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Connect with mums-to-be with similar due dates to share experiences and support.

Original poster

First-timers this year . . .

723 replies

TJuice · 26/01/2008 10:04

I was just wondering how many are there of us . . .

I am due end of June and love my antenatal thread as there is so much good advice there but thought it may be nice to share a little with others who are new to this whole thing too.

Anyone interested?

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Are your children’s vaccines up to date?
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MissChika · 07/02/2008 16:06

Hi TJuice,

Six months on full pay is good for UK companies too. My company offers 6 months full pay, 3 months statutory pay (which is about £112 per week) and then I have the option to take another 3 months off but this is unpaid. The full entitlement for the UK is now 12 months maternity leave. I think a lot of maternity packages are based on length of service with the company. I had to have been employed for 2 years to qualify, otherwise it's Statutory maternity pay only.

pigleychez · 07/02/2008 16:11

I only get the Statutory maternity pay.

90 per cent of your average weekly earnings for the first six weeks then up to £112.75 for the remaining 33 weeks.

The Government website tells you alot:
here

bitofadramaqueen · 07/02/2008 16:41

SMP will be going up to about £117.18 this year girls.

Yimmy · 07/02/2008 16:52

my place has enhanced mat pay policy - 6 weeks at 90% pay, the 12 weeks at 45% before going on SMP.

MrsHOP · 07/02/2008 17:24

I am the same as you Pigley - stat mat pay, going to be a bit of a shocker but I had resigned before I found out I was pregnant so am pleased to be still here and be getting anything at all!! eek.

Have made an executive decision to sack off yoga tonight and have fish and chips in front of the TV, might do a few pelvics if I'm feeling energetic

carrieHD9 · 07/02/2008 18:42

Hi, I'm 8 wks at full pay (minus SMP), then 18 wks at half pay (plus SMP), then 13 wks at SMP.

MrsHOP, I support that decision! Did my first pilates class this week, bit of a shock to the system after my prolonged spell on the sofa!

Original poster
TJuice · 09/02/2008 11:35

hey first-timers

just checking in to say have a good weekend. i should be working on my thesis but i plan to potter around and make lists. there is so much that i want to do to the flat and organise for the baby, but at the same time, sometimes i just want to stop thinking about all that stuff for a minute - know what i mean?

its time i got my ass back to the gym, so step one is organise my gym bag . . . .and then leave it in the hallway for a while . . .

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bitofadramaqueen · 09/02/2008 13:23

Tjuice - well done you for even thinking about the gym! I've barely moved a muscle since my pregnancy was confirmed. Am not just being lazy though - after two previous mc's I was scared to walk to the car .

I'm in an organising mood at the moment myself - me and the DH are busy having a bit of a de-clutter to try and make some space.

mcchesers · 10/02/2008 19:24

Hey everyone. still coughing and sputtering with this stupid leftover cold. GP says she can do nothing for me, and I'm thinking about investing in a humidifier. Och, baby will need it anyway right?

Ok so picked out a travel system and since MIL is footing the bill we're going with the M&P pliko pramette system. It's not that bad, but with the whole package is works out to be the best deal in town. ugh. coughing again..be back in a bit to catch up and tell you all about the skinny on MA.

mcchesers · 10/02/2008 23:40

Ok Maternity Allowance is provided by the gov't up to 39 weeks at about 112.00 a week or something like that. So you can get that plus child benefit. The rules are you have to have worked at least 6 out of the last 15 months and have made over £30 a week.

Google Maternity Allowance, there's loads of info..but Jobcentre should be able to tell you over the phone. You need to apply as close to your 26th week as possible, so they know when to start the cheques. This is hard for me too, because I'm on a rolling contract and not sure if it will extend on to May or not. I'll have to see. It's worth phoning anyway, but you can get the form online and fill it out anytime.

Not a bad deal for those of us who work a wee bit or who's companies do not pay SMP.

18 weeks, still haven't bought a stitch..I feel too chicken. Anyone of you ladies in Scotland want to go shopping with me?

mcchesers · 11/02/2008 08:18

ok I got it wrong..you had to work 13 out of the last 66 weeks up to your EDD. They give you a test period. I'm due July 12th so my test period is like April 2,2007 - July 8, 2008. So if I worked 13 weeks (not necessarily consecutively) during that time I then should qualify. So as long as you work no more than 10 days (KIT) during your Leave then you get paid.

I'm going to go ahead and take the whole 39 weeks. I suppose I can always phone and cancel if I start working again.

oops gotta go to work, last day of my notice.

Have a good one, I'll catch up with you later.

MissChika · 11/02/2008 11:12

Morning Fellow First Timers!

How is everyone today? I'm feeling happy - think it must be the sunshine!!

Mcchesers - still haven't bought anything either. For some reason I have in the back of my mind to wait until I've had my second scan. Only another 3 weeks to go so will probably go mad then!!

Original poster
TJuice · 11/02/2008 11:22

hey everyone.
hope you had a fab weekend. i was soooo lazy and very aware that these are the last few occasions that i can lounge in my pjs until 5pm - until i retire or something!

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MrsHOP · 11/02/2008 11:33

Morning all

I am full of the joys of spring myself! Saw a friend yesterday who has a 4 week old girl - DH held her and completely melted, so I am pretty pleased he is starting to get his head around it now! My friend and her husband seemed pretty relaxed about it all but said the lack of sleep is the biggest shock to the system. I guess that is something we can't prepare for though, except try and get as many lie ins as possible now!!!

I am not buying anything until 2nd scan either, think I've felt some movement this weekend by the way - I described it as drumming, maybe I've got a future rock star growing!

Hope everyone is enjoying this wonderful weather - just think, we will get to enjoy some lovely sunshine with our new sidekicks this summer!

do we get child benefit as well as SMP then? think I need to do some reading up...

xxx

MissChika · 11/02/2008 11:39

Tjuice - have been feeling a little bit guilty for being so lazy but I agree that we definitely need to take advantage of lazy days while we can!

I still haven't felt any real movement yet (I'm 20 weeks this week) but I'm hoping that the indistinguishable windy-type feelings will turn into something more tangible soon!

MrsHOP - lovely that your DH is starting to get his head around it! It must be hard for DHs/DPs during the first half of pg when they can't feel the baby move and aren't going through the massive changes that we are.

Original poster
TJuice · 11/02/2008 17:09

miss chika - i only really felt something last week (20 weeks) and only when i lie on my back (which i suppose you're not supposed to do but it still feels fine to me).

okay - i have to admit a funny totally green moment. luckily my two good friends have done the same:

rebecca to her mum "what do babies eat?"

susan "do babies wear trousers?"

me - whilst at a flea market looking for baby-stuff, see small cradles thing that looks like one of those swingey moses baskets on stands. examine it, thinking "this could work" before realising it was a (admittedly large) TOY . . .

please say that i am not the only totally greenie mum-to-be on here . . . .such a div

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makecakesnotwar · 11/02/2008 18:07

Just thought I'd say hello- I'm a first timer, expecting a girl at the end of May...just discovered I'm sffering from SPD, which has slowed me down a lot. Though not the baby, who has been somersaulting for weeks. Worried she's going to have ADHD!!!

bitofadramaqueen · 11/02/2008 20:57

makecakes .

How's the SPD today?

makecakesnotwar · 11/02/2008 20:58

Dramaqueen- not too bad, though I confess have been taking it very easy. Dh working from home today so I have set up laptop in bedroom!!! Although bedroom activities were the reason I needed to rest up

MrsHOP · 11/02/2008 20:58

love it TJuice!

I am really jealous of your danish flea markets, I bet you can find some amazing things - car boots here in london are mainly cracked china and pirate DVDs these days...v depressing...

hi and welcome to you makecakes - sorry to hear you have been feeling rough.

chika I totally agree - I think they need a bit more time than us to get their head around it. We've even started to talk names, can't believe it!! MIL has been very vocal about names she hates, so I think I might have to start coming up with some shockers to keep her quiet...

MrsHOP · 11/02/2008 21:08

btw, does anyone else have weird smell 'cravings'? I have been getting a bit obsessed with washing powder and leather - FIL has just spent a fortune on a new leather recliner, and when I saw it at the weekend all I could do was sniff it

goodnight all

bitofadramaqueen · 11/02/2008 21:50

LOL makecakes!!! I hope it was worth it .

makecakesnotwar · 12/02/2008 08:47

Always, dramaqueen

MissChika · 12/02/2008 10:30

Tjuice - LOL at your tales of greeness!! Especially love your friend's "do babies wear trousers" query!!

MrsHOP - I don't have to worry about MIL and names - it's my mum that's the problem!! She has been suggesting (seriously) us naming our baby after her if we have a girl! Think she must be suffering from some vanity complex or other!

I definitely think you should come up with some outrageous ones for you MIL. Saying that, I bought a names book on a whim last week and here are a couple of entries for girls names:

*Titty
*Sappho

Maybe you could try them out with MIL!!

MrsHOP · 12/02/2008 11:00

I LOVE Titty & Sappho - ha ha! I am def going to suggest those to MIL...