for it, the other one I was considering was the kinderkraft moov travel system on groupon as that came with a carseat but I wouldn't have been able to test it in a shop first

Yay _ my changing bag arrived today and I'm pretty impressed!

@KnobJockey I did vat quarterly returns etc through my leave with DC2, totally doable, as you can fit it round stuff. Remember that you can only do your 10 KIT days though- any more than that ends your leave, and ends your entitlement to statutory pay or maternity allowance. In theory if you do so much as a billable minute in a day that counts as full KIT day, and one of your 10, but nobody is coming round your house with a stopwatch, so you can cobble your day together when you can find the time.

We are both self employed, so maternity allowance for me... we are incredibly lucky though, in that we have a kushy lifestyle with pretty low overheads (due to huge luck and privilege in the past, tbh), so "only" need an extra 3-4K to make up the difference. And DP can be really flexible in his work so lots of support when needed. And my main job is going to temporarily massively up my day rate so my KIT days (which I will do all of) really help...
I'm not sure yet how long to be off- I don't want to be away from the project at all really, but I know I'll want to be holding tight to that baby as long as possible! I was off for 9 months with my other two (ie, til the maternity allowance ran out...) but I think I'll go back a bit sooner this time.

Ps @Stroan that's shocking!!!!!!! V glad they paid up!!!!!!
In my first mat leave I had an unofficial job, done freelance so no rights. They kept my cover and let me go. And they were a charity who really talked the talk!

have maternity allowance only, so hopefully will find a job to start at beginning of Feb. Before then keen to do odd shifts, have found an overnight nursery. Have a job that involves technical skills I don't want to lose.

@dustydoorframes it really opened my eyes who how badly mothers are treated, as did the subsequent hunt for a part time job. I have a lovely job now, working for an old boss at his own company, but my career has completely stalled and I don't know how to get it back on track.

Ok so I have broken the “no buying before the 20wk scan rule” but have snapped up a bargain.
Got one of these for £60 from someone 1 mile away via Facebook selling page. Will need new matteess but still a good price. www.mothercare.com/cribs/cozee-bedside-crib/LKB481.html?dwvar_LKB481_color=Charcoal&cgid=#q=tutti'+bambini+cribs+and+cots&lang=default&start=1

That's exactly the one I'm getting a lend of from my DSis Megan2018! She, DNeice and now DNephew have all been very happy with it. It's quite nice looking as well, isn't it? For a bedside cot anyway!

Yes @TheCraicDealer it reviews well and I thought it looked ok. Happy to have a used one as its such a short term item and expect I can sell it on for what I bought it for! Woman I’m buying it from has only used it for a few months as her baby is enormous.

@Megan2018 I was looking at those, they are expensive brand new considering you only get about 6 months max out of them but you got a good deal! I've ended up grabbing a wicker moses basket and stand for £10 off fb marketplace cause the normal ones are pretty flimsy 😅

Sorry to hear about rubbish work experiences @Stroan and others - I have certainly heard a few scare stories from friends recently about how they were treated post-mat leave. I think it's appalling that there's all this regulation and very little enforcement of it! Even the gender pay gap coverage recently doesn't seem to be giving people the kick up the bum they need...

Weirdest pregnancy symptom so far. My hair was wavy/curly before having DD and went pretty straight afterwards. 18 weeks in to this pregnancy and my curls are back! So strange!

@Stroan
Funny you way that, my hair texture has definitely changed and it needs washing much less often than before which is no bad thing!

megan mine doesn't need as much washing either!
Thankfully the really dry skin has gone now too. Is anyone else still suffering with their skin?

@boodles101 my face has cleared up but I've got awful spots all over my chest, backs me even the back of my thighs. Who even knew that was a thing?

Urgh stroan I have spots all over my face! They go then come back every week or so. Make up aggravates them. Fun times.

Interesting to see all the difference mat leave plans people have... I was thinking I'd go til the end of August doing half days the last couple of weeks... is this completely unrealistic? I just don't know, haven't done this before 🤷‍♀️

@TwittleBee aren't you having a gender scan tomorrow??

Do many others know sex yet, I know Megan does but not sure I've seen many others? Although I don't suppose we've had many 20 week scans yet?

I've also been getting the spots (boo!) and my hair needs washing less frequently (yay!)

My maternity plans are a little different as I'm a teacher. Because I'll have just had the 6 week break and I'm not due until 29th I'm going to be going back to school as long as I can.
The maternity cover teacher will already be in my class and she's newly qualified so I'm assuming (I'd better check soon!) I'll only be being used as cover and support (it's an SEN school and I work with a PMLD class with complex needs so takes a while for new staff - and kids! - to transition).

I'll then be due back end of June/beginning of July to work 4/5 weeks then it'll be summer holidays again! Just not sure what to do about childcare for those couple of weeks as I don't want to start nursery for them to then have 6 weeks back at home again!

@kyles101 We has NIPT so have known it's a girl since about 11 weeks. Personally I think when you go on Mat leave comes down to two things- your commute and your job. I'm a SAHM now, but with DS I went off at 37 weeks as although my job was office based and flexible, I had to commute by train into central London. I had planned to go off at 38 weeks but it just became too tough as I developed sciatica in the last month. If you drive to a cushy office job, you'd probably be fine working up until your due date if all is well!

*had NIPT 🤦‍♀️

Yep, I'd agree about the commute. Last time, I had a 20 min train journey and then a 1km walk. Easy when not 9 months pregnant but so tough towards the end. I finished 3 weeks before my due date and DD was 2 days overdue. Any longer and I'd have been climbing the walls with boredom. I was definitely ready to finish though, I'd mentally checked out!

@Stroan climbing the walls is my worry...

@KLane cushty office number with 40 minute drive each way... so should be fine right up until dd do you think?

I’m going to go off at around 37 weeks as I work quite a stressful job and last time my blood pressure rocketed in the last weeks

@kyles101 Is your company flexible to let you decide closer to your due date? Or let you potentially wfh the last 2 weeks before your due date? Everyone feels differently at the end, and it really comes down to how fed up you are! Personally I think work as long as you're able, as you'll want the time at the end of leave. And mat leave is nice for about a week, and then you'll probably be fed up, bored, and cleaning skirting boards for the third time, analysing every single symptom for the onset of labour. Work is a good distraction 😬

I’m planning on taking 2 weeks holiday then starting maternity leave 5 days before my due date.

I work from home so could potentially work longer, but that’s the plan at the moment.

@kyles101 I know I’m having a boy. I’m going to finish about two weeks before, maybe a little less