10/10 Chats - Over Halfway There

[AbFabT]

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Hello ladies and bumps!

Well my bump been very wriggly all day - the most I have ever felt it. Do wonder if it was objecting to the building work going on outside our office thou? Still quite reassuring to feel baby wriggling away, but DD still not felt it yet as stops whenever she tried to feel it!

Moomar - sorry to hear about your Dad. Hope you managed to find somewhere decent for him and that he's bearing up ok. Must be tough for you all.

Good to hear all the positive news regarding scans. Got mine on Monday but can't decide if I want to know or not the sex of the baby. Hmmmm decision decision! Still baby may refuse to play ball if we decide to find out as when pg with DD she crossed everything so no one could tell at all what we were having!

Not sure if any of you have seen this genius thread a warning to those choosing names!

I handed in my MATB1 form last Tuesday - am planning on taking the full 52 weeks' leave, with 2 weeks annual leave at either end. My last day will be the 17th August

Thanks, Dilly. I know about the 15 weeks, but I just don't know if I can carry over all my annual leave. If I can't, I may as well leave seven weeks early, and then I don't have to bother with all this back-to-work/work-related stress nonsense. I'd just RATHER carry it forward, and get paid the 42 days or tack it on at the end (by which stage I'll also have accumulated a new batch of annual leave entitlement starting from the April (so about six months' worth).

Hi

In a hurry, so lots just a couple of comments/ questions!

I am working until 37/8 weekks. Even though ds was born at 35, this one might not be and I know that if things get too much for me, I can be signed off earlier anyway. I don't want to be in the situation where I finish early, then am sat twiddling my thimbs!

I think the anterior placenta thing is only a problem of it's low lying, so if it's high you should be able to fly - check with your midwife, though.

I'm starting to think about my hospital bag (I know ridiculously earyl, but I like to be over organised!!) Am thinking about what to give borth in - I want something cheap, but with buttons down the front, so skin to skin is easy and is stripping off!

I want something like this but with buttons all down the front like this any suggestions??

Thanks xx

Just a quick one, but I had my twenty week scan today an I found out that I'm having a little boy!!

It was pretty obvious, he is a bit of an exhibistionist I feel. It was practically the first thing we saw.

I am super excited and can't wait to meet him.

moonstorm, that's how I feel about working as late as possible, and if it comes to it and baby comes early or we feel not up to it, then so be it!

Any HR-types, I've just posted my maternity leave/annual leave query in the employment section of MN here, if anyone is bored can advise.

I have already started packing my hospital bag (so far: flip flops (for shower), chocolates (for me) a couple of babygros (need washing yet, but I am keeping them in there for now) and my silverette nipple shield healing cup things (for breastfeeding))! And exactly like you, I have been searching high and low for a nice outfit for the hospital, but so far, nothing. There's something in Mamas and Papas I like (nightie), but it's full price and I am a tightarse frugal!

Congratulations on your son, Hermya.

elsa just let me know am pretty flexible as to date, time and location for the most part !

If last time is anything to go by I will be wearing my skin to give birth in! I came into hospital in a hurry after my waters broke, with some stuff for the baby as advised (pointlessly, because at 31 weeks there was no way he'd fit in newborn clothes!) but nothing for me so I was labouring in clothes for a while then tore them
all off because they annoyed me.

Re mat leave, you only have to tell them you're pregnant by 25 weeks. I don't think you have to give a definite date for starting mat leave because things can change very quickly presumably. I didn't tell them last time by 25wks when mat leave would start.

Abfab I thought you were taking leave at the start of your mat leave? I'm almost certainly going on AL from start of sept then mat leave from start of Oct. I just don't want to take any risks after last time, although that would still be slightly later than when ds was born anyway. So I could and up with a lot of time before if I go fullterm but I'll have ds to look after anyway so it won't be too much putting my feet up, just when he's in nursery. He starts five mornings in Sept.

Oh and congrats on all the scans and flavours. The boys seem to be making a comeback!

Mmoomar thanks fo the message and sorry about your dad. I do feel loads better and am blooming with a very active LO in there.

floozie, I'd rather my annual leave was saved for the end of the year after my first year off, to make my paid time off last longer, but I'll see what HR say. Got quite a few replies on my employment thread, but the answer seems to be I have to just ask HR and see what they'll give me.

moonstorm, is this any good for your requirements - here - it doesn't have buttons ALL the way down the front, but it has them at the breast area, if that's what you were mainly wanting?

On the feeding nightie thing. I always prefered to left mine up as i felt more exposed in a button gown one. Main problem with that is they pjs don't work after a section so hadto have a nightie

I, like Floozie, have given birth in my very own birthday suit twice. Clothes are such an irritant at that point - as is DP/MW/life hehe.

For afterwards, baggy trousers and a top is all you really need. Just take into account that you will be feeling asthough you have run a marathon and will perhaps be a little sore.

Morning all CONGRATULATIONS HERMYA!! A BOY!

Ref leave etc- I was told on Monday that I could not pick up my MatB1 until i was 25 weeks, which is annoying. I have 40 days leave to take and I can carry over 15 days at the start of each leave year, but if I take 52 weeks maternity leave and come back to work my annual leave entitlement and then 15 days on top which will equal 53 days and have until 1 Apr 12 to take it....well you can see the problem! Also, my work has embraced fully the new EU directive that means people should take a minimum of 28 days annual leave a year and maternity leave is not a special enough reason to carry over excess leave.

So, I plan on taking a week here and there in the next couple of months, then taking most of September off. I have no desire to be in work getting really big, but I'll see how I go and will try and work through the leave thing with HR.

Good point about the pyjamas just in case nymph. the recommendation is to take an old nightie, but as I don't wear bed clothes I have nothing like that to take and no t-shirts that are long enough for my liking. so I may visit a really cheap chop for something, but not synthetic! Why are so many nighties synthetic?!

Good morning.
All this paperwork and leave stuff is making my head hurt I had not even heard of a MatB1 form!! I have researched what they are but where do I get one from? Is it the midwife? Think I am starting to get my head round it all now, have worked out a budget and need to formally notify my work.

I was planning on getting a couple of nighties- my friend warned me that she ran out as she had quite a long labour and got changed a few times which left her with just a vest top to recieve visitors in when he was born.

Congrats on all the scans I am starting to wish I had found out the flavour now I mentioned having a private scan to my DH who gave me a long lecture on how we have a house to rebuild and baby stuff to buy and I am normally the sensible one!!

I don't have nighties etc either so it's a bit of s pita having to buy ones for a week tops. At home I tend to sleep in knickers & tshirt which will be fine for feeding in.

Am currently trying to refill my bladder after baby played trampolines & I went to the toilet without remembering I'm going for my scan soon.

Has anyone else had a twitchy eye? I've had it on and off since I got pg & it's really bad this week. Supposed to be stress but I'm not at the moment

AbFab haven't looked at the other thread but would imagine I can't add anything very different to what's been said. It depends on your employer's leave carry-over policy really and if they have a policy of minimum leave. Maybe you should tell them you intend to start mat leave on the due date and use up some holiday entitlement to go before that date, accruing and adding the rest to the end of your leave. Is there a limit to how long you can be paid on full pay while being signed off? Keep an eye on that.

Anyhoo, best have some lunch and a kip before picking up the horrors and taking them to taekwondo. The joys.

I was mainly looking at the nightie thing to receive visitors in and have the newborn and -exhausted happy mum photo! I do expect I may well end up naked for the actual process, especially if I end up doing the waterbirth thing.

Thanks, ILGH. Does look like I just have to see how generous/flexible the HR people will be. I can be signed off for six months, so it's not a concern.

Congrats on the scan Hermya and your DH must be strutting about with his chest puffed out if your gloriuos sons appendage was so noticble, I know mine would be!!

Had my scan. Forgot how painful a full bladder +waiting is couldn't walk down the corridor cos baby was bouncing so much.

Scan people v nice. Placenta at the front which explains why dh doesn't feel anything yet. Baby v lively and spinning, punching& kicking which is weird watching & feeling it at the same time!All checks & measurements right for dates etc. Great pic of baby stetching it's toes past it's head dd2 mark 2 [ going to be exhausted]

Congrats on the scan Nymph are you feeling better now?

I'm seriously exhausted at the moment, I'm also getting a lot of pain in my tummy as well, it feels like I've been kicked in the groin. I'm going to go for a bath and see if that helps any.

Well I got an appointment with the nurse yesterday and they were lovely-sorry yours wasn't mamjo. They said I did the right thing getting it checked out and will continue to monitor, also said to look out for brusing on the body? congratulations nymph and hermya the scans sounds great

Congratulations Nymph! I'm surprised you had to have a full bladder, I did not think it was a requirement for a 20 week scan. Hermya- I kow what you mean. I was expecting to be all bouncy in the 2nd Trimester and have been more shattered even. My sister told me the tiredness for her lifted at 5.5 months and I've had the same thing- almost overnight. Her's hoping you get the same. Are you taking vitamins? i find if I don't take them I'm exhausted. Its like the baby takes the food nutrients and I get the tablet stuff!