Due in Dec 07 - Feel them kick!!

[buzzybee]

Hi, thought I'd start a new thread. Hope ou find this OK!

Just been shopping downtown and bought a fab paid of maternity pants for work.

Also bought "The Baby Name Wizard" as Borders were having 20% off everything. Feel free anyone to ask me a question about names now!! The book categorises them into the following "style families" (chances are if you like one name in the family, you'll like a number of others - e.g. I tend to go for "Antique Charm" names for girls which include Abigail, Adeline, AMelia, Anna. Annabel, Annalise, Ava, Bella, Clara, Daisy, Eleanor, Emma, Eva, Georgia, Grace, Hannah and Isabel):
African, Androgynous, Antique Charm, Bell tones, Biblical, Brisk and Breezy, Celtic, Charms and Graces, Country and Western, English, The -ens, Exotic Traditionals, Fanciful, French, German, Greek, Guys and Dolls, Italian, Jewish, Lacy and Lissome, Ladies and Gentlemen, Last Names First, Latino, Little Darlings, Long Gone, Mid-Century, Modern Meanings, Muslim, Mythological, Namesakes, New Classics, Nickname-Proof, Place-Names, Porch-Sitters, Saints, Scandanavian, '70s and '80s, Shakespearean, Slavic, Solid Citizens, Surfer Sixties, Timeless and Why Not?

sorry-what i meant was that after you complete your M/L you need to go back to work FT for at least three months. If you agree to that then they will suppliment your SMP while you are on Mat Leave.

what time and channel neuro... would like to watch that as i would quite like to scrounge for a while after all this hard work.

makes me mad these people who claim for no good reason (i know there are many people who need it). my dad had a stroke about 5 yrs ago and my mum has only ever worked p/t since we were about 5 and 8 and they applied for council tax benefit - that was the only thing and they were told to set up a tenancy agreement with me to pay the council tax (my dad doesnt believe in taking money from his children for keep). Then when he applied for disability / incapacity or whatever it is called on the advice of the doctor as the doc said he cannot work. GOT TURNED down, somakes me mad when people get everything when they dont really need it etc.

MM - that's what I'm worried about then taking one look at my bump and deciding not to bother no matter how well I do. I know people can't discriminate, but it doesn't stop them thinking it.

Lots of companys make you go back. Dont see the point as you get someone back for three months and then a lot of people leave anyway.

i think it is a given that people will always disscriminate, noot really on purpose, but I guess operationally if they need soomeone to do the job, then they need someone to do the job.

where i am now they want me to stay and have said that they would have liked me perm, but havent offered it or anything cos I guess it wouldnt work to their advantage.

If you really feel you are in with a fair chance go for it, but personally I would wait until after bubba (as you dont know how you will feel about work then anyway) and if you feel it is time for a change you can see how you you feel.

Well - I think I am going to play it by ear - am going to go home tonight and dicuss the various options with DH and take it from there.

On tonight:

Wednesday, 22 Aug 2007
10:00pm - 10:30pm (30 minutes)
Ann Widdicombe versus the Benefits Culture
ITV1 (ITV1 London)Ann turns her attention to another issue of current concern, asking what can be done to end what she sees as the culture of dependency on state handouts among some members of society. To gain a first-hand insight into the problem, she moves in with an unemployed father, his wife, mistress and seven of his 15 children to find out how they live.

I've said it before, but really, we should have a 2 child policy for people who have never worked! It's a f*ing joke.

When i go back to work after maternity - 16 -24 hours a week, after i have paid everything off, i'll have between £32 and £56 pw, this figure includes a bit of WTC and CTC.

However, if i rented and only worked 16 hours pw, i'd have £100pw to live on.

Fair? I think not. I feel totally punished by the system. Something has got to change...

i know it's not everyone, but i do know of a fair few people that just don't want to work as it's not in their interest as they wouldn't be any better off working! It's a joke and i have to really really bite my tongue

That makes me mad - 15 children none of which he can support. Altho I will hold fire on being too judgemental until I watch and see his circumstances, but needless to say that amount of children is unecessary unless you can support them.

And his mistress lives with them cant wait to see this.

Yeah DH told me about a friend the other day who does some sort of work that he doesnt have to declare and is claiming everything under the sdsun and has a much better situation than us and we both slave our guts out.

We may even have to apply for some sort of benefits once I am on mat leave as i will actually be unemployed - whats the betting that a) we get nothing or b) it wont be worth getting.

Yes, the prog is bound to have elements of sensationalism and i'd imagine this guy is worst case scenario.

Re: your DH's friend. Tricky and v frustrating. Through my other pt job I am aware of at least 2 families who have one member of their family on disability benefit (due to being an ex-alcholic) and claiming and getting A LOT of benefits including having whole house paid for by HB. One family has 3 adult family members with good jobs living there for free. Their jobs include: antiques dealer, accountant and IT Consultant. Hardly McJobs. So i'm thinking 'do i grass them up on that anonymous telephone no?'

I am sorely tempted to, but feel bad at the thought, although i don't know why as these poeple dont' feel bad about getting rest of the coutnry to pay their rent!

I dont think I would grass anyone up it just makes me angry that when i need something or my family needs something we are not allowed.

Does alcoholism qualify you as disabled then? But, a stroke doesnt. Making my blood boil.

Neuro, I would be tempted to grass them up too and I wouldn't feel too cut up about it.

Neuro - yes definitely grass them up. If people don't, they don't get caught and we ALL lose out. After all what would you rather your taxes went on - these people's benefits or more maternity nurses? No brainer, shurely! You can do it anonymously and no-one will ever know. (PS sorry about being a month ahead of you - just think though, I will be going through the horrendous sleepless nights stage when you can still put your feet up and relax!)

I don't get anything as my husband earns enough for me not to be able to claim any benefits (or SMP) but it does mean that we only have one salary to live on. We are a lot better off than many people so I can't complain but I don't feel there is any incentive for women to stay at home and look after their children when they are young. But that's ANOTHER soapbox issue!

Motherofz - I think you SHOULD apply for the job - if nothing else they can meet you and know you are interested then even if you don't get it they may keep you in mind if something similar comes up. Or if you do get it you would still have the option of turning them down. IME good, part-time jobs are bloody gold dust (although easier if you are in London - which I am not!).

I agree with Claraq - it is always worth applying for something if just to show them who you are. A good candidate always sticks in the mind.

As for decent pt jobs outside London. Seconded!

well i am looking forward to being totallyl spoilt at Christmas by everyone. Jan - March are such boring months it'll be nice to have a stinky demanding thing to look after.

I am really apprehensive about the lack of sleep though, it makes me so teary and unreasonable.

Ahh, lovely, lovely Christmas! The first one ever where I won't have to travel to visit my family! I'll have my own little family at home. Have told my Mum and brothers that I'm not planning to travel with a 2 or 3 week old and no car but they can come to us if they want to. No staying the night as our flat is too small. My boy's done good already and he's not even born yet!

Hi all,

Had my midwife app today, baby is fine, but i'm not! my SPD is still very bad and they are now questioning my chances at another natural birth. another problem is that my scar tissue from emergency c section (7.5 years ago) isnt looking too good. i really am quite gutted at all this, but am hoping that things will ease up over time and i will be able to push them to at least allow me to 'try' and go natural. my bloody pressure is very low which explains the dizzy spells but again nothing to worry about and i am a little aneamic (sp) but again nothing that cant be rectified!

twiglet is very low again today, he kicks right down and i often wonder if i am going to see a foot!!! its a very strange feeling, but i love feeling him so active.

has anyone heard from BOUNCING TURTLE?? i see fromt he list she was due a scan yesterday... hope all is well and you are busy buying a certain colour!!

i wondered what leave your partners are getting? my partners boss has agreed to one weeks full pay and then an extra week at aslightly lower rate if needed. i thought this was really reasonable, but wondered about everyone else...?

Kerioke, poor you with your SPD and scarring. You're right, time will tell and you'll just have to watch and wait, hopefully it will all work out for a natural birth. Hope your SPD isn't too bad.

Dh gets 1 weel full pay and 1 week no pay. So he will take 1 week full pay and then a aweek of holidau. I will cross my legs and hope it comes close to Xmas. Else I shall be on my own with new born, a 2 year old and a 5 year old.

Commiserations Kerioke.

I have no partner sob

(quite happy though for now)

I think DH employer will give about a week but it will be unpaid.

I think dads are entitled to 2 weeks off Paternity leave, £112 or something like that per week Statutory paternity pay or 90 % of salary if it is less. Not sure how this works if you are not on a salary or are a contractor.

Neuro - don't grass them up, blackmail them!! Then you can top up your own income! But make sure you have some kind of 'legitimate' reason to be getting monthly payments from them e.g. family plate advisor.

MotherofZ - I agree with I think it was claraq, you should definitely apply for the job so they know you're interested. Then when you're looking at going back to work, give them a ring, see if they need anyone. Don't get upset if you don't get the job, I think we'd all understand it would have to be exceptional circumstances for them to wait nearly a year to fill the post. But you never know.

I have been on hols for a couple of weeks so just catching up! Looking at doing some serious buying of stuff fairly soon (this is first baby) but have to take my mum because Mothercare is the scariest shop on earth. I only get SMP too, which is LAME. DH reckons he gets two weeks full pay but that seems a bit generous to me.

NEURO - i went through one of my pregnancies, labours, newborn stage etc single and do you know what? i loved it! i made every choice there was with no comprimises at all. he wore what i wanted, he had the name i liked and the pushchair i needed! everything was done my way and because i didnt have a grown man to wash, cook and clean for it was the most relaxed few months i could have asked for with a newborn! wow you're almost making me jealous!

i think as long as you've got a friend or family near by who can sit and give you 'adult company' from time to time you've got everything you need!

god that paragraph looks a bit sordid... by adult company i do mean chats and coffee etc