Pregnancies due April 2018 *Edited by MNHQ*

[Shanners123]

Hi ladies.. early days but thought I'd start a group for everyone due April next year... see how we're all doing!

I'm definitely going to give them a call @AnnaMadden and try to rearrange, thanks for the info.

As my work currently don't know, it is very difficult to keep getting time off, so I do not want to have to go back again.

I'm on a FTC which is due to end on the 19th Jan (which I believe would mean I would be entitled to Maternity Leave) so I am worried about telling work early and them finding a reason to end my contract before that.

I had a private scan at Mothercare @WineAndTiramisu. They were amazing. Would 100% recommend them to anyone looking at private scans. Good luck for tomorrow :)

@ClaireBear1986 you only have to officially tell your employer 15 weeks before you plan to take maternity leave to ensure you get what you're entitled to. This is the latest cut off point. However, they are also obliged to give you additional breaks, areas to relax in and paid time off for appoint,nets etc so it's worth telling them to ensure they can look after you properly. Once you have told them any dismissal before your contract end date could result in you filing for constructive dismissal which I'm guessing they won't risk!

Unfortunately I have heard from other employees that they have ended their contracts to avoid paying maternity leave. My contract states that it can be ended early as long as 4 weeks notice is given.

I am covering maternity leave (19th Jan 2017 - 19th Jan 2018) at the moment and have been advised that the lady is considering returning early (beginning of December) but they are currently trying to talk her into waiting till 19th Jan for her return.
Bit worried that if I tell them then they may encourage her to return early, so that I miss the cut off point for my maternity leave.
Hope that makes sense.

Tbh, I don't know how much longer I can keep it a secret anyway with appointments, bloated belly, big boobs and the fact that I am so excited and just want to tell everyone. Ha.

I think if my contract did end early, then I would still be entitled to Maternity Allowance. Does anyone know if that is correct?

@clairebear1986... what week are you on now? There will be a minimum period of time that the person you are covering will need to give to change her maternity leave.

@clairebear1986... what week are you on now? There will be a minimum period of time that the person you are covering will need to give to change her maternity leave.

I'm 11w + 1 day (according to my early scan)

I believe that she has to give 8 weeks notice, and is going to be confirming her return date on Monday 2nd October (as she is currently abroad)
From speaking with a close friend of hers, it sounds very likely that she will be returning at the beginning of December.
Just my luck as that means I will miss the maternity leave cut off point by a couple of weeks.

Keeping everything crossed that she decided to take the full year and return on 19th Jan.

Hi @ClaireBear1986 I'm in the same position! I technically qualify for maternity pay after 26 consecutive weeks of work at the beginning of October, and they are extending my contract end date from 31st Jan to 10th April (my due date is 29th April). So I'm trying to hold off telling them until my contract extension is in and it's after my 26 week period.
It's so difficult though as I have already had a midwife appointment and I've got another scan due so I need to think of things to say!
Luckily I haven't been ill with this pregnancy so I've been able to hide it quite well.

Such an awkward position to be in isn't it @roguenation? But congrats on the pregnancy, how many weeks are you now?

Hope you can keep it quiet? My Manager isn't based in the same building as me, and I only see her about once a month so that is making it easier.
But I am having to take sick days for my apps, and I don't get paid for this :(

Tbh, I don't even know if I am 100% right in saying that I would be entitled to mat leave, as I don't know if I have baby brain already but I am finding all the info so confusing.

I have worked from 19th Jan 2017, and if my contract does carry on to 19th Jan 2018 as agreed, I will have been working there for 52 weeks in total, and will have been employed by them for approx 25 weeks before I fell pregnant. I will also still be employed by them 15 weeks before my due date. Which I think makes me eligible. But then I see that you can't actually start maternity leave until 11 weeks before the due date. But my contract will be finishing approx 13 weeks before my due date , so would that mean that I am no longer entitled, or just that I wouldn't receive my maternity pay until 11 weeks before my due date.
Anyone know where I can go to get information on all this, as google isn't being very helpful and it is all starting to stress me out.

Alternatively is Maternity Allowance likely to be a viable option, or would this be affected by partner's income or anything like that?

I haven't been too ill either, but very tired and very bloated. I've ordered a lot of swing dresses for work, to cover my bloated belly.

Yes it is! It's not the best situation but these things happen.
Thank you :) I'm 9 weeks tomorrow, how about yourself?

Yeah it's quite confusing. So, you have to have worked a consecutive 26 week period to qualify BUT you must still be employed by the 15 weeks prior to your expected due date, if you are still employed, you qualify.
So for me, my 26 weeks takes me up to the 13th October. My due date is 29th April, and 15 weeks before that is the end of January. So I qualify by just over 2 months as this is the difference between my October and January date.
Does that make sense?

Also, I'm not sure about Maternity Allowance, I need to read up on this.

Im 10weeks 1 day. Have my 1st midwife app Wed, and scan on Thurs.
Is this your first?

From what you are saying, as long as I am still here early January then I would qualify.
Just a case of waiting and seeing when this lady decides to return. I'm hoping that she just stays off for her full year, as seems odd to me to come back in December. I definitely wouldn't want to come back early at Xmas if I didn't need to.

Think that makes sense, so as long as you are still working there in Jan then you will qualify.

I'm going to get my boyfriend to have a read through about maternity allowance, as I'm all over the place at the moment. Ha.

Lol yeah my husband looked through mine as I thought I wouldn't qualify but he assured me I did. I didn't think baby brain was a think in pregnancy but oh how I'm wrong!

Yep it's my first 😊 is it yours?

*thing sorry!!

My mat leave is in. Starting mid march. Was being harrassed to book annual leave as runs from April and if you leave it late you can't always get March dates and I already had a week in March. So fessed up and annual leave now in with Mat Leave starting 1st April, means I can finish at 35 weeks which is nice.

Not been on for atleast a week. So have a lot of catching up to do.

I've been having an up and down week tbh. I lost my grandad in the early hours of Monday morning. Me and my mum were with him and it was completely heart breaking. My emotions are all over the place anyway with the pregnancy. So this week has been a bit of a rollercoaster. I've been trying to not get too over stressed for the baby. As it won't do either of us any good. One good thing is that my grandad knew I was expecting and he told me that it was the best news. So I'm glad that he knew about it whilst he was still aware.

On a happier note I got my 12 week scan appointment through this week. It's the 9th of October. I'll be a little over 12 weeks. I can't wait to see how much baby has grown. I'll feel so much better for seeing my little bean again. Hopefully everything is still good.

@ally64224 sorry to hear about your grandad,
Its lovely that he knew you were expecting though

We might have the same due date as my first scan is 9 Oct and I'll be just over 12 weeks as well! I'm due 19 April

How common is it not to even see a midwife before your 12week scan? I came home to a letter from my maternity services to say that my booking in appointment has been cancelled...with no new date offered and told me they would be in touch with a new one at some point.

Thankyou @amysaurus87 we are due date buddies. I'm also due the 19th.

I had my midwife appointment at around 9 weeks. I'm not sure it particularly matters if you haven't seen the midwife before your scan. It's obviously just not the norm to have not been. But it's through no fault of your own.

I haven't seen a midwife yet and my scan was last week. I don't see the midwife until the 3rd Oct

ally62442 sorry to hear that, my condolences to you all.

Had the NIPT testing yesterday along with another scan, all looks to be going well!

We've figured a 10 week scan is as good as a 12 week scan, so are telling people now.

@WineAndTiramisu that's excellent news! Time to relax and enjoy being pregnant 💕

Glad your mat leave has all worked out for you @LooseMoose, that must be a weight off your mind. Fingers crossed that mine falls into place!!

@ally62442 Sorry to hear the sad news. Good luck for your 12 week scan :)
I'm also due 19th April, but my scan is this Thurs. Bit worried still that it is a bit too early, but when I rang they said to rearrange I have to go back in the system and wait to be recontacted and this could mean not having my 1st scan till another month later (when I would be past the 14 week stage)

Im the 19th April too.

Scan on the 9th Oct as well

Lots of people due 19th April then. How exciting.

Im going to have my scan on Thurs and just hope I dont have to go back for another one as its too early. Really cant afford anymore time off work.

Have people decided if they will find out the sex or not?
Im soooo impatient, I think I will have a private gender scan so I can know at 16 weeks.

Good luck for Thursday @ClaireBear1986 ☺ I have the 12 week scan in the morning. Petrified, couldn't sleep last night so god knows what I'll be like tonight! I don't want to find out what the baby is but my husband does 😂 I think if I dont know it will give me that little bit more of an incentive to push it out as I'll be dying to know what it is by that point 😂☺ xx

Thanks so much @Charlie0692. Good luck for yours tomorrow too, let us know how it all goes. Such an exciting but also nerve wrecking time.

How are you working that then? Is your husband going to find out and keep it secret, or have you put your foot down?

I am so desperate to know, and luckily my partner is too.

I just want to start buying cute little outfits. Girl or boy though, it's still going to be dressed head to toe in Chelsea kits. Ha ha.