Due April 2005, part deux

[DelGirl]

Xoz and I thought it was time to start a new thread so here it is. Will copy the list over from the old one:

Mose Girl - 27 March
Mother Peculiar - 1 April
Seabird - 8 April
bronniemuldoon - 10ish April
MunchK2n - 11 April
NellyK - 11 April
Strawberry - 11 April
006 - 15 April
tallbird - 25 april
Xoz - 16 April
Rydercup - 16 April
Mitzi - 18 April
jumpin - 20 april
DelGirl - 22 April
Azure - 23 April
fisil - end April-ish
miranda2 - 28 April

apologies fora any mistakes

Hi everyone!

Hope everyone had a fantastic xmas and just to say have a wonderful new year!

think b, c and d 006. I looked like a heffa before I was pg !

Well everyone, happy new year!!!
I won't be around much for the next month or so as the crazy plan sis well underway (Christmas in Glasgow and New Year in London were fantastic!) and now we're in the flurry of packing etc ready for tuesday when the truk comes and take s all our stuff away to go on a boat to Australia. Hope you all are well over the next few weeks and I'll try to kee up as much as I can, but not sure how much internet access I'll have. Take care of yourselves...

Happy New Year everybody! Good luck with the move Xoz. I would get him to dress up as Florence and Emily 006 - it's the least he can do I would say. I am currently the size of a rhino - finally gave in and packed away all non maternity clothes yesterday as looking at them just hanging there was making me feel depressed. Went shopping afterwards at Bluewater and came back with various revolting tent like garments. Also have now got an impressive display of stretchmarks on bump. Looks like my tummy has been scribbled on in red crayon - v attractive. Other than that everything fine, just avoiding mirrors for the first half of 2005 and looking forward to meeting our daughter! Hope everybody had a stress free xmas xx

I found this site a week ago while searching for something else. I feel like I have missed out! I am due April 24. DD will be our first.

To 006: do c, b, and a in that order if you are feeling wicked. OR do A: if you are feeling benevolent.
OR do A: Then smack him upside the head for a laugh of your own.

Welcome Alux - hope all is going well with your pregnancy. We are definitely reaching that 'whale-like' stage - well I am!! As soon as I eat the tiniest thing I feel really stuffed and uncomfortable! Good luck for the last few months.

Hi guys, haven't been around for AGES so just having a good catch up. Glad everyone's Christmas and New Year festivities seem to have gone well.

Xoz, probably too late but good luck with the move and as soon as you get access to a PC log on and let us know how you are doing.

I'm sympathising with all the sleeplessness. Last night I tossed and turned all night with aches and pains - feel pants today. I'd forgotten about this bit but it's all coming flooding back now... I've had to take my rings off too because of a dry skin patch. Hoping they'll fit when I try them again.

006, have to admit to laughing at the Vicky Pollard thing but think you are justified in feeling affronted! Men don't realise they need to tread very carefully around pregnant women! I've spent all day at work defending my enormous bump and getting all defensive when people say I'm big. But then again, do they have a point? Am I just not able to see it anymore?? Aaaaggghhh paranoia has set in. I blame the family tin of Roses that had to be eaten before the end of the holidays...

Hello everyone and happy new year! Isn't it awful being back in work after Christmas? I've realised I have to decide by next week about maternity leave and coming back part time and so on, but I expect that most of you have already had to do this. When are you all working up to? I think I'll say 38 weeks and take the week before that as holiday. I guess I can always leave earlier if I need to.

I've not had many problems sleeping so far. I have got one of those Big v maternity pillows which is like having a third person in the bed but really comfy because I had been getting really achey hips every morning. And I haven't had to take rings off yet, but have developed some weird excema type skin on the back of my arms just above the elbow. It keeps really itching too, and I've never had skin problems before. Anyone else getting something similar?

I've also discovered that liquorice allsorts give me the worst heartburn

Hi Raindog. Haven't got the maternity leave dilemma this time - SAHM with DS1 who is 4. I am having awful trouble getting to sleep but don't really know why! Don't feel particularly uncomfortable yet, am very tired, but I just lay there wide awake. Have tried having a bath with relaxing this that and the other in it, even a pillow spray which is supposed to induce sleep - just makes DH cough!!! And then I get DS waking me up at 6am - lovely!!! Re: itchy skin - i've got a small patch on the back of my right hand which is rreally annoying!! Oh the joys of pregnancy .....

Hi all, just found this site by chance. Hope everyone had a wonderful Christmas.

I'm due with our first on 25th April. Looking forward to it but also scared stiff - DH is a bit of a wimp (he got squeamish at the scan) and not quite sure how he's going to survive the labour himself let alone get me through it!

Hope everything is going well fro everyone.

Hi everyone - and welcome to the newbies

Raindog, I'm having the mat leave dilemma too. Like you am planning to leave at 38 weeks (shudder) but will take a day or two holiday each week for 4 weeks before that, just to lessen my working week.I'm sure I'll be shattered by then.

Do you have to tell them now when you plan to come back and whether full or P/T? According to the maternity alliance website they should assume you will be taking additional maternity leave if you are entitled to it (which makes the full leave 12 months I think) and you give 28 days written notice if you want to come back sooner than that. That said, my lot keep asking me too (even suggesting lengths of time i might be off - "Three months?"was the latest!!!) so far I have been non-commital, as they haven't yet told me whether they are planning to supplement the pitiful SMT or not and (although I won't tell them this) that will dictate to a large extent how long I can afford to be off for.

I'm finding it a nightmare - I know they want to know so that they can plan around it (And we are a v small company) but I just don't know yet. Remember, you may feel very differently once you've had the baby too.

Good luck with your decision.

Hope everyone else is well. I'm fine apart from itchiness all over (mmmm, nice) and a very sore under-bump muscle today resulting from forgetting I was pg yesterday and running for a bus. I deserve that one I think!

take care.

Hiya everyone!
Maternity leave - ho hum! My employers (the church), whilst individually supportive, collectively panic over anything unusual or new (which female employees having babies apparently still is!!!), so I had mercy on them and told them as soon as i announced my pregnancy that I'd go off at 37 weeks and take 6 months. I'll probably actually go back at 19 weeks as that is what they pay in full, then take some of my accumulated holiday, but I can always tell them that 28 days before I want to return, and I thought it was better to tell them the full 6 months now (easier to go back early than to extend). Last time I promised myself I'd stop work next time at 7 months - unfortunately Easter, our busiest time is at 8 months, so can't really (though if my back doesn't stop playing up I may have to go off earlier). I've agreed unofficially with my boss that I will be working much reduced hours the last month though - but not officially, as that would affect the job i had a right to go back to.

I've had no itchy skin this time, but last time my fingers suddenly wouldn't tolerate my rings - I remember I had to stop wearing my wedding ring which caused some comment as I grew! It took a long time to settle down too - I think it was about 6 months after ds was born that I could wear it again. 'Anything odd is normal' became my mantra!

Had terrible back pain last week, went to antenatal physio clinic the other day which was very helpful - I now have a support belt and a large gym ball which I'm supposed to do exercises on (but ds thinks its a new toy for him...). Only slightly worrying thing was that everyone else there was about 37 weeks pg and there was me at 24 weeks - I really hope it settles down and doesn't get any worse, or I may have to start my mat leave early. Second time round seems a lot harder going!

hi raindog, thanks for the reminder about the maternity leave! when do we actually need to tell our employers? i've said from the beginning that i will start maternity after easter and come back in october (so the 6 months) but it occured to me recently that i was working on the basis that babe will start nursery at 6 months which is not really true as i will be having (hopefully) a couple of weeks off before babe is due. the dilemma.....

Hello All (and welcome to Bluemint and Alux)
I think that you are meant to give your employer notice of when you are taking maternity leave in or around 15 weeks before your due date. I'm just about 24 weeks now (due on 30 April) so will be doing it next week. I know that you can choose to leave earlier if you want to even after you've given a date, but you can't decide to extend it, so I reckon you might as well go for 38 weeks anyway!

If you're entitled to additional maternity leave (the extra 6 months unpaid) then they are meant to assume you'll take it, and you have to give 28 days notice in writing before you come back. I work in a company with just 2 people so I'm trying to be as precise as I can be about coming back after maternity leave. I think that my SMP will last until mid october and then I hope to take the rest of the year off and start back part time in January. Again, I can always come back earlier than this or later, as long as I let them know a month before.

I'll have accumulated holidays during maternity leave, so hopefully I can persuade them to pay me for those in December. Please everyone remember to claim your holidays! They accrue at your normal rate during ordinary maternity leave, and a statutory rate of 20 days pa during additional leave.

All this thinking about maternity leave has made me feel a bit like I'm working my notice! I'm going to find it so difficult to concentrate these last few months! Especially since I vowed not to go baby shopping until after Christmas...which is now! hooray!

Miranda2 - I bought a large gym ball recently because everyone has been telling me how brilliant they are in labour, but what exercises do you do? I've been using it to sit on whilst watching telly, and it really is very comfy and gives me a bit more space to breath, but I'd be really interested to know what other things I could be doing!

Better do some work now...!

Hello all.

I feel ok most of the time at the moment but get pain low down if I overdo things.

The maternity/exercise balls are great. Raindog - don't worry about doing exercises as such just use it to get a comfortable posture. Try sitting with your knees apart and feet together and your bum resting on your feet. Then lean over the ball putting your arms over it (you may need to put a cushion in front of the ball to stop it rolling away!). This position should create space for baby and relieve some of the strain on your back. Hope this makes sense!

Different work problem for me this time as I'm now self-employed. DOn't want to take too much time off but keep things ticking over if possible. Bit worried about how this might actually work in practice.

I feel huge and people do keep telling me too. So nice of them!

Hi everyone.
I've also been planning my maternity leave and have told work that I will be starting my leave from 4 April (edd = 18th). If you plug your dates into the maternity leave calculator here it tells you when all your key dates are and gives you a calender. For my edd of 18th April I have to notify my employers of my maternity leave plans by 8 January - so I think we'd all better get going on this front! I think I will probably go back 3-days/week just before Christmas(PT arrangements already established after birth of dd in 2002).
I can't believe how this pregnancy is flying by - with dd around as well this time round there is literally no time to relish being pg and read all the mags etc.
Is anyone else being driven mad by itching (particularly boobs!)?

happy new year all and welcome to the newbies . Not alot been happening with me except for the expansion in the waistline and lots and lots of kicking which I love.

I gave notice yesterday though I intend to go back in January. Am officially leaving in 9 weeks so 6 weeks before but if it gets too tough, I shall go earlier but we only get the miseley [sp] SMP at our place. Am quite pleased though as they've said they'll pay me what holiday I have left plus the 12 days for the next 6 months plus 5 days bank holiday so that's good. Wasn't aware that you actually accrue holiday for the following 6 so i'll look into that.

, I bought a pram +++ last week. Wasn't intending too just yet but it's still in the shop and was such a good buy, but still bl&&dy expensive, I couldn't turn it down. Can't wait for those spring afternoon walks by the river awwwww. Anyone else bought anything yet?

I'm having a bit of trouble with may back, which I always knew I would so I start pyhsio next week. Hoping they'll give me one of those attractive belts and a birthing ball . So, I think I need to start getting a list of must haves together and have a mamouth shopping expedition before it gets too much. Spent 1.5 hours in the shops yesterday and back was almost knackered after that so there's not much hope is there!!!

Hi Everyone: I will give notice of maternity leave next week. I think it will be most advantageous to me to leave on 18th March, one week before the end of the spring term. As a teacher, my 18 wks runs out on the last week of the summer term so I can get full pay over the 6 wk holiday. If I start later, my eighteen weeks would run out during the holiday and would then fall to measly SMP.

I am speaking to the dep. to make sure this is the most advantageous option to me before I write my letter.

Thing is, I will HAVE TO go back the first week in Sept as I would then OWE them money - I can't afford to do that. That is just when baby will start to wean which I won't have the luxury to start off.

Woohoo - just been told the policy has changed and I get 22 weeks not 19 on full pay! Cool. Do remember the holiday everyone - my boss was rather stunned when I informed him I was entitled to my full years holiday despite having 6 months maternity leave, I had to show him the black and white in the legislation! I pointed out maternity leave was not holiday, but I think he still thinks its like a sabbatical - ha ha. He has got a child, but she's my age so he's probably forgotten!

I didn't get given the gymball by the physio btw - had to buy it, but it was only 5.99 at Index. They did give me the belt though. The physio said just sitting on the ball - to watch telly etc - was in itself exercising your pelvic floor and abdominal muscles, as without you noticing they had to continually work to keep you stable. My kind of exercise! She also said you could sit on the ball, keeping all your body still, and slowly raise and lower alternate arms and/or legs, as again the muscles had to work to keep you balanced while you did this. The gymball came with a sheet of exercises, but she said to ignore these while pregant - just as well, as they did look quite, um, athletic...

Hi handed my notice in just before xams and decided to leave march 18th, 2 weeks before baby is due. had a few braxton hicks contractions yesterday but everything fine now, everyone at work was panicking thinking i was going into labour it was quite amusing!!!
brought nearly everything just a steriliser and bottle warmer and sheets, but wondering about hospital bag, wot do i pack?

Happy New Year everyone and welcome to Alux and Bluemint.

Hearing everyone's news makes me feel like we've really turned a corner with the new year and are all looking forward to our babies actually being with us before too long...

I'm just back from my mum's in Wales where DD & I were since Boxing Day while DH sunned himself in Australia (I am SO owed months and months of weekend lie ins). DD and I were both ill for most of it with chest infections and colds. I'm finally better now and am really hoping to feel well for a while now before getting 3rd trimester knackeredness.

006 - ROTFL at your Vikki Pollard story . Reminds me of my last pregnancy when I bought a pink towelling maternity tracksuit when I was on holiday in the States. I blithely imagined myself to look like (non-pregnant) Catherine Zeta Jones but I suspect heffalump was more like it! It's funny, because I haven't seen many mirrors in the last fews weeks and I've only been with my family, I keep forgetting that I now actually look pregnant. When I saw the Dr in Wales I thought I ought to mention that I was 26wks pregnant in case it affected my treatment and she said "er yes, I did notice!"

Delgirl - v exciting about your pushchair. What did you go for?

Hi Seabird, hope you're feeling better. I bought the Europa 3 in 1. Don't think it's a very well known make but had everything I need and it looks great & pushes/folds down etc etc really easily. It's a pram, proper carrycot, separate pushchair attachment and car seat that also goes on the frame. It's all singing all dancing with gorgeous cosytoes, bag/changing mat and parasol. Had a good play with it and checked out the chassis in the boot etc, still room for shopping which is fab. Also got the front swivel wheels for it too which are great. Sorry, am I gushing? . It's still in the shop for me to pick up when I want though i'll have to enlist some help for that. Had to get it cos it had £200 off. Still loads to get and I haven't found a cotbed that I want yet.

The £200 was down to a mistake by the shop asst btw, she thought the car seat was included but it wasn't, should have been an extra £80. Only found out when I went to pay for it and the other girl said, I had wondered cos it said it on the price tag. Anyway after 2 calls to the owner of the shop, he decided to let me have it. Think I shall be getting some more stuff from there in the future .