Spring is sprung, the grass is ris, I wonder where my toenails is - Due June 2010

[greensnail]

Ok, here it is ladies. Nice new thread for us all to enjoy

Happy Birthday Chestnut. I hope you enjoy the theatre once you get there - it's the thinking about it that is often more difficult than the actual doing.

Don't worry about being labelled 'neurotic'. The midwives are supposed to be there to support and reassure you. It's scary being a first time Mum - we just don't know what's ok and what's not.

Just inhaled three slices of chocolate cappucino swiss roll after our HR lady turned down my very polite request to carry over one day of my annual leave to next month so I can go to a family wedding. I guess I shouldn't ask if I can't handle being told 'no' but feel it is very unfair when it is implicitly accepted at work that we have to be flexible, work extra hours, take care not to take hols at busy times etc. Felt like a little child being told 'no'. Can't wait until my bloody maternity leave starts. Sorry had to rant at unfairness of it.

God sunworshipper, that is quite harsh of HR. Hope the inhaling of the cake helped. Can you ask your boss to sort it?

Thanks Saucepanman. Unfortunately my boss is whiter than white. It's like working with God. How can you argue with someone who is perfect, scrupulous, by the book. Only thing I can find fault with is her appalling dress sense but she is so 'good' that I just feel like a bitch when she walks in in yet another fancy dress get up and I think evil thoughts. Will just have to be grown up and dignified about it and take this sodding day off at the worst possible time for them!!!!!

madamefreckle - no, not normally routine to have a gtt unless there are risk factors present or glucose in urine. To whoever said about feeling fine and never having had sugar show up in urine - I have always felt fine and never had sugar show up either, but have still had GD in two pregnancies from very early on.

Happy birthday chestnut .

No, no progress with Discovery monkeymargot. Don't seem to be as many around as we'd expected with the reg change. Although dh found out yesterday that he's going to be out of work again in 3 weeks, so it might have to go on hold anyway .

Sorry to be brief - am being jumped on!

Happy happy birthday Chestnut! 31 - you are a veritable spring chicken my dear. I turn 36 next wednesday . Enjoy the theatre dahling!

sunworshipper I would want to lampoon your HR manager. What a jobsworth. You do know what HR stands for don't you? Human Remains .

CSWS blimey hope that isn't a cause for worry. Hope another contract comes along for your DH very soon.

Got to dash - am also off out to my monthly girlsnightout book club. Am soo tired but am going to make the effort (mainly for the food). bye all!

Hope you have a lovely evening in the end, chestnut - Happy Birthday! My mum claims that she never felt any movement at all with any of us!

So basically, with regards to GTT, as they don't routinely test and it may not show up in urine, it's perfectly possible to have GD and for it not to be picked up at all. I won't let that worry me!

Pelvic pain not getting any better...not enjoying walking at all . Is there anything anyone can do about it or do you just have to wait 'til after the delivery for it to resolve?

Any financial gurus/personnel people out there?...Please could someone explain the difference between Maternity Pay and Maternity Allowance. I don't know which one I might be entitled to. I have been on a fixed term, part-time contract from Sept '09 to Aug '10. I am going on maternity leave 4 months before the contract ends, but does that mean I will only be entitled to pay/allowance for 4 months??

Hi all,

Haven't really posted much on here since joining the June mums thread. Don't get a chance to come on that often so spend all my time catching up on what everyone else is up to .Makes me feel much better as to hear that there are lots of people going through the same as me and I'm not abnormal.

I've just turned 28 weeks and feel enormous though realistically know I'm not that big. But with 2 kids and working part time (as a fitness instructor) my bump feels somewhat debilitating . It's the bending that does it, seem to get a repeat of whatever I've eaten every time I bend over. God bless Gaviscon.

Can i just ask if anyone has any experience of chicken pox in pregnancy? I have never had it and was exposed to a little girl who 10 hours later came out in it. Have had a test for the antibodies which came back as inconclusive so I have to go for an injection tomorrow which will apparently give me short term protection. Has anyone else had this?

Hope everyone is keeping well. Enjoy your book club MonkeyMargot

Jenba

madamfreckle def not a financial guru but I would guess that you would be entitled to Maternity Allowance. SMP is paid by the company you work for and you generally have to have been working for them for a set period of time before your pregnancy (check their mat policy). If you have been working (employed or self employed) for at least 26 weeks within a 66 week period prior to your EDD and paying a minimum of class 2 National Ins contributions you are entitled to Maternity Allowance. This is generally the same rate as SMP but there are some circumstances where it may be less (if you earnt less than that amount in a 13 week test period). I don't think MA is paid for a variable amount of time, you either qualify for the full 39 weeks or not.

I hope that is helpful. I have looked into it as I am getting MA. I think all that info is correct but if any one knows different please correct me.

Jenba x

Oh eek Jenba re chickenpox - that's def about the worst time possible to have made contact. I don't know anyone who has had chickenpox themselves during pregnancy, but I do know someone (in RL, although she's also a MNer) whose ds was born with CP, which is not an experience that she'd volunteer to repeat. Hope that it all turns out ok for you.

I don't believe that anyone can claim SMP and Maternity Allowance - it's one or the other AFAIK. What Jenba said sounds about right, although it's been a few years since I claimed MA myself. The pay out is v similar, except that with MA you don't get the 90% of salary bit - it's straight to the hundred-and-whatever a week.

Maternity Allowance

Will catch up with everyone tomorrow as I'm absolutely shattered.

MillyMollyMoo Response to question a few posts up now, but yes if you could send the hypnobirthing affirmations to me that would be lovely thank you. You won't be ablt to contact me on the contact poster link I don't think so you can email me at idratherberiding1 @ googlemail dot com

MadameF - sorry to hear about the pelvic pain. There's a lot of people here who know more about SPD than me, but thought you should know that it doesn't have to be a permanent problem...you might recall that I had a similar attack to yours in January, and like you couldn't really walk normally for several days, following which it recurred a number of times. However, for me I think it was linked to one specific activity - cycling - and by cutting that out and spending a lot of time sitting down, things have definitely improved. I'm still going to have to be careful for the next three months, but I now think there's a fighting chance I can get through to the end of pregnancy with a reasonable level of activity.

So, basically, I think I'm saying: "sit down!' and hopefully it might improve if you give it a few weeks.

Have just managed to get caught up with the new thread...

I have just got my health in pregnancy form from the midwife today. I don't think I'll have any trouble spending it! (though the promo poster makes it look as though we are all going to spend £190 on fresh fruit).

Thanks for all the info about Maternity Allowance - I was just struggling to get my head around that so very useful. I may come back with some questions as my situation is a bit weird.

Happy birthday chestnut - you are 10 years younger than me so enjoy it!

My sister has six children too! I have to admit it was difficult to react properly when she announced the sixth pregnancy - she really is a saint and I don't know how she does it.

Sympathy to everyone who has pain of various types. I'm nearly full time on the crutches now with the SPD and have had to increase DD's childcare. I know she is missing out on time with me but I keep telling myself it is just for a short time, she won't remember it, and she will be thrilled to have a little brother or sister at the end of it all.

Oh yes, happy birthday Chestnut! Hope you get a solid night's sleep to celebrate.

I'm pleased to hear about people's plans for their health in pregnancy grants. I did feel very bad when my first thought on hearing about it was 'great, that will pay for my flight to go on holiday' but I'm telling myself that will be pretty good for my health

Hi All,
I went for my first appointment with the dentist today (bleeding gums and all that!) I believed I could get a free dental check up and cleaning but they told me I would have to make an appointment with dental hygienist for bleeding gums and will also have to pay (between £45 and £60) for the treatment.
Has anyone got free dental care during pregnancy or is it just for saying?

Appu A normal check-up should be free, if you have sent off the form for free dental care and prescriptions, but I know at my dentist that the hygenist is effectively private (i.e. not NHS) so you have to pay (ours charges about £45). Having said that, I only sent my form off this week so I had to pay for my initial check-up anyway (I was only about 6 weeks pregnant so hadn't even seen the midwife!)

Chestnut- happy birthday, and I hope the theatre was great.

Morning all, hope everyone is well?

Sunworshipper I reeeeaaaaallllly enjoyed my scone. Definitely cream on first, spread it like it's the butter (and that way you can get more on the scone )

Greensnail Itching sounds awful, does the medication stop it?
Luckily kids were at their dad's on Tuesday night and were taken straight to school from his house on Wednesday morning so I didn't have to worry about sorting them out and ferrying them off somewhere at stupid o'clock.

LittleRobbo did you have your scone? I had another one last night

Madamefreckle it does sound as if you've got SPD. You need to tell your MW asap so she can refer you to Physio. There's not an awful lot they can do about it. I've been having acupuncture and it has helped a bit. I'm not in excruciating agony all the time now as long as I do absolutely nothing. My advice to you is to take it easy and keep your legs together

I had a GTT because I have a history of having big babies (9lb 4oz and 10lb 14oz)

gizmo I don't have safe positions, can't really get down on my hands and knees because I'd never get up again . At times I've felt a little dizzy/lightheaded and it seems to be worse in the car. This baby likes to move around alot and likes to sit down on my bottom righthand side, which is great but other times it seems to be really high up.....this is when I get breathless.

Did you get the chest of drawers from an online shop on ebay?

Chestnut HAPPY BIRTHDAY for yesterday.

Went to the hospital for my GTT and Sphincter scan. GTT was pretty straight forward and during the 2 hour wait I went for my Sphincter scan appointment. As it turned out I had a great chat with the Colorectal consultant and I didn't need to have the scan.......PHEW. He said from the symptoms I had described and the fact that I had had a 3rd degree tear meant that there is no doubt about it, my Sphincter muscle is damaged.
He also recommended that I should have a caesarean because he said that if I tear again then I will do irreversable damage to myself that will never be able to be properly corrected. [Yuk emoticon]

We then went to B&Q and got some paint to do our hallway and landing. DH is going to do it at the weekend but I'm dreading it! I usually do all the painting and DH is so heavy handed with everything. He hasn't got the patience or finesse to do the cutting in properly so there will probably be a few arguments in this household.

Was in agony when we got home, too much traipsing around the hospital (and B&Q) and sitting in the car for so long doesn't help either. Was shattered last night but I still woke up at my normal time in the night

With regards to MAT Leave I officially start mine on 10th May.....ha,ha what a joke, I've been off work since October. Went to see my boss on Tuesday to sort it out. She asked me what I was going to do once the baby is born. I think she really expected me to say "I'll be back by the summer holidays" (which is the busiest period). Thing is, she's never had anyone go on mat leave before, she knows perfectly well that I'm entitled to a year off but will have no qualms in trying to guilt me into going back sooner. She wants an easy life and doesn't want to have to take on more staff and train them up. I'm also convenient to her because she can go off and leave me to it and know that everything will run smoothly whilst she's gone.
What I didn't tell her was that I have no intention of going back after Mat leave

Sorry for such a long post today. Will just say one more thing that I forgot.....after GTT I was absolutely starving, DH took me to McDonalds and I had a Quarter Pounder Meal. MMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMM.

So sorry, seem to have put people off with my incredibly long post .

You can all come out from hiding now, I'm off to my antenatal class

hi all

I can report a fab nights sleep and a great night at the theatre. After moaning about baby movements, she seemedto get rather excited during all the loud songs (we went to see Sister Act the muscial) and I felt her during the entire show. Now back to nithing, so clearly she is just a lazy little thing!

mampam sorry to hear you are still in pain; take it easy with the painting!

Does anyone have exciting plans for the weekend? We are off to Bath to visit DH's granny, who is 80. Exciting!

Mampam - I was wondering if you knew that if you don't go back after mat leave, you will have to pay back a prtion of the pay? I can't remember how much mine was, but perhaps £1700? I knew in advance so I saved it. I was pretty sure I wasn't going to go back but my union rep advised me to hang back in case I hated being at home with a baby! His wife had...

How do you feel about a c-section? Anecdotally, I've heard that a planned one can be a quite calm and enjoyable affair. A woman had one the day before my emergency one when DD was born and she was just on paracetamol . I was on everything I could possibly get (circumstances meant there was quite a lot of rummaging around inside me, so lots of bruising). The planned c-section seemed a totally different affair from mine.

chestnut Glad you had fun last night.

mampam I had a good experience with a planned c-section last time. It sounds like the lower risk option for you given that prgnosis.

I know what you mean about the frustration of having your DH do things you are better at. I even get frustrated watching DH chop onions, let alone paint a wall!

LaTrucha - maybe you are remembering more than I am about where mampam works, but if you only get SMP, not topped up by the company, then you absolutely don't have to pay a single penny of it back if you don't return to work!

Glad the theatre was good chestnut. That's one thing that I miss being able to do since having dc. Not that we went often, but it was nice to be able to on occasion.

appu - I've always had free dental care whilst pregnant, but I am with an NHS dentist. If you are a private patient then the rules might be different.

meggy wanted to begin by saying sorry about your friend

I paid to have dental treatment this week, because I had a badly cracked tooth and was recommended someone who could potentially save it. He couldn't, so I had an hour of him drilling and bashing away at it with something like pliers and a nutcracker. DH, DS and I are meant to be going away for our last weekend treat before the baby comes, but I have a sore mouth and I have just gone to pick DS up from nursery because he had tummy ache, but more worryingly they rang to say his 'heart was racing'. I think it's always quite fast, but I went into hypochondriac overdrive about what might be wrong with him on the way to collect him. He has a routine GP appointment tomorrow for something else, so I will ask her.

Anyway he's eating rice cakes and watching cbeebies, so who knows.

I like the HR stories on here. It turns out that my current employer, who I am leaving on 31 march, have to pay me SMP even though I'm moving to another organisation, because of the rule about where you're employed in the whatever-week-it-is before your 'confinement'. They are furious with the organisation I'm moving to for taking so long to sort it all out. It was a helpful HR person who drew my attention to that rule, so I feel my situation is looking up.

Am meant to be doing some work right now, but think I'll go and watch cbeebies too.

Can'tSleep - it's very unlikely that I would remember anything, point blank. But you are right, you don't have to repay SMP if not topped up by employer. I thought I'd flag it up as some people do get a nasty surprise if they don't realise this.

I've only recently remembered that while you are pregnant you have to take your maternity notes around with you. Has everyone else been doing this conscientiously?

appu bleeding gums are very common in pg due to hormonal changes,i have been to dentist recently because of the same thing,i was given a prescription for Corsydol mouthwash and told to go back after the birth for 2 fillings an x-ray and general check up,there was no talk of me having to pay whatsover,i think you have been given wrong info

mampam can you believe it,DH went to Somerset for a meeting yesterday so i said ooh brilliant bring me some scones and clotted cream back but he said he doubts they sell them on a bloody building site! So,no scones for me,yet!