PREGNANT MN CHILDMINDERS - come over here......

[looneytune]

Right, as mentioned in the staffroom, there is definitely something in the water!! Due to there being a few of us now, I thought we should have a thread to keep tabs on when everyone is due etc.

I'll put the info I know so far, come and add yourself/your details or even better, copy and paste this list and update accordingly

Crace - C-section booked for ??? May
Looneytune - EDD 23rd June (BOY)
eleanorsmum - EDD ????
MamaG - EDD ???

I know there are others but I just can't remember now (don't you just love the pregnancy brain!). Tori has her baby last night and I think another had theirs recently too but still thought there were more pregnant C/Ms????

OFSTEDoutstanding:

It is the same here - far more chilminders to available children!

Luckily my 2yr old mindee will be going to a friend of mine who will cover my maternity leave and I will be having him back in April 09.

I also have a school run but am not having her back as the school is a car ride away, which will be impossible once this baby arrives.

However, her mum has now told me that she is moving her to my local school in Sept 09 and has told me that she definitely wants me to have her daughter back, so I am hoping things won't be too quiet when I return!In the meantime she will go to another CM>

Finding children here tough is definitely hard work!

I seem to go through months with no calls then literally can have 4/5 enquiries in a few days!

I have a fab childminder friend that has offered to take my 2 day mindee for my maternity leave-its just a case of getting them to meet now and see if all parties will go ahead.....

you need to take me off the list. its all over.

So sorry to hear that Eleanorsmum..... I do know how you feel as i have been through it before i had my son. We had a missed m/c so found out at my scan. I am so so sorry that you are going through such a bad time and really hope you get lots of support. Take Care of yourself.....xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx

Eleanorsmum

I am SO sorry the worst was confirmed. Please take care of yourself
xxxxxx

Oh Ellie, I'm so so sorry I know what you're going through and it really is the pits. Sending you lots and lots of {{{hugs}}} and best of luck with the ERPC tomorrow. Will be thinking of you xxx

Oh girls, am so struggling. I have 4 week on Friday and it's getting tough - am 32 weeks on Sat. Good news is that it's 7 weeks until my c/s too on Friday. I sent out my last invoice today though for the month and that was quite gratifying.

Called Jobcentre to find out what's happening with my MA as not heard in 5 weeks.. I can't call back until end of next week (!) to find out if it's been approved. How annoying!!

Can I just come on here and moan? I'm sat here in tears wondering how the hell I'm going to get through the next 9+ weeks of work. I know we're all suffering so feel bad coming on here and moaning but I can't really moan to dh as he looks at me all blank as he hasn't got a clue! The groin pain I can tolerate now I've had work done on my pelvis but I'm feeling so so weak, lightheaded and now have swelling up to my knees and can feel it when I walk.

Sorry for the moan, just needed to vent!! Wed & Thurs are my worse days as I start earlier (that bit doesn't bother me so much) and it's lots more carrying (the other days I have new tiny baby so she's dead easy to carry). It's pick up 11 month old, put in car, pick up 13 month old (HEAVY!), put in car, park at school, get them out and in pram, walk ds to school. Get them back (ouot of breath pushing them!), lift both into car. Get home, nappy change for both, up the stairs twice with each one . About 45 mins later, get both up, possible nappy changes again, both dressed, shoes & coats on and both back in car. Both out of car and struggle to carry into group. Only there 45 mins - 1 hr due to naps (do snacks & bottle), back in car, out of car. Stuff off, rush to make lunch, lift into highchairs and give them lunch. Both chuck stuff on floor and tip cups upside down to see who can get the most water in highchair trays, do dessert, clean up, lift both out, change nappies (each change makes me feel sooo squished inside from bending), brace myself for picking them both up once in growbags and getting them back upstairs , one by one put them upstairs for nap, spend naptime trying to recover from lifting both upstairs + tidying up, spraying highchairs, picking food off floor, cleaning kitchen and making lunch. Scoff food then time to get them up again, nappy change x 2 then back in car for first school run....then 2nd school run. Get home, snacks for older ones, bottle for 13 month old then straight onto heating both 1 yr olds dinners. Spoonfeed both at same time, do dessert, clean up and rush to put ds's dinner on. Then once all gone, desperate to sit down but so much to clear up. Once that's done I do what I'm doing now, collapse in heap and wonder how on earth I'll get through tomorrow!!!

God, what a right old moan. I'm so so grateful for my little bubba and wouldn't change it for the world, just happy he's ok after all the scares at the beginning. It's just this job isn't agreeing with me right now

Now shoot me, I know full well I'm not the only one and I feel like I'm just wallowing right now, don't know what's wrong with me!!

I know what's wrong with you. You're doing too much!!!!

Something's got to give. That's a huge work load! Is it only DS you have to take to and from school? Is there any way you can find a friend or neighbour to help out either taking or collecting him (or both)? That would take an enormous strain off you for a start. And I'm sure your parents would understand if you cut down on your trips out for the last month or so.

(I'm going out now, got a Guiders meeting, but I will come back later and sort you out, young lady! )

Can I lurk in here? I'm only a wannabe C/M as I'm waiting for my CRB to come through but I'm 6wks pg. Looneytune you were very reassuring when I was asking if anyone would want me as a CM knowing I was pg, I hope you feel better soon/get some help.
MML, I'm a Brownie guider, what age do you do?
Libbysmummy, I am between Oxford and Swindon

I am with you on that Mo, farm ds out to a friend! It is exactly what I have done with my own ds, I wouldn't be able to cope with everything else.

You are doing too much - you will end up having to give up early, can you think about cutting back?

Oh my goodness Ms Looneytune-you are doing way too much.....
You really have it hard with the ages of the babies and just know i wouldnt manage at all even now at just under 20wks.....
Can you not stop playgroups for now to give you some 'breaks' in the day? I am sure the babies would be happy at your house just to play while you join them on the floor (just make sure you can get up again!)
And yes i agree with MaureenMLove, can someone not do one of the school runs on these days to take the strain off you slightly? I am sure another Mummy would not mind in the slightest!

I have my official date of going on maternity leave now-last day 16th July!

Sorry for delay, was so embarrassed I'd admitted I wasn't coping well, I didn't come back for a bit.

Thanks all for not making me feel like a whinging old bag! I'm feeling better already from just letting it all out, think I just needed to let it all out iykwim.

Dh isn't keen on having someone else doing the school run with ds regularly and I must admit I hate putting on people BUT he's now seen me in a state (blubbing at you all agreeing it's too much) and we've decided that there is one person I can ask to pick him up in the morning and POSSIBLY bring back after school as she drives past our house and her dd is joining his class after the 2 week break. So I'll see if she can help out for about 3 weeks, just doing 2 days a week.

Feel better about next 2 weeks as although all the babies are still coming every day, there are no school runs and only half the groups (2 of them not on in hols so will just go to the other 2 days) plus 1 mindee less as after schooler is term time only. After the school hols it's 3 weeks of being back to normal then the nearly 1 yr old is off for 2 weeks then it's half term again so week off, then it's my last week. What I think I'll do on those 3 weeks I do have the normal routine is miss the group in the middle of the week (most stressful for getting them in etc), all mindees still end up with groups during the week, just not every day. They are very happy at home and it's not like they are totally missing out full stop.

Now I've thought all that through, I'm feeling a lot better so thanks everyone IF my friend will take ds in the mornings (i HATE asking though), I can put the mindees down for a nap at 9am (well, definitely the one who needs it) instead of after school run about 9.30am. This will prevent the big rush I have to make sure we get enough time at group as atm, I put down about 9.20/9.30, they need to settle then sleep for about an hour, by the time I have them both down, nappy changed and ready for the car, we end up with only about 45 mins at group and it's all such a rush. This earlier nap time would make SUCH a difference

Now.....could just do with having a higher up place to change nappies and then everything is sorted

Off to make some dinner now, thanks again lovely people

I'm back! Jolly good. Glad you can see things more clearly. Its daft not to ask someone for help who is passing your front door. I know how you feel though. When I was just out of hospital after ep, I really didn't want to ask for help, but the op is like a c-section - I could barely walk for 2 weeks, so I just had to admit defeat. You'd be cross if someone in need didn't ask you! Now then, higher changing nappy place? Where do you do it, on the floor? With all due respect (or not!) to Ofsted. How the hell are they going to know where and how you do it, as long as you do it! Children have been changed in fron of others and on a bed or settee for years and I don't know of any that have been cross-contaminated!

Yorky - I'm a Rainbow Guider and I've just been to a District meeting. Our DC retired from the position at Christmas and we are flying without a leader! Tis great fun! I'm the rep for the next Division meeting, then I'm chairing the District one the following week! My aim is to get the meeting over and done with, within an hour!

Hi looneytune just a thought but can you arrange with your ds school to allow you to park in the staff car park for school collects and drop offs then get a permission form signed from both parents to say you can leave their dc in the car while you run in and get ds. That is what I do with my 3 younger mindees while I collect the other 3 older ones it works really well and there is no extra lifting

Mo - the nappy changes are done on the floor, yes, but not because of anything to do with Ofsted. I just can't think of anywhere else i can do them? I'd do them on the bed but that would mean carrying them upstairs and that's even worse iyswim.

I've been thinking about this asking a friend thing......my friend doesn't pass my door, she just passes the road off the main road that you use to get to my house. It would add about 10 mins to her journey each time by the time ds is in her car. Also, ds majorly stressed me out this morning and was being impossible to get ready on time. If my friend had been picking him up, I'd be really stressed about that as no way I'd want to hold her up. Not sure what to do

OO - if only. I do this in the afternoon at the pre-school but that's only because I park right outside the door and there is staff on the door watching out. I couldn't do this at ds's school as the car park is far too far away from the school and no one would be watching them. Anything could happen!! (I worry as I used to have a baby who was very sick quite a lot and I'd worry about them choking if I left them).

One thing I am doing today is giving toddler group a miss. The girls are a bit out of sorts atm anyway (both teething and yesterday would have been better just at home). Decided that I haven't felt well since waking up this morning and felt dizzy when got back from the school run so going to stay and have a chilled day in for a change

Could you explain to the parents of your mindees that you are finding things hard going so might have to give groups a miss occasionnally but will do fun things at home instead. Surely they would prefere to have you working so they don't have to take time off rather than make yourself ill and have to finish earlier than intended.
I had chronic morning/all day/all night sickness for first 18 weeks and the parents were just greateful that I still had their dc even though we dropped down from going out to clubs every day to just the once a week?

Must dash in a sec as got to get them up and dressed etc. for school run in 10 mins!

I feel I can say about groups to all but one of the parents. The one I'm worried about is the one who is fab, had baby since 8 weeks old (used to pay double for those who remember), lovely person who is pleased for me that I'm pregnant, won't use any other cm or nursery as not found anyone like 'me' hehe BUT....she had concerns when I told her I was pregnant and was worried how I'd cope nearer the end and was worried something bad might happen during birth etc (she had major problems). I spent time reassuring her that I was fine with ds and although I can't guarantee, I'm sure everything will be fine. If I now tell her I'm struggling (think she thinks I'm superwoman and I'm doing fine), she'll go into a panic, I KNOW she will. Love her to bits but she's a big worrier and I don't feel I can tell her I'm struggling iykwim.

Right, VERY late now, must go xx

I really sympathise LT, I only had school runs every day to do but did have occasional 2 yo twins or 4 yo for the day, they were tough days, especially the twins as they needed nappy changes and lifting into pushchair/car, we had more tv time and independent time than I would normally do but parents (who are friends) were ok with this.

Rather than say you are struggling could you say to the one parent that it's more that you would rather stay at home for these last few weeks (could say you need to be conserving your energy and find the lifting of the other children difficult - or 'blame' your dh - my dh was insistent that I didn't do too much!) and assure her you will be doing stuff instead of toddler group(s) - or ask fellow cms round with their charges?

Or is there a school mum who would stay by your car whilst you go in with the schoolies?

I'm having concerns about the other end - i.e. going back to work! ds will be 8 weeks old - he's 4 weeks old today - and I'm already fretting about how to fit in breakfast and preparing for school run for ds, 5yo mindee, 3yo mindee and 10 month old mindee plus ds feed if needed all in half an hour before needing to leave for school! A friend cm how went back to work when her ds was 8 weeks old said she fed her ds before any mindees arrived, even if ds had had feed only recently, as this kept ds going until return from school run! At the moment ds feeds can last up to 40 mins!!! Guess it will get easier as he gets older and more into a routine, have to wait and see!

AskABusyPerson - hello As my blood pressure has been low throughout and getting lower, I have a feeling when I tell the midwife on Tuesday how I've been feeling, she'll probably suggest I slow things down a bit. Also because of the swelling. So, I could then just say to that mum that I'm fine looking after the children, just the rushing is starting to get a bit much and it's been suggested I try and limit the amount of trips etc? As for another mum keeping an eye out, it's a bit hectic and hard to park so don't think that would work. Also, it's only ds who I take to/get from that school so if anything, I'd be better asking them to take him in. Can't really leave mindees out of sight

I must admit to also being concerned about the other end so would love to hear how you get on when you're back to it. Advice will be very welcome My baby will also be approx. 8 weeks when I start back and I'll be straight back to having these on the school runs: 8 wk old, 8 month/17 month old (depending on day), 19 month old, 4 yr old and 5 yr old. I think my own baby will go in a sling to start with then I'll judge whether or not I'll need a triple buggy. My main concern is b/feeding times.

Hi everyone

Saw midwife this morning who said the reason I'm feeling like I am is down to over doing things and that I shouldn't be doing so much, surprise surprise!

And I found out why my right rib has been hurting more than expected....baby's head is hanging about right under it. Yes, the little monkey is currently breach!! I've been having words with him about moving as he'll stop me from having my much wanted Home Birth if he doesn't shift!!!

Anyway, sounds like tiny baby may be wanting her bottle so best go.

Hope you're all well

Oh bless you Looneytune - I think you probably knew you were overdoing it though!!!!

I am really suffering at the mo with suspected SPD and have a physio appointment next week but I'm not really sure what they can do.

Everyone keeps telling me to just stop work now but it's just not that easy is it?!

Hopefully your little monkey will move with plenty of time left - my dd was transverse right up until a few days before I had her.....

I actually wish mine were breach - and that sounds ridiculous but I would feel sooo much better about my c-section if it were necessary!

Plenty of time to turn LT try and not worry -visualisation apparently is a good thing. Fingers crossed for you.

I really really want to be all done now, I am struggling more and more and since I am the size of a beached whale... I can't even cuddle, I've lost the use of my lap! But hey I've got a great place to rest my drink and plate. 6 weeks and 3 days to go..

I saw a very tiny baby when I was out and about today and part of me dreads dealing with a tiny baby again and part of me though awwwwww lovely baby

Aww Crace 6weeks will fly by - my 14 weeks seems like a lifetime away! I know what you mean about the loss of a lap - getting lots of toddlers shoes on is proving to be a bit of a workout!

I also saw a tiny baby today and got a bit scared! Especially as at the time dd was running around shouting about "boobies!" (her fav subject at the mo unfortunately!) How on earth am I going to manage another one plus mindees!!!????

ps saw an earlier post where you said you are near me - nice to know there is a fellow MN in the area

Am I? In kent?