September 2021 - Thread 4

[Poppins2016]

Ta da, thread number 4 so that we can keep up the chatting!

Previous thread

Hey ladies, have you considered maternity leave yet? I know it's too early but some colleagues have asked me about when I'd be taking maternity leave and I've got no clue! I know someone mentioned (possibly on this thread) that their workplace said to take it at 25 weeks due to COVID. Feels really early for me and I can't see any updated government guidelines about this. When do you think you're going to take yours?

@Taybz both previous times I’ve taken mat leave from week 34 mainly to avoid getting on the London tube when heavily pregnant (I had few bad experiences of not getting a seat/fainting during rush hour) so decided to start leave early. This time though given I’m working from home I might work up a bit later but we’ll see. 25 weeks seems super early though unless medically advised.

@Taybz last time I started maternity leave the day before my due date (teacher, due date fell in the 6 week holidays) and it'll be the same this time too. If it wasn't the holiday I'd probably work to 37 weeks but that's just personal choice. 25 weeks seems really early unless there was a medical reason. I don't think an employer can make you start your maternity early due to covid, they have to be able to prove a workplace is covid secure/you can socially distance and if they can't they should let you work from home or suspend you on full pay.

I'm self employed dog groomer along side my DP so will be working for as long as I physically can manage, we have someone who wants to spend the summer holidays volunteering with us for experience so it could be perfect and means the pressure is off me. However difficult to know what to do with the diary and bookings as who knows when baby will come and don't want to close the salon early if baby is late or don't want to have to cancel and rearrange too many of baby is early.

So difficult- it would be easier if I was still employed and just said I'm leaving this date- see you in a year!

@Kirky658 we can keep each others nerves at bay before the scan. I am still trying to convince my dh that we should find out.
@Mamabearwhere I told my two that the dr cut mummies tummy to get them out and that it might happen again with this baby. My ds said he would buy me big paw patrol plasters to put on my tummy and give me lots of kisses to make me feel better.🤣
@Taybz I am due 1st of September. I have two weeks holiday at the end of July, my ds will turn 4 and I would like to visit my mum and dad before the baby arrives. My mat leave will officially start on the 1st of August. My dd will start school in mid August so I am hoping to get all her school supplies whilst on my annual leave and then just enjoy some time with my dd and ds before the baby arrives. I tend to have a tricky last trimester so intend to spend some of the last few weeks with my feet up. I think I would feel differently if I was wfh but I am a pharmacist so on my feet all day and am really looking forward to finishing up.

👀😲25 weeks would kill me off @Taybz , I went at 36 weeks last time (1 week AL) so officially started at 37 and DC didn’t arrive until 41+1, even with the nice weather I was bored out of my mind after 2 weeks just waiting.. waiting.. waiting.. because naturally that’s all I could think about. The bigger I got the more uncomfortable and in pain I was until eventually I’d just sit on the sofa watching one born every minute🙊.

This time I’m just going to go on maternity whenever I go into labour (I hope), I’ll still be working from home and I can slow down without work being too bothered by it, they’re great.

As I'm having an ELCS I'll work till the Friday before, or two days before, then use my accrued AL at end of mat leave. Ideally it means I get 8 months off, 6 full paid and 2 months on 3/4 pay.

I think I'm going to take maternity leave from my due date but use up holiday beforehand - probably stop about 36 weeks. Hopefully I can go that long! I'd rather save the leave for when the baby is here but I don't know how the third trimester will pan out.

Yes to whoever said you can't be forced to take maternity leave early due to COVID, if your work's risk assessment says it's not safe for you to be in work they should either provide work for you to do at home or suspend you on full pay.

Thanks ladies, 25 weeks just sounds far too early for me and I'm glad to hear I'm not the only one. Dh is super protective however and would like it though as my work journey is quite long and on a busy route. Personally, it'd love to work as long as is manageable. Unfortunately, I'm surrounded irl by women who have taken their maternity leave as early as 6 months (pre-covid!)so are a bit judgey of women who take it much later.

I’m going on maternity leave on my due date 3rd September and My last day at work will be 18th august as I have some annual leave to use up.
My job said I need to move departments at 28 weeks due to Covid (my job is a demanding public facing role) even tho I am restricted currently to lighter duties.
I can’t see employers could get away with making you start maternity leave that early on @Taybz. I’m sure they would have to find something else for you to do such as working from home or pay you until your may leave started... I would be looking into the discrimination route if my employer did that to me.

Sorry just to clarify, management are not trying to force me to take maternity leave at 25 weeks! 😅 They said they'd follow government guidelines and any new risk assessment updates. It's various female colleagues who are asking that and a million other questions that I can't answer because it's far too bloody early 😃 I genuinely don't know if they're just being nosey nancies or trying to be helpful. It's just a bit overwhelming at times.

@Taybz I completely get where you’re coming from with the questions from everyone who’s been there and done it before... I must say ‘I’m taking a day at a time’ about 15 times a day!! 😂..... even tho in my head I’m thinking about it all.

@taybz it’s such a personal choice for everyone, for me it’s always been about maximum time off with the baby so I would take it as late as possible. I’m a teacher and if it was term time, I’d probably go until 38 weeks. My mat leave won’t start until 1st September so technically I’ll be 39 + 2 but with the 6 week summer holiday, my last working day will be when I’m about 33 weeks. I wouldn’t have gone that early if it was term time though!

@sceptre86 definitely, ❤️😘 will be good for a hand hold that day as mine isn't till 3:30!

@taybz I thought long and hard about when to finish and ideally want to start mat leave 2 weeks before EDD so 1st September, and then I have 2 and a bit weeks annual leave left I plan to take beforehand so I'll actually finish about 4 weeks before baby is due. It will be school hols and DH is a teacher so he will be off, nice to spend time together before the big day!

Went for a gender scan today and we have.... another boy 💙

Congrats @Jay3004

Congratulation @Jay3004 💙 boys are taking over!!

I know this has been asked before, I’m just having zero luck! Anyone with a larger bust got any good nursing bra recommendations? I’m usually a 34G and I struggle at the best of times! Ideally I would like no underwire but at this stage I can’t be fussy!

@CherylLW I've just ordered some from asda, no underwire. They haven't arrived yet but look nice and comfy, will update when it's tried on! They are just in S - XXL sizes rather than cups. I really struggled to get any last time (I got measured at mother care and they didn't go up to my size) and the ones I eventually found I hated

I’ll have a look at Asda now, it’s so hard to find any! I’ve ordered a few and having to be sent back as they are just awful fitting.
Let me know if they are good when they arrive and I’ll have to give them a go 😊

Congrats @Jay3004 I still cannot believe how many September boys we have!

Has anyone got strong cravings yet? Mine has well and truly started and it’s anything with vinegar!! I’ve just made a huge jar of home made pickles and I can’t get enough of salt and vinegar crisps!!

@Jay3004, congratulations on finding out you're having a boy! xx

@Hopefulmummie, did you have your gender reveal today? Xx

@aurora2021, if I remember right, you had a scan booked for today? Hope all went well xx

@CherylLW have you tried the Bravado nursing bras? They’re really supportive and comfortable.

@Mamabearwhere I’ll have a look now, thanks for the suggestion 💙

Congratulations 💙 @Jay3004

@Mamabearwhere definitely same I want all the vinegary things. Highly recommend the co-op irresistible salt and vinegar crisps. They're so tangy they burn your tongue but in a good way!

In terms of bras I'm trying cake lingerie ones out. They're coming tomorrow, will let you know how they all are!