Due February 2021 - Part 2

[BatmanBaby]

As the other thread was about to be full, I thought it made sense to make part 2!

@jbx10 not heard anything today. Thought I’d let the solicitor have a day to sort through stuff after the holidays before I start hassling her! 😬 we’re just moving a couple of miles so not too bad. I’m tagging the annual leave I’ll accrue while on mat leave on the end but it’s so bloody complicated. Got such bad/incorrect advice from HR too. It’s like I’m the first woman to ever take mat leave!

@Safxxx I know what you mean about the hospital bag... I keep saying oh I’ll do it today but it’s not happened! Will definitely make myself do it this weekend. I have some disposable pants I’m a bit perplexed by what they are! I’ll have to take them out and have a look.

Gas and air water birth is my dream but that will be scuppered if baby stays breech. I think I might like for us to find out the sex of the baby rather than being told. I thought that sounds like a nice idea! See how long it takes us to notice...

Pretty frustrating about another lockdown. I don’t think it’ll impact maternity services. I think it’s felt that excluding partners in the last one was a mistake. We’re going to bubble up with my parents but it’s hard cos they live quite far away. Also I’ll want to isolate for a week after the hospital cos I don’t want to give them Covid so they won’t be able to help for a while.

It’s weird how abstract it feels but it’s getting more real. Still can’t quite believe there’s a human being inside me despite the fact it doesn’t let me forget it’s in there for long! X x x

@Muriel84 the disposable pants are not very appealing lol but do the job...
Yes we need to push ourselves to pack hospital bags.
I hope you get your wish of natural birth with gas & air and you find out the sex yourself....that would be so nice and a touching moment...
My friend in london who recently had a baby was tested before leaving hospital, if your tested too and its negative then hopefuly you won't need to isolate from your parents.
Hope all goes to plan with all of us 🤞

I'm IN Scotland and my hospital has only been allowing one birth partner for quite some time now. They are allowed in for induction, labour and delivery but once we are back on the ward it's set visiting hours for each patient (so there's not too many partners on the ward at one time) Think it's about a 2 hour visit each time.

If my birth goes smoothly I plan on pushing to be discharged ASAP.

I don't think maternity services will be effected either. We've only been allowed one birthing partner for a long time too and I think they've learnt from earlier mistakes and will certainly at least keep one as a minimum. It'll just be tough if we have to stay in for a long period of time.

@Newmumfeb2021 try not to focus on the pain. I'm not letting myself worry or get anxious about it. I am just trying to focus on working as a team with my birthing partner & baby to get her in our arms as safely as possible that's the best way I can keep the worry out my mind! I'm open minded to things changing outside of my control but I'm just trying to focus on the end result 😊 I've been reading a really helpful hypnobirthing book too- I can't say I'm following it all to the letter but i have found it reassuring xxx

@Muriel84 I don't know why they make the processes so complicated! My HR have been quite good Hoping to end Mat leave in November and then use holidays up to end of January hopefully! Definitely get solicitor chased up tomorrow 😂 she needs to know you have a baby on the way so she prioritises you! Haha xxx

@jbx10 oh she knows about the baby don’t worry! I should think she’s sick of hearing about my due date! 🙈

@Safxxx that’s reassuring they’re testing people the day before! I’m more worried about picking it up at the hospital and giving it to my parents. I don’t think there’s much chance of me picking it up before hand cos fairly isolated. I would hate to be kept in for ages afterwards I just want to get home ASAP. Pretty sure my hospital is only allowing visitors for one hour a day. Such a waste of paternity leave if I stay in a few days and he can’t even see the baby.

Hypnobirthing is yet another thing on my to do list I keep putting off... x x x

I may be wrong but I don't think PAT leave needs to start as soon as baby arrives? Could he take holidays in the days you are kept in (which hopefully doesn't happen!!) or work half days etc?

If I am made to stay in I do intend for DP to be going to work atleast half day if possible with his work at the time.

@OnNaturesCourse I’m in Scotland too and I have an appointment at hospital on Thursday for a scan I can’t see them changing my partner being able to go with me, I’m like you I want in and out ASAP but I’m getting induced this time so don’t know how long I will be in

That's a good point I didn't think of that! I'm pretty sure they can start their PAT leave when they want to can't they? Up to the baby is a couple of months old. I think we'll do the same if I'm kept in he can work half days or something and then start his PAT leave when I leave the hospital xx

I'll need to look into it further but I believe they can take compassionate leave (paid or unpaid) while you give birth and the day after, then go back to work.

With my first DP work didn't start his PAT leave until the day after DC was born, and gave him compassionate leave for the week I was in hospital before the birth

Awake with restless legs again. Driving me insane.

So much so I found an old thread suggesting putting a bar of soap under the covers (which I've done) and rubbing my legs in Vicks. Feel incredibly weird about the soap, and my legs are now dead tingly from the vapour rub...but still restless to the max. Obviously. As if soap is going to help 😂

Just want to sleep now.

Yes paternity leave is at request when required....see how things turn out then decide.

@IamC thats the first i've heard 🤣
But i do hope you find some relief and get some sleep....if its not one thing its another ehh 🙄

@OnNaturesCourse @jbx10 aha that’s good to know. He’s only been in the job since summer so I don’t think he’s entitled to any pat leave but they have said he can have it. Quite a disorganised company he works for. We’ll have to see what happens and what he can get! Thanks for the advice x x x

Heya can I join? I'm due 16th Feb with DC3, just had MW appt today and was expecting some reassurance but got the opposite! Feel like I need some understanding mamas in the same situation xx

Hi @babbit87

Sorry to hear about the disappointment midwife appointment. What were your concerns?

Welcome @babbit87 what did your mw say? I’m kinda feeling the same as I have not had a lot of contact with my local mw plus waiting to speak to the consultant on Friday about induction which I’m not 100 percent sure I want but during this situation and my personal situation is probably what is best

I just asked what the situation is with covid and Labour at the mo, and how they are coping at the hospital and she probably told me too much! Said to have a back up birth partner because they test all women coming in for covid, if I test positive they will test DH and if he tests positive he won't be able to stay (that really shook me up wasn't expecting it and didn't enter my head DH might not be there at the birth). She recommended us all isolating a minimum of 10 days before to reduce this happening. Also said they have 20 MW off isolating at the mo, either with covid or been in contact so are really stretched. Her words were "its dire, its spreading like wildfire". There was me expecting a little, "nah love, don't worry we are fine in maternity"!!!!

I've got consultant in 2 weeks time too.

Had induction with DC2, if I had a choice I would go natural. But then I felt bullied into my induction at for me personally, natural was a far better experience. DC2 came so fast after induction head and shoulder were out before I even got gas and air!!

That said many of my friends have been induced with no issues whatsoever.

Its a personal thing.

Hi @babbit87 may I ask which hospital/ location is that in UK? Sorry to hear about it. I am slight concerned as well with new rules.

Hi @Newmumfeb2021 I'm at Great Western Hospital in Swindon, Wiltshire - thats why I was a bit surprised - not like I'm near London/Kent or a tiny cottage hospital either!

Being a realist, what will be will be and if I'm truthful with myself in the throes of labour it really probably could be anyones hand ill be crushing haha! Us mums get through these things somehow!

Is anyone else having cramping? I'm 35+3 and have had period-like cramps today. I don't think they're contractions as they're constant.

I don't understand why they say we need a back up birthing partner if we test positive and so does out partner, surely bringing someone else into the situation puts them at risk of getting it, say if you decide to bring your Mam in as back up? My husband cannot isolate before birth as works in construction

@Stef92 so true! Exactly what I was thinking doesn't even make any sense. And even what is the point in testing us? It isn't like they are going to be able to turn us away for care when we're in labour!!

I don’t understand it either, if we test positive why turn away our partner? We’ll be there longer. I guess they need to know our Covid status so they can keep us separate from the non-Covid mums. X x x