September 2018 Babies - Thread #3

[PinkyPromise77]

Hi all as the thread #2 is almost full here's the new ones for September Babies :)

Hi! Just a quick question I’m planning on taking a year off on maternity as I’m going to be a single mum. I’ve heard lots of different answers and was just wondering does your maternity rate stay the same for the year or will I only get paid for so long? Thank you x

@ShanC97 Statuatory maternity pay is paid at 90% of your usual pay for 6 weeks, then the next 33 weeks are paid at £145.18 a week or 90% of your usual pay depending on which is lower.

Does the company you work for pay contractual maternity pay as well? I'm going to be a single mum too and I'm able to get contractual pay as well which means I'll have more per week until a certain point. You will have to ask your company for specific details though. I handed in my MATB1 this week so I could make sure that I get my maternity pay (I don't trust the academy chain I work for).

I’m not weighing myself the midwife made me at booking in but I’m going to say no to any other weigh ins at clinic , I’m nice and plump enough thanks very much I don’t need to be tortured with the scales as well .( teenage history of eating disorder ) this is 4th child though so I’m pretty aware of what my body does in pregnancy .

Thanks very much, especially @friendsinhighplaces!! I've put on 8kg and I'm just over 22 weeks pregnant. Sounds a lot and I seem to be just above the online calculator recommendations depending on the calculator... but hopefully not too terrible!

Haven't posted on here for awhile (couldn't find it!). I hope everyone is well

My DD will be 26 weeks on Saturday 🎉 the time is going so fast!!

Just caught up with the group after a while!

I’m going to be 27 weeks on Sunday!!! 😮 Feeling slightly scared to be entering the third trimester!
My energy levels have definitely started deteriorating in preparation.

Hi all. Glad everyone is well. Is anyone planning on having a baby shower?

I'm hosting a baby shower/reveal for my daughter at the end of the month

It's only going to be small with close family & friends to celebrate my DGC 💕 she's not expecting gifts or anything

Are you having one? X

@sushirolls- that sounds lovely. Wasn't too fussed with a bs y shower, however my friends have been asking if I'm having one so starting to think about it. Like you, if I was to have one, it would just be close friends and family and more of a get together.

It seems that more people are having baby showers lately (based on my friendship group).

I won’t be having one because personally I’m not keen on the idea of people celebrating and buying the baby presents before it’s been born. If people want to get baby a wee gift then they can do so after it’s born.

I will, more than likely, be having a fairly big christening party so I think that’s enough

@Katjolo it sounds like your friends would love to celebrate with you

It doesn't have to be something big & over the top I am thinking of an afternoon tea maybe x

@snowy1982 my DD isn't expecting any gifts, it's just a nice day to get together with people we don't always get to connect to due to distance, to celebrate the upcoming birth. We aren't religious, so won't be having a christening.

No baby shower for me not my thing at all and we are baby number 4 , been buying the odd wee outfit when I’m out and about paid a bit more to the pram and generally feeling like a fat mess with a dodgy pelvis . Baby is jumping like crazy now it sometimes takes my breath away . I’m 24 weeks

Two of my friends want to throw me a shower but I'm not a fan. I've said I'd be happy for the two of them and me to go for afternoon tea. I think they are hoping for an excuse to escape for an afternoon or day.

I've had a busy baby related day. Starting with my 25 week midwife appt and the whooping cough jab this morning, and then this afternoon I've ordered a pram, car seat and cot. Spent ages in John Lewis choosing which ones to get.

@snowy1982 I'm thinking ahead to christenings as well. I'm not very religious but do believe in getting baby christened. I've been thinking about godparents and have 3 godmothers and 1 godfather in mind at the moment.

I’m not very religious personally but it still seems very much the done thing here (NI) to have one (also thinking even further ahead the schools are still very religious so might be needed for them). We had decided on godparents before I even got pregnant.

Question to the group, I am trying to make some lists of things I need when baby gets here, am sorted for the big ticket items but have no idea how much of the smaller day to day things we’ll need i.e. how many vests, baby grows, blankets etc anyone got any suggestions?

(Not planning to buy a pile of it before baby arrives but want enough so that I don’t have to worry about going out for extras in the first few weeks)

@snowy1982 it's so hard to answer I mean you just don't know if your baby will have 1 outfit a day or is he/ she sickly and you have to change! I went with 10 of everything so vests and babygrows with my first which seemed fine considering that lots of people buy new born things! Bibs are a good plan too they manage to make a big mess with milk! Also muslin cloths about 10 blankets we'll probably 5 but we did opt for swaddle wraps.... I hope this helps

@sosotired, yes that does help thank you, though your right in that you just don’t know what sort of baby it will be

Nice to hear different opinions. I'm still unsure. I'll definitely be planning a christening, so agree that this is a good opportunity to celebrate although we will mostly invite very close family to that.

Have most people purchased their big bulk items?

@Katjolo the advantage of being older was I was told to get as much second hand as possible, though some people will just give you stuff to get rid off it.

However I'm getting a new travel system, which will arrive next week, simply because all the buggies myself or my partner have been offered aren't suitable for babies under 6 months plus we don't have a 0+ car seat. I expect we will end up getting another buggy in a year as a couple of friends pointed out you may want lighter and cheaper ones for different purposes.

Now I need to sort out a new cot mattresses...

Hi all,
After long time. I am 24+5 today. Time is flying. Nearly 3rd trimester.
Getting so excited/nervous/ panicky about baby's shopping. We have not bought anything yet.

1. tight on budget
2. Did not find out gender
3. Thought to start shopping in august (when finish from job baby is due in September 🤗)

My sister n sis in law have most of the nursery stuff like cot,buggy etc so will borrow from them. But need to do baby things like nappies, muslin , clothes, bath things etc

Some day I feel myself careless about these. Other days m obsessed n cant wait to shop. Is it normal . 🤨

@katjolo, I have ordered my pram, nursery furniture and SnuzPod (none of it has actually arrived yet). Going to my brothers tomorrow to have a rummage through their stuff to see what I can make use of

Still haven’t bought anything! Found myself browsing ‘nursery artwork ‘ yesterday when my priority should probably be something the baby can actually sleep in.

Another one not planning on having a baby shower (I thought they were more of an American thing?) but am thinking about the christening and godparents. The baby will be christened where we got married, which will be lovely.

Went into triage with reduced movements yesterday. They were fabulous, didn’t make me feel like I was wasting their time or anything. Obviously the baby decided to give me a massive kick just as soon as the Doppler went anywhere near him.

I'm not sure about a baby shower. I don't think I really want one but feel I may be pushed into it by certain family members and friends. We won't be getting baby christened as neither of us are religious and I find it a bit hypocritical. Neither of us were christened either. If baby decides he wants to be christened when he's older then that's completely his choice.

We've ordered the pram/travel system, furniture, mattress, bed side crib, play mat, bouncer and sheets. Got a few bits of clothing. Also started painting the nursery next weekend. We've made a good dent in things but there is still loads to go!!

That should have said started painting the nursery LAST weekend.