Pregnancies due April 2018

[DaisyLand]

New thread after www.mumsnet.com/Talk/pregnancy/3002846-Pregnancies-due-April-2018-Edited-by-MNHQ nearly full

@Claire that's so bad! Hope you were OK. I've gotten so fed up of not being offered seats that I now just ask for them, appreciate that you might not feel comfortable doing that. Makes me laugh the amount of people that spot my bump and badge and them instantly fall asleep or find a really interesting article in their paper! That's rubbish about your maternity pay. I don't blame you for wanting to leave asap!

@ClaireBear1986 are they even allowed to do that? I thought maternity pay had to be paid the same as your standard pay?

Drs just been round and said I’m allowed home but to come straight back if they start up again. Given me a huge lecture about rest as whilst I have been in they have eased so much. I’m just greatful I’m allowed home.
Yes I had steroids when I was 30 weeks as was getting regular Braxton Hicks so did it as a precaution.
They have now said that they don’t think the left is engaged and as I’m not bleeding or having any loss I’m allowed home. Just waiting to be discharged.
These babies definatley want to come out soon I’m hoping they at least hang in till March.

I was fine thanks @amysaurus87, just shook up and upset more than anything.
I've asked a few times, but been ignored and even had a man shout at me. I was so embarrassed that I got off at the next stop and waited for another tube!!
Luckily only got to make it to next Friday and then I am free.

@Pumpkina Yes they can unfortunately, because I am on a Fixed Term Contract and so my contract officially ends with them while I am on maternity leave. Seriously sucks!!

Unsure why they offered me the choice though, if they had already decided to pay it as a lump sum.
I have worked it out as a hell of a lot of money that I'm going to lose as well :( Rang HMRC but they wasn't very helpful either, so I'm still none the wiser about whether I can claim anything back.

On a happier note, I am looking at booking a Pregnancy Massage once I am on my maternity leave, to take all the stress away :)

@Bez so glad you get to go home must be nice for you :)

@Pumpkinma bloody doctors do like to scare us don't they :( deep breath and try not to worry until 36 weeks. Not too long to go

@ClaireBear1986 that's crazy why would they even want to do it that way?

No idea @Pumpkinma.

They will end up paying more as well according to HMRC due to NI contribution. So it's lose lose for both of us :(

My work have treated me appallingly since telling them I was pregnant, and I've had to fight constantly with them. Luckily CAB and ACAS have been great with advising me.
Tbh I wonder if they are doing it on purpose to get me back for standing up for myself. Seems petty and ridiculous, but that's what my company is like sadly.

In the beginning they even tried telling me that I wasn't entitled to maternity pay as I was on a FTC and that my antenatal appointments had to come out of my holiday or be unpaid leave. Don't think they liked the fact that I stuck up for myself and wouldn't be lied to.

@ClaireBear1986 That's so disgusting. It's shameful companies do this to people. Maybe speak to HR and ask them what can be done and you're not comfortable with them paying it one lump sum

It's actually HR that have said that they will be paying me in a lump sum.
Sent them several emails over the last couple of weeks and they have all been read and ignored.

I actually emailed the CEO of our company today, on the off chance that she might be willing to help. I doubt anything will be done, but it's worth a go I guess.

Its horrible really, as my company have made this pregnancy quite an upsetting and stressful time.

How are you coping with work @Pumpkinma, as I remember you mentioning before that you do very long days. Do you have long left now?

@ClaireBear1986 Hopefully she gets back to you. So unprofessional for HR not to be replying to your emails.

I'm doing okay. I finish up next week. (Thank god) I'm lucky my company are very good and professional when it comes to things like maternity. Although it's a very big company so they have to be

Yes I know. Supposedly they don't have individual emails either, and the whole department share an inbox!! I don't believe that for one second.
My HR dept seem very good at making up lies, but not much else. Ha.

Yayyyyy. I finish next week too. Is your last day Friday? I literally can't wait now!!
I'm finishing quite early, I will be 33 weeks but I can't handle the commute anymore. I feel like a proper whinge bag, but it really is hell.
How anyone works up to their due date, with a long and busy commute is beyond me tbh.

I've got 3 weeks left at work and it's steadily getting harder to handle the commute. I've got loads of odd days off in the next 3 weeks, so I'm actually only in work for like 7 days!

Can't wait to be on maternity leave and put my feet up and get everything ready for babys arrival!

At least you have a few days off as well @amysaurus87 so it should break the weeks up and make it fly by.
I think it is dragging for me now, as I am literally on countdown.

Strangely enough, there is 3 other people in my office leaving on the same day as me. Another lady going on maternity leave, a man retiring and a younger guy who has a new job.

So sorry to hear you're having trouble at work. Can't imagine having to go through all the stresses and anxieties that pregnancy brings plus having a hard time at work. Hope Friday comes round quickly. I've still got 6 weeks of work left when I go back on Monday but the new teacher is starting the handover process so hoping it will be easier

Sorry you had a stressful time worrying about baby’s size Pumpkinma. Everyone I’ve spoken to that have been told they’re having big babies have all gone on deliver normal sized babies. They get it so wrong so many times that I’ve decided not to get too worried about it. It does sound incredibly frustrating though.

Also sorry to hear lots of you are having trouble commuting - it sounds horrific! I have a 35-45 minute drive which I’m finding difficult enough and that’s sat down!!

Rae, I still have 5 weeks left as well. Antenatal classes start in 2 weeks time which happen to fall the same day as PPA, which means I’ll have the morning out for antenatal and then PPA in the afternoons which should ease the pressure a little. So jealous of those of you going off soon!

Pumpkinma How big are they saying your baby is now? A lot of people say the measurements are often completely wrong.

ClaireBear1986 That's terrible about the man knocking you over on the Tube and about your maternity pay.

Bez9087 Glad to hear you're being allowed to go home, being in hospital must be so stressful.

We had our growth ultrasound today. Baby is 4 lbs 8 oz and 44cm which I think is normal?

@ClaireBear1986 I finish last day of Feb then have two weeks annual leave to take then my maternity starts so really excited to get some sleep and get everything at home finalised ☺️

@emvy thank you! I'm okay now, I've done some research and spoke to some people so I'm no where near as worried

@HarryHarry They done a growth scan 2 weeks ago I was 30+3 and estimated baby was 4lb 15oz which is why I was so worried. But the week before that I had a private 3D scan and she said baby was 3lb 1oz so I really think it's all a lot of guess work

From what I've been told by my midwife mum the variety between pregnant women in the amount of amniotic fluid makes growth scans incredibly inaccurate indicators so don't pay them too much thought. Anyway the size isn't a big worry as heavier babies supposedly have gravity working in their favour, it's more the size of their head that counts. Otherwise I would be incredibly concerned by the fact my dad was 10 lb 4.

Managed to get my uni assignment in today after an extremely stressful weekend. I've switched midwives as I've moved out of reasonably travel distance so hopefully the new one is a bit more accommodating and stops speaking down to me as if I'm a child. There's a part of me that just wants to skip midwife appointments - baby's kicking and moving regularly, I feel fine, my midwife mum checks the baby's position etc every week or two. I just feel like I go into these appointments for them to be condescending. The old one asked on two occasions if Dad was still in the picture. Don't think she would ask somebody in their 30s that.

8 weeks to go, scary!

@dkb15164 Well some on getting tour assignment in! Did they really ask you that? About the dad? That's so rude and none of their business either way! I'd be livid! 🙄

All my letters are addressed to Mrs even though I'm not married and they keep referring to my OH as my husband even though I've told them we aren't married 😂

@dkb15164 that's awful that they actually said that! I find the midwife appointments a bit of a waste to, to be honest.

Check my blood pressure, urine and feel the baby and that's it every 3 weeks! Surely there needs to be more?!

@dkb I can’t believe they said that to you.
My midwife (well old midwife she’s left and good riddance I say) when we had our booking I’m complemented dh on how well he interacted with our dd and ds and then said to me he’s so good with them isn’t he? I was like yeah thought it it was a lovely compliment until she got to form filling and said so he’s the dad to this one? So different from them two! I was like nooooo he’s all their dads! She was like erm oh right okay! Think she felt more shittier than us we laughed it off but then after I thought how bloody rude a) to assume he wasn’t their dad aswell and b) to be fair if he wasn’t what matter is it anyway?! I didn’t see her after that as she left and my new midwife is lovely but don’t see her too often as I’m always at consultants so I don’t need to see midwife as see them at the hospital before my consultant comes in.
So glad to be home missed the kids and the general chaos of the house. Got my growth scan tomorrow and finally get my section date cannot wait to see what these girls weigh. Just hoping they have continued their good growth otherwise they will have dropped another centile and that’s when they start worrying. Hopefully not though hopefully (can’t believe I’m saying it) they have maintained at their good pace. Although it’s heavy for me it’s good for them.
On plus side when waiting to be discharged yesterday I was visited by my friend who works on special care and she said how ideally 35 weeks is good then they may not need their help so that’s only two and a bit weeks away for us. So fingers crossed they hang in a bit longer. Eeeek it’s getting really close now.

Hey everyone, I need some advice.

I'm in a bit of a bind because I've been put on iron tablets (210mg 3x day), which I know can cause constipation. Add to that the fact I take cocodamol at least once a week atm and I am becoming quite concerned about digestive transit!

My normal approach would be to eat all the fruit in sight, especially bananas, mango and dried fruits. But this plan is undone by the fact I have gestational diabetes, so pretty much all of that is off the menu (although eating only half a banana at a time seems to be fine for now).

I haven't really suffered with constipation or piles so far and really want to avoid as far as possible. Does anyone have any tips for high fibre foods or other methods that I can use while still keeping my blood glucose down?

@ICantThinkOfAGoodOne try anything wholemeal, oats (porridge tastes fine with sweetener imo), lots of veg like broccoli and carrots, lentils, potato skins.

Dunno if there's anything there you mind snacking on but lots of traditional British cooking has these things in and that's how I have to get most of mine in. Lots of cottage pie lol

Finally got to speak to my midwife today. She is horrified by the way the new consultant spoke to me and has told me the reason No one has mentioned these risks to me, is that they believe the risk is minimal. She has told me to write out a birth plan which she will sign so then my wishes can't be disputed if I'm in labour

Cheers @MadRainbow - just seen your post from Monday. Tbh, any labour could go awry - nobody really knows, do they? And if you did fine last time I'd take it as an indication you will be ok if it all went smoothly last time.

Done consultants are just plain idiots. Thankfully I've always found them to be in the minority!

@ICantThinkOfAGoodOne I find green vegetables, broccoli, Brussels, spinach, all help in that department