September 2021 Thread 5 (half way there!)

[Bubbles1st]

Welcome to the 5th thread ladies! As we start to hit the half Way point here is the list so far. By thread 6 we should have all known sexes for those finding out. Happy to update as we go along so feel free to message me once you know or if you want adding.

@Noodles4Me - 26th Aug 💙
@Scotti84 - 27th Aug 💖

@Sceptre86 - 1st 💛 tbc
@KHR1 - 1st 💙
@CherylLW - 3rd 💙
@deedeebythesea - 3rd 💙
@Squibble84 - 6th 💛
@leftitlate37 - 7th 💙
@bewitchingnight - 8th 💛 tbc
@AdventuresAwait - 9th 💖
@mumof23188 - 9th 💙
@Bubbles1st - 10th 💙
@FTEngineerM - 12th 💙
@Maybebaby29 - 14th 💙
@Taybz - 14th 💙
@Kirky658 - 15th 💛 tbc
@Hopefulmummie - 16th 💖
@Mamabearwhere - 17th 💙
@aurora2021 - 18th 💖
@unicornpower - 20th 💛 tbc
@Sophieandtiger - 20th 💛
@bluemagicalsky - 21st 💛 tbc
@Jay3004 - 22nd 💙
@SP2Bx - 22nd 💛
@Rach921 - 23rd 💛 tbc
@SproutingSprout2021 - 24th 💛
@RadDarwazeh - 25th 💛
@crobo87 - 25th 💙
@d0nut - 25th 💛tbc

I’ve been going backwards and forwards with what to do about my maternity leave but finally came to a decision last week. I’m due 22nd September and am going to finish on the 20th August (2 weeks annual leave and then 2 weeks maternity leave before my due date). I’m WFH but I’ve got a pretty stressful job and I just don’t think my head will be in it by then. Got 2 weeks leave booked in July as well so only 56 working days left (same as you @Kirky658) 😂🥳

Our HR at work added on the bank holidays for me that I would miss this year onto any annual leave I had left. So I'm taking most of July as annual leave so my maternity starts in August. I'm having a year off. Due on the 1st Sept but wanted some time to decompress from work. It's been a really shitty, hard year working since March last year and I also don't want to be huge at the end, sweating in an office. I don't see that's going to be much fun! I think people think I'm crazy going off 2 months early but I absolutely can't wait. My DH works from home too and he says he is looking forward to me not working anymore. I think so I can make his 1000 cups of coffee 😂 Think I have about 34 working days left 🎉🥳

I'm due 25th Sept. I'm finishing on 3rd September at 37 weeks but taking 2 weeks A/L before hand so I'll finish on 20th August.

Thanks for the link @SillyBry it’s really helpful! X

@crobo87 we’ll both have the flags out that day!

@raerae84 I was considering finishing a bit earlier as well, but we have an annual trip to the Caribbean end of August and if I go back too soon I'd have to go straight back into work to that. Doesn't sound horrible I know, but don't think I'd manage being away from hubby and my little girl for that long, that soon after having a year off xx

@Kirky658 totally get that. I'm not sure I would either despite how lovely it would be. I can imagine it would be really difficult! I'm hoping to not have to do back after the year but will see what happens, can't take anything for granted!

@raerae84 it was hard enough coming back after our wedding and honeymoon 2 years ago and then being back home for 4 days and going out there, let alone after a year off. I missed DH like nothing I've ever known! I'm hoping to go back after mat leave but nothings ever set in stone and if the right opportunity comes up, who knows?! Xxx

@Kirky658 my DH used to work away loads so I was used to it. Now he's been working from home for a year and will do that from now on, I would hate him going away again now so totally understand.

@SillyBry Is your employer expecting you to tell them when you'll be back at work now?! How could you possibly know at this point how you will be doing, how baby will be doing etc..? I said this to mine, and they were very understanding and said they'd never expect me to make that decision until nearer the time.

We can have a full year off and I intend to use ALL of it! They encourage us to use the holiday we will have accrued this year already before we go on mat leave, and because of my recent promotion I'm saving my holiday and using it all in the weeks before my due date. So my mat leave will officially start the day baby arrives, but I should finish around the end of August giving me 3 weeks to prepare :) even after a year off I think I'll use some holiday I have accrued then to have a phased return to work since I don't think part-time will be an option for me unfortunately!

@Kirky658 When I was still on mat leave with my first, I got a call from my colleague asking when my little one turned 1... (end of April) and she was like "how do you feel about travelling for 8/9 days at the beginning of April?"
I was adament - there was no chance, it wouldn't be possible, I was still breastfeeding, she was so young, my husband can't take holiday (teacher) etc... then she told me that she was hosting the annual reward trip to Africa, but she was pregnant, so couldn't go (due to needing to take malaria medication). Would I sub for her?
5 star lodge with zebras and giraffes grazing in the grounds, helicopter ride over the Victoria Falls, expedition to see rhinos in the wild, you name it. I was like "nice idea, but I really can't".
Rang my mum, laughing saying you'll never believe what I was offered, what a shame it's not possible... and honestly, she was like "Why did you say no?! Of course you are going to go! You will find a way - that is the trip of a lifetime!"
I did go - and it was SUCH hard work, but it was amazing. I'm forever glad I went because it was stuff I would never usually get to experience - and I did enjoy being "work me", not "mum me" for a week!
Sadly, I don't think that opportunity will arise ever again! But also, I think it's far harder to arrange childcare for two. And it took a really spectacular trip for me to even consider it. I drove all the way to Heathrow sobbing that I'd made the wrong decision... (bloody hormones), but hilariously, the 12 hour flight on my own was the most blissful experience of the lot!! ;-)

I've just had my Asda delivery and I must look pregnant now, as Mo (the lovely delivery driver) was like "we don't usually give out bags, but here, please put your stuff in bags to take it to the kitchen!" And then madly unpacking it all to hand to me so I didn't have to bend down! Bless him! :-)

@SP2Bx My boss would like a clear idea of what to expect for how long I'm off. As an American, European maternity leave is very new to him. He was rather shell shocked when I said I took 39 weeks last time round!!! So I feel it would be a common courtesy to have an idea what holiday I will be putting onto the end, so he has the full picture. But my frustration is that work don't seem to want to help give me that idea - saying I can do it later.
But we can absolutely change it - we just have to give 28 days notice. I will intend to return after 39 weeks (plus holiday) as I will be keen to earn a salary again by then!!
Unfortunately my husband and I are quite similar in terms of our earning capacity, so losing my salary is about 40% of our household income... disappointingly, I don't think I'll be allowed to retire any time soon! ;-)
3 weeks off before sounds perfect - that's what I did last time. I didn't want to be off for ages as I felt I'd get bored not being able to do stuff, but it was nice to wind down and have some me time before I lost all that independence!

On the subject of maternity leave, I was planning to start my maternity leave at 39 weeks with 2 weeks annual leave beforehand, so finish at 37 weeks, my concern is, how able will I be to travel 40 mins each way at that heavily pregnant? I can ask to do a day or so from home but I can't do that whole lot from home as my role requires me in the office! I may have some more leave to use so potentially could finish at 36 weeks. It's all such a minefield isnt it? I'm planning to take a year off but will reassess after 9 months! Our last 3 months are unpaid so may go back after 9 months if I feel ready!

@unicornpower how do you travel to work? I went up to 37 weeks last time. 45 min journey each way - but by car, so it was ok. My biggest concern was getting the “edge” parking space as our spaces were so narrow I didn’t fit between cars 🤣🤣

@sillybry that sounds like an incredible trip to be fair!!! I bet you are glad that you went and took the opportunity. I'm lucky that for me this wouldn't be a once in a lifetime thing it would be 2 or 3 times a year, I'm a bit spoilt in my job but take it for granted as its part of what I do. DH is a teacher and we've had a chat about me taking off the full 52 weeks, we think we can swing it as we've got savings so just going to see how it goes and if I need to go back earlier, so be it. Just like the idea of him being around in the hols whilst I'm on mat leave, and then my dad's taking over as chief childcarer when I go back to work.

I have to say, it was so nice having mat leave that coincided with the summer holidays last time. It felt like we had such a good long period of family time together! I won’t manage it this time, but it was lovely. I hadn’t thought though that if I could make my annual leave extend to the end of July, he could have 6 weeks before the little one started nursery. Sadly I don’t think I can stretch it quite far enough!

I sent my maternity leave form in the other week, it was hard to decide! I'm due on 8th Sept and my leave is starting on the 5th (!) but I'm going to take two weeks holiday first and actually finish on 20th August. I'm going to go and count how many days are left now

I'm pretty set on taking the whole year, for a decent chunk of savings so hopefully will manage alright. My job is ok but I don't love it so I'm more than happy not to have to rush back tbh

Thank you @Poppins2016 !! ❤️ Hope the extra checks you have will be unnecessary and all will be well. You’ve put my mind at ease, I’m deffo going to chat to the midwife at my next appointment next week. I just created this scenario in my head where DC2 will weigh exactly the same as DC1 and be suddenly classed as low birth weight and need interventions or something. When it’s fine.

MATB1 comes at 25 week appt in my trust. Hopefully I’ll get that next week and I can Chuck it into work.

I’m still pretty set on working as long as possible, longer off afterwards with the two DCs then 😍 even if it’s just a few weeks. To be fair though I know I have it easy in some respects wfh and there’s ultimate flexibility. If I had a long commute and couldn’t park near I’d be off 😂.

It’s so exciting everyone’s counting down the days, feels even more real now.

@bewitchingnight another finishing the same time as me. Seems to be a couple of us finishing on 20th.

I'm planning on just taking the 39 weeks, I don't think realistically we could financially afford for me to be off the full year. I'm the main earner which worries me slightly with the massive drop in income but we will make it work.
Unsure how it will work when I do go back yet but plenty of time to think about that.

@RaeRae84 I have done similar to you. I'm taking some leave at the end of July and am starting maternity leave in August, baby is due on the 1st September.

I am a pharmacist so on my feet all day and whilst I work part time I am starting to find it really difficult now. I ended up having to go home from work today as I could barely stand and due to some bleeding have been admitted to hospital. it all sounds very precautionary so hoping I will get discharged tomorrow and can rest up in my own house. I've never been away from my two overnight so am a bit upset.

@SillyBry I drive! I mean I'm sure I'll be fine and I have to use my annual leave this year which is fine so I reckon it'll be nearer 36 weeks that I'll finish, I think my boss will be as helpful as he can so I'll see if I can do a day or so from home xxx

@sceptre86 oh hun sorry you're in the MAU, hope everything is OK please keep us updated xx

@Sceptre86 sorry to hear you're in hospital. Hope you get home soon xx

New thread mommas

September 2021 - Thread 6 is here! www.mumsnet.com/Talk/pregnancy/4247666-september-2021-thread-6-is-here

Sorry to hear about the bleeding @Sceptre86

Fingers crossed it’s nothing to worry about