July - we’re half way (thread 3)

[PeanutButterFalcon]

Spotted the last thread was almost full so started this one.

[quote Luckyelephant1]@TiredAlreadyOhDear I also have my midwife appointment tomorrow and am hoping to get my MatB1. I'm 25 weeks today though, but have already told my employer I'm pregnant and that's the main thing, I believe they only need to have the form a minimum of 21 days before your maternity pay would come into effect.[/quote]
@TiredAlreadyOhDear I work for the NHS and they have a deadline for submitting the MATB1 form no later than 15 weeks before your due date.

@feistymumma yeah I think my work have a rule that they need to know at least 15 weeks before. Does anyone know what the difference of the MATB1 form and the FW8 form is? X

FW8 is just the maternity exemption form that entitles you to free prescriptions and NHS dental care. Don't think it applies to anything work-related AFAIK.

I haven’t got the FW8 form yet - although on my maternity app my midwife has put that she’s given me it - so I’ll give her a text to see what’s going on with that. Thanks everyone :)

@TiredAlreadyOhDear I had to submit my request for mat leave by 25 weeks with my matb1.
My FW8 came in the post at about 12 weeks

Hi, I just wondered if anyone was struggling with needing to pass urine regularly; during my scan my baby was helpfully head on bladder so not sure if just a comfy (unhelpful for me) position :@

For anyone that has had theirs or non first pregnancy, I was wondering what the 25 week gp appt cover?

Thank you.

Does anyone have any tips advice on what clothes / sleeping stuff to buy for a summer baby (given we live in the UK and the weather is 100% unpredictable). I've tried to start buying things but feel completely lost so basically give up - excellent adulting over here!

@MilkshakeandChips5 we have a mixture of vests and light sleepsuits, my last summer baby slept mostly in vests or just a nappy in the height of summer.

We used either a cellular blanket or large muslin blanket (tightly tucked in) to go over the baby if they were just wearing a vest or nappy.

@MilkshakeandChips5 - thanks for asking this question. I've been thinking the same thing!

Just checking in as I’ve not been on much

On the countdown to the magic 24 weeks!

@Warrickdaviesasplates, why a cellular blanket versus a sleepsuit on top of just a nappy/ vest? People keep hammering into me that blankets aren't safe but I see lots of people saying they use them so keen to understand the pros and cons - is it just about ease of adding/ removing a layer? I was hoping summer would mean baby could wear just a sleepsuit until he's big enough for sleeping bag!

Some sleeping bags can be used from birth and you can get really thin summer ones

www.slumbersac.co.uk/jersey-cotton-baby-summer-sleeping-bag-05-tog.html

If you feel safer with a sleeping bag you can 100% use from birth

Blankets are safe but there’s a certain way of tucking them in so that the baby can’t kick the blankets and end up with them over their head. Sleeping bags are safe from birth unless your baby is really tiny, I think most start from 7lb.

I’m also still clueless about clothes, I have bought some bodysuits and little one piece outfits with short sleeves and legs. My last baby was a boy and I have tons of sleepsuits in the loft which I will be digging out nearer the time, but I’ll still want to buy some new bits. I have a lot of the big Aden and snails Muslim swaddle blankets so I’ll probably reuse those as well as buying a couple more.

I’ve just got a 0.2tog bag from tommee tippee - it’s suitable from 0-4 months and it has a table on the back - showing what the baby should wear with it in what heat - really useful actually - I ordered a few different togs....but this was something I was worried about too!

[quote PurpleCurtain]@Warrickdaviesasplates, why a cellular blanket versus a sleepsuit on top of just a nappy/ vest? People keep hammering into me that blankets aren't safe but I see lots of people saying they use them so keen to understand the pros and cons - is it just about ease of adding/ removing a layer? I was hoping summer would mean baby could wear just a sleepsuit until he's big enough for sleeping bag![/quote]
@PurpleCurtain our bedroom gets absolutely boiling in the summer, the hot water heater is next to our room and we have big south facing windows so it just heats up a lot. The blanket is just easier to add and remove without waking up the baby when the temperature fluctuates through the night.

There is a way to tuck in the blanket so baby can't kick it over their face, I think the danger is with loose blankets.

We bought an air con unit last year so I have the fear about temperature too. We bought one of the 0-4 grobags in 0.2 tog

I think it doesn't help that I'm always freezing - I'd probably boil the baby if I followed the "one more layer than me" guideline I keep seeing! Definitely looks like I need to invest in a range of togs of sleeping bags.

@PurpleCurtain it gives me the fear that they’ll be too hot or cold. All the layers are confusing!

Anyone else still sick? It’s not daily now but it’s a pain!

@NamechangeTTC I’m still sick every morning and most evenings. It’s not as bad as it has been with other pregnancies though so I’m just struggling through. I haven’t put any weight on yet and that’s probably why.

I’m so annoyed at myself, I was told I’m anaemic a few weeks ago and given the tablets, I took them three times a day for about two weeks, started to feel better and have forgotten to take them since and starting to feel dizzy and short of breath again. I’m rubbish at remembering stuff like that 🤦🏻‍♀️

Im horrifically sick about once a week, not nice but so glad its not more often

I now only feel sick if I take a pregnacare tablet, which is very counter productive. I thought maybe it was a weird first trimester thing, but I just can't stomach them. I am fine with plain folic acid.

I haven't had issues with pregnacare but I think it's common for them to make people feel sick and maybe even cause / worsen constipation

@ElderMillennial Well I am glad it is not just me at least! It is almost instant too. Really weird!

I feel sick if I have a pregnacare before any food, fine if I've eaten, but definitely a no go on a empty stomach.