September 2021 - Thread 6 is here!

[Bubbles1st]

Can you Adam and Eve it we are are on Thread 6! Hope I included everyone on the update!

@Noodles4Me - 26th Aug 💙
@Scotti84 - 30th Aug 💖

@Sceptre86 - 1st 💖
@primhutch - 1st 💖
@RaeRae84 - 1st 💙
@KHR1 - 1st 💙
@CherylLW - 3rd 💙
@GWhiteley - 3rd 💖
@deedeebythesea - 3rd 💙
@Allicit - 3rd 💙
@Poppins2016 - 4th 💛
@2021mumma - 5th 💙
@Squibble84 - 6th 💛
@leftitlate37 - 7th 💙
@SillyBry - 7th 💛
@LouiseJayne23 -7th 💖
@bewitchingnight - 8th 💖
@SK28 - 8th 💛
@Taralweaver - 8th 💖
@AdventuresAwait - 9th 💖
@mumof23188 - 9th 💙
@Bubbles1st - 10th 💙
@Catkin7 - 10th 💖
@FTEngineerM - 12th 💙
@CobleCloud - 13th 💙
@Maybebaby29 - 14th 💙
@Taybz - 14th 💙
@Bigdreamer9 - 14th 💙
@Eppy123 - 14th 💛
@Kirky658 - 15th 💖
@Hopefulmummie - 16th 💖
@Mamabearwhere - 17th 💙
@HollyMoore - 17th 💖
@aurora2021 - 18th 💖
@Bluespace - 18th 💙
@ErrolFinn - 19th 💖
@xsjrx - 19th 💛tbc
@unicornpower - 20th 💖
@Moominmiss - 20th 💙
@Sophieandtiger - 20th 💛
@bluemagicalsky - 21st 💙
@Clouless - 21st 💛
@Jay3004 - 22nd 💙
@SP2Bx - 22nd 💛
@Geegee20 - 22nd 💙
@Holly91 - 22nd 💛 tbc
@Rach921 - 23rd 💙
@LittleCatDog - 23rd 💖
@SproutingSprout2021 - 24th 💛
@LittleAurora -24th 💙
@RadDarwazeh - 25th 💛
@crobo87 - 25th 💙
@d0nut - 25th 💖
@GummyBear91 - 25th 💛tbc
@AdriannaP - 25th 💛
@MrsTD88 -27th 💖
@MrsBrett20 - 27th 💛
@marshmallowmode -27th 💙
@ams92 - 30th 💖

It's amazing how many companies seem to be giving 6 months full pay! I get 6 weeks full pay then down to 50% for a bit before just smp.

We were getting ready to decorate what is the nursery when we found out we were expecting, having just done the bedroom, so just chose an appropriate colour and decided to get a new carpet.

Have nearly everything sorted but it's not all set up yet.

Wow 6 months pay would be nice. I get 10 weeks full pay and the rest smp. Have saved up a lot though so I think I should be ok to do the whole year with the unpaid bit at the end. I would love to have a few years off but my husband and I are pretty equal in terms of wages so we couldn't live off just the one. Ah well! Am hoping I can do a couple of years part time instead.

Nursery wise we have painted but don't have any furniture yet. I'm not getting much until she needs it as it's still our spare room and office for wfh! I love it even without any stuff, it's yellow and white. Looking forward to getting some bookshelves and nice prints for the walls.

@SillyBry I think its because anyone under 40 automatically gets the Pfizer vaccine and thats the one you'd have when pregnant anyway. When i got there I just spoke to the nurses and told them I was pregnant and had a good chat about it which I found reassuring!

My company it's alright with maternity pay I get full for 12 weeks then 50% for 4 weeks then go to SMP for the remainder until the last 3 months when it's nothing! But they contribute fully to my pension when I'm off and also I accrue all bank holidays and my normal holiday allowance that I can sell a few days back each month to top up my pay! At the moment I'm aiming for 9 months off but may take year just have to see how finances go. My company is really flexible which is great so for those last 3 months I may go back reduced hours to get some money.

Nursery wise, I'm currently waiting to complete on a house 😬 should be in the next few weeks so will do the nursery once we are in! Got the decor all picked out! And I've bought a mamas and papas furniture set of a friend who's been super accommodating and keeping it until we move and decorate!

@SP2Bx it has made it much easier hasn't it! One less thing to do at least.
Nice to hear people's plans for theirs!

At least some companies seem to a be a bit more with the times with regards to maternity pay. I wish I looked more into it when I started my job but I never planned on staying there for so long and babies were definitely far from my mind!

Over here pregnant women are banned from working 6 weeks before and 8 weeks after the birth, so i get full pay for then, then the first year i get 80% and then i can take another two years mat leave but without pay, but my job is protected for that time. Im going to take the year then go back two days to stay below the tax threshold but so i earn something, we can't afford me to be home longer unfortunately. We are hoping to start on number 2 by that time though so hopefully it will all roll together.

We painted the nursery last weekend, done one wall blue with clouds and a rainbow, then the rest neutral, just waiting for the rest of the furniture to be delivered now.

Has anyone got a warming lamp for over the changing table? Are they useful to have?

Bloody hell @Scotti84 that’s fantastic maternity leave.

I have no idea how long I’m going to take this time; I’m super excited to be off with DC1 again whilst DC2 just eats and poops 😂 there’s better not be a bloody lockdown i and hell bent on doing some travelling/exploring this time.

All your maternity pays seem so much better than mine. Mines just the bog standard 6 weeks at 90% then onto SMP. I'll have to go back after the 39 weeks as I'm the main earner and we can't afford for me to be off unpaid

@crobo87 don't worry mine is the same!
@Scotti84 that's amazing, would love to be banned from work! Did you say you were in Germany? My DH works for a German company and was thinking he would get their paternity policy, he only found out this week that he's still governed by the UK so he's pretty gutted!

@crobo87 mine is the same too! Will go back after the 39 weeks but may stick a little holiday on the end as going back will coincide with my daughter's birthday.

@RaeRae84 yeah thats where i am, the German policies are brilliant with this stuff. That's a shame he cant get that policy. On the otherside, my other half works in Austria as we live on the border, so he has to take their policy and That's just one bloody day. He can take a month unpaid but i think its pretty crappy theres no paid parental leave on offer at all.

😳one day! That's awful!! He did have a moan to the UK team and they basically have said you can have it as extra holiday so all wasn't lost but still think he was frustrated.
I do think the Germans are so ahead with some of their stuff when it comes to work

Really struggling with backache today. Does anyone have any tips to ease it?

@crobo87 I can sympathise, I’ve got terrible back pain at the moment, mine usually comes from being sat in the same position at work so I just move about and it tends to ease off a bit. A warm bath might help?

Also is there anyone not in the Facebook group yet that wants to be? If you want to be added just let me know!

@Squibble84 yea please for the FB group, what info do you need from me (or vice versa)? 🙂

My mat pay is also first 6 weeks at 90% then 39 weeks at SMP. Sucks but we will manage. Been to see our neighbours tiny baby today he's only 2 weeks old, was born by c section at 36 weeks and he's now 4lb 12 oz he is just gorgeous. Sat cuddling him and thought omg this will be me soon 😍

My DP and I are self employed so I'm only entitled to maternity allowance and he won't get anytime off paid.

However have saved so he can take a full
Month off if he wants and I will reduce my work from august until at least new year.

We run a Dog salon from premises at home so I can dip in and out of work until we have a good routine.

DP will hold the fort and we are reviewing our work days and customers, so hopefully he can work longers days but less of them. However even then, he will always just a be a room away so I'm enjoying us spending lots of family time together between appointments or if someone cancels last minute.

We won't be earning as much if I don't return fully but it will a lovely work life balance and that was always our motivation for becoming self
Employed anyway.

@Poppins2016 I’ll send you a private message!

@bubbles1st ahhh that sounds lovely! I looked into the maternity allowance and actually apart from the first 6 weeks you end up better off as you don't need to pay tax or NI! I'm lucky that DH is a teacher so he will be off every 6 weeks or so anyway which will be welcome x

@Squibble84 oh yes please, can you share with me?

@SillyBry I’ve sent you a private message!

@crobo87, I've seen a physio about my back pain as I ended up in A&E 2 weeks ago in agony and unable to move. The physio really helped and gave me exercises so my back is much better. She also recommended a ball to sit on when I'm working at the kitchen table or watching TV etc, as you can move your hips/lower back rather than staying still.

I got a babygo birthing ball which came with a booklet of exercises for using the ball during (& after) pregnancy. I've also used a microwavable heat pack (warm rather than hot) on lower back and was advised to take paracetamol when needed. I guess it depends what is causing the pain but this is what's helped me 😊

I work for NHS so get 18 weeks full pay, 18 weeks at 3/4 pay and 13 weeks SMP. I have 33 days holiday so effectively can afford 8 months off. Can't afford to live on SMP.

I'm going back full time too as I need to start pulling my finger out and looking at some better career opportunities.

When are we meant to start looking at nurseries? Now I guess...?