First Pregnancies with Nov/Dec Due dates :)

[Emma198]

New thread ladies, first one nearly full ☺

I got mine yesterday (HR at head office shouting for it because of the amount of time off I've needed for appointments despite using annual leave for the all day ones!). I'm starting my maternity leave on 5/11 with 7-10 days (depending on what's left) annual leave on the beginning of that. I'm due 6/12 but we know baby is coming somewhere around week beginning 19/11

you shouldn't be taking annual leave for your appointments!! Even if you have a lot they should allow you the time you need.

It just means I can bugger off for the whole day (appointments take about 6-8 hours with travelling and are on a Friday which is one of the days I usually work 12 hours)

Also work have been very good about giving me time off each month not from my annual leave entitlement for my charity work which they don't have to (and head office refused) so I'm not keen to take the piss

I'm planning on finishing 2 weeks before, trying to work as long as I can as I only get stat maternity so don't want all my 6 weeks to pass by before I have had her!!
Will have about 7 days hols to use up too.

I have asked for a meeting with our HR director to point out to them how shit it is to only offer statutory mat leave for a company of their size and type..... Especially as I found out yesterday that they will pay someone 4 weeks at 50% to go on a flaming sabbatical and fanny about doing things like llama trekking, but nothing for someone going to have a baby!!!

I'm due on the 28th nov and plan on finishing around the 9th, tagging on the remainder of my leave.

Hoping I get my Mat B from the midwife next week as work are going to want it.

This might sound crazy but does anyone feel that they can feel their own heart beating more that before they were pregnant?

@Green my belly pulsates along with my heartbeat! You have 50% more blood so bound to feel it more!

Your heart rate also increases slightly in pregnancy

Glad it's not just me 😂 I knew there would be an explanation but when I first noticed I thought it was baby moving but then I watched it and realised it was me x

Agh. I am really struggling with where to give birth.

We live 200 yards from a birthing/midwife led unit. 3 private rooms, pools, etc. It's where all my appointments have been. I can have pethedine and gas/air but... No epidural.

To have an epidural I need to go to hospital which is about 35 minutes away and not a particularly nice place. If I decide I need one, I'd have to be ambulanced over. Same if I need a C-section.

I don't know if I want an epi but my mum's failed and she said that was The Worst. I also know there isn't always an anaesthetist available. And the MLU is so much nicer, gets glowing reviews, and will let me out as quickly as I want. I just don't know!

@hammeringinmyhead I definitely feel like having had my birth plan dictated to me has removed a whole heap of stress. O basically just have to do as I'm told!

Maybe I should just wait a few weeks before I worry about it! Something might come up that means it's no longer my decision.

Are you going to go to antenatal classes? That may help you decide. I've also heard my hospital isn't good, but they've been absolutely fantastic with me both maternity and cardiology wise

I am, NCT and an NHS one day class. I'm just scared not being able to have an epidural will make me panic and want one, if that makes sense.

I had a tour round our MLU yesterday it was amazing - absolutely gorgeous. It's attached to the hospital.

It's brand new after some awful things happened at the hospital and it needed a new start. It's got 15 en-suite rooms, four of them have pools too. Apparently if you want a pool you can usually get them. All rooms have a bed for your partner to stay too and there's a kitchen etc. Just brilliant.

Even if you're consultant led you still give birth there, they don't use maternity ward anymore i don't think.

It's made me really look forward to it all. There was only two ladies in yesterday, and there was total peace and silence everywhere.

Urgh I've got a pain at the top of my bum... more like the back of my hip joint. Just on one side though. Does this sound like the start of SPD? It's not too bad when I'm sat still but the second I'm on the move, it's rather painful!

@GreenGooner does it radiate downwards?

Not really it seems to be static. Hurts when I lift my leg or put weight on it...

This is from my PGP book....

@Emma198 that MLU sounds amazing! Which hospital is that attached to?

@EL332 it's Furness General Hospital, new centre is called the South Lakes Birthing Centre, opened in February.

It's made me look forward to it even more than I was - here's a video if you're interested

Thanks girls. Not sure if it's some kind of trapped nerve. Hopefully be a little easier tomorrow.

PGP can hurt specifically when standing on one leg. Is the pain where it shows on the picture?

@Emma198 I'd say it was shown on the diagram on the back as one of three dots above the bum. Does seem a little easier this morning so hoping it's a one off. Thank you

Anyone else feel like they may have started nesting? I cleaned my fridge out yesterday (first time full deep clean in 5 years - don't judge me!) and now excited about doing the freezer?! So not normal for me 😂