Due end Nov/early Dec - Hello third trimester!

[MummyShark97]

Just making a new thread before we fill the other one up !

@peachypetite

If anyone needs nursery stuff or snuzpod etc John Lewis have 20% off

Thanks for this @peachypetite !! Ordering the snuz kot for our nursery! Saved £80

Oo glad so many of you have enjoyed the John Lewis tip

@confused107 my work definitely will pay me for being off sick, I think it's if you're off on long term they reduce the payments. I just feel upset that they can pay someone for being off sick but here they are telling me to reduce my hours, which means reduce my pay and still suffer in agony! When at this point I do feel like I've reached my limit. I did feel ignored about the whole covid situation, I feel like I've done everything I can but the employers are letting me down. Manager said let's do the risk assessment last week, then she just never followed up.

I have 7 weeks left in work. Not with a union, but I've contacted ACAS previously about covid situation. I guess I'll have to speak to them again about this. Just is it me or does it seem like I'm being treated unfairly? Maybe my hormones are making me feel this way but I don't know why it feels like im having to fight so hard to prove I am ill when I've been open about everything right from the beginning.

@Asianchick6693 maybe you could contact pregnant then screwed For advice?

@peachypetite I guess I'm just using this platform to rant more than anything. I think I'll take the advice up for resting this week. I'll give the acupuncture a go but I refuse to go back on reduced hours because it's not even the length of work that's causing this but rather the activities itself and they can't do any more to modify it. Everyone seems a little clueless like physio suggested giving me a birthing ball to use at work. I had to laugh at that one! Can't imagine a massive ball in a lab with all the equipment/machinery and reagents around and me bouncing on a ball while doing work! The managers and physio team just seem hell bent on somehow keeping me at work.. my managers haven't really dealt with anyone experiencing PGP to my extent either. I literally wasn't able to walk yesterday :(

Well been had my bloods then the whooping cough arm starting to ache then the dreaded clexhane injections which my side is starting to hurt but all done for the time being

@Asianchick6693 I think it's unfair, don't know if you've seen the MNHQ thread about free legal advice on maternity issues at work?

Here's the link

MNHQ here. A new FREE legal advice clinic from Maternity Action about pregnancy, maternity or parental issues at work www.mumsnet.com/Talk/employment_issues/4026809-MNHQ-here-A-new-FREE-legal-advice-clinic-from-Maternity-Action-about-pregnancy-maternity-or-parental-issues-at-work

@Asianchick6693

I am a sister on a busy ward and the plan always was that I was going off on covid suspension until 36 weeks (this was when I requested my maternity to commence) 5 days before I was due to finish at 28 weeks my trust pulled covid suspension full stop. Initially they tried telling me I could be patient facing however I fought it and fought it as I knew there was no guidelines that would say this was ok. I emailed rcog, nhsemployees all sorts of people but each time I would get the generic reply of the do not give out advice on an individualised basis. Eventually management informed me that I would not be patient facing and I would be office based but the expected me to be face to face with every member of staff to provide training on agps and HDU. Forward on 24 hours and Boris announced a local lockdown where I was based and for me that was the final straw. I was not going to be put at risk. And so I have been signed off by the gp with work related stress and anxiety until my maternity at 36 week.

My understanding is if the sickness is work based they can only force you to take maternity at 36 weeks. HOWEVER if your sick note mentions something that is pregnancy related they can force you to take maternity much earlier than this.

Hope this helps and sorry its so long winded.

I found going off sick incredibly difficult and I felt very guilty but I can honestly say that it is the best thing I have done.

@Nic2908 unfortunately my sickness has to be pregnancy related if I want to keep this job as I'm on final notification for a sickness I had during my probation, something which was again out of my control! If its PGP but work makes it worse can that fit into both pregnancy and work related if possible? I guess I need to ask but your answer helped loads thank you. Sorry you had to go through so much as well. I've also been in local lockdown and I'm a BAME employee. At the beginning, all of this sort of counted towards the risk assessment now it just seems like as long as social distancing is there, it's safe. I'm absolutely horrified at how the government has handled everything. Can't imagine it being easy on them but I would have really appreciated a fair and sensible way of doing things but everyone just seems to be making up their own rules.

@MummyShark97 thank you so much lovely I will look into it.

@Asianchick6693 currently at my trust no sickness is being held accountable because of covid, could that be the same with yours?? Maybe ring occy health for advice on the best route to go down and see what is the earliest they could force you to take maternity?? Do you have any annual leave left to take? My plan was to take annual leave and some unpaid in order to finish pre 36 weeks if necessary. When had you applied for maternity?

@Asianchick6693 have you looked at the maternity action thing on here you can ask questions direct to lawyers all week for free? Maybe they could help

@Nic2908 all sicknesses are being held accountable as I've taken a day here and there for my morning sickness. They love to remind me at every back to work that I could lose my job if the sickness isn't pregnancy related. With my annual leave left over the earliest I can go on mat leave is my 37th week. Obviously if I reduce my hours that would mean I would also lose some annual leave right? Which would only mean I'm in work longer. I submitted my mat leave stuff on my 25th week, where I planned to go off on my 38th week but that's because I thought I could manage. If I have to go off at 36 I dont mind because that's what the policy states. I just don't know how they can go against what their policy states it seems so unfair! I've contacted occ health with regards to covid in the past, they weren't very helpful but again this is different so I guess I can try and see what they say

@Nic2908 I've just posted on there! Fingers crossed I get some help thank you :)

So I had a 3D scan as a birthday treat today and it was lovely to see baby however as part of that scan was a well being check where they did all the measurements etc and I am measuring over 2 weeks on everything. I phoned my midwife afterwards but she didn't seem too concerned?? Not sure if that's normal to be so far ahead

@Asianchick6693 sorry if you've said this before but are you with a union? I would definitely contact them if you are as they legally aren't allowed to take pregnancy sickness into account, think it comes under the discrimination act xx

Hi everyone!

Just wondering what experience everyone has had of growth scans so far? When did you have them and what was you little ones weight? I've got my second one tomorrow at 31 weeks so feeling a bit anxious!

@Amyyy1 I wouldn't worry about them measuring ahead if the midwife isn't concerned! Might just be a big baby. My sister in law had similar and they told her they don't worry as much about the bigger babies! x

@Amyyy1 hey when I went for a private one at 27 weeks, my little girls legs were measuring 28 weeks and she said it's absolutely nothing to worry about just that my baby has long legs.

Also when my midwife measured my bump I was measuring 31 weeks instead of 28! And she reassured me more often than not it's absolutely nothing to worry about and all they care about is if you're plotting nicely on the chart as in the growth is steady etc. Like others have said on here they seem to be more concerned when baby is smaller so I'd try not to worry.

@lc86 that's okay but I'm not with a union unfortunately. I started this job a year ago and no one really ever told me any information about any being available and how I'd join and time just seemed to fly by and here I am! Probably would have benefited so much by being joined to one. Also I'm not worried about them taking pregnancy sickness into account but more so over the fact they might force me to take my mat leave early or at least pressurise me. Just waiting on some answers from a few places now.

@Asianchick6693 - just going to throw in here that you can still join a union even now to get advice :-)

Hi all,
So little Wyatt Thomas was born today at 11.25am 👶💙
I went into the delivery suite at 10am and an hour and half later he was here.
All very surreal but he was definetely ready to come - he's in the NICU at the moment and getting best of care - he seems to be doing really well and weighed 4.2 pounds which is pretty good for 32 weeks!

I'm back in my own room on the ward and can see him whenever I want and my partner can come and see him once a day.

It's been a rollercoaster of a journey and want it thank you all so much for your support it! You've all been a dream.

Hi,

Sorry for the late join just found this group. I am 30+1 weeks now.

I guess this has probably been asked before but what are people's movement patterns like? They keep telling me I would be in a pattern by now but I really don't feel like I am. Some days bump is a busy bean and others like today I feel him less.

I have really bad anxiety so trying not to get worked up and then have to call and go in as I do go a lot to calm my worries

Thanks 😊

@nearlyamummyof2boys congratulations hun! That's such fab news and I'm so pleased for you and so glad little Wyatt is doing well. How are you doing? Keep us updated with how everything goes.

@EithneBlue thank you I'll look into it :)

@nearlyamummyof2boys oh my goodness!!! Congratulations. That does sound like a healthy weight considering how early he is. Beautiful name.

Oh gosh @nearlyamummyof2boys - it does sound like he was ready to come out! It's good to hear he's such a good weight and being well looked after -- congratulations :-)

Omg @nearlyamummyof2boys huge congratulations, what a beautiful name & such a good weight xx