Due May 2022 (thread 3)

[GinnyBee]

Hiyaaaa! I didn't see a new one yet and thread 2 has 1000 posts now and has closed. Tagging everyone from the last page of previous thread. Sorry if any regulars were missed out!

@fattycatty82 @KMHH @cloudpopbump @TashieWoo @Bubbasmama2017 @Sarah239 @robyna @YummyMummyXoX @morphe @acupofteamakeseverythingbetter

Hi everyone I’ve just received a letter in the post for yet another appointment but this time it’s a telephone call with the haematology clinic anyone know what this is for I’m so confused I have no idea ?

@Jowd92, no idea! Can you call the midwife number and ask them?

@fattycatty82, yes! I'm so tired!

@robyna, that thought crossed my mind too! I originally wanted to push my leave as late as possible, but now I'm wondering how realistic that is.

Evening! First day back in work since before Christmas (well, working from home); typically the insomnia kicked in between 2am and 5am, which made getting up this morning so so difficult.

I also had an appointment with the Healthy Pregnancy Clinic this afternoon. All is well apparently, my weight is basically the same as it was at my 12 week scan - they're not worried about it as I'm overweight anyway and the baby is measuring exactly as it should. The midwife did comment that I don't look that pregnant but it could be I carry my weight differently? (I've had a few comments from people saying I don't look like I've put on a weight but I definitely have a small bump).

Has anyone else had any similar experiences/comments? A small part of me is worried that something is wrong, but everything is coming up fine and the baby is very much making their presence known with kicks and wiggles.

@aNewYorkerInLondon Yup I can't wait to go on mat leave! Today my boss emailed me about finding maternity cover, and suggesting that an existing employee could take over my stuff temporarily and do the necessary bookkeeping bits until I come back and can tidy up any more 'accountingy' stuff that's more complicated - a sound plan since I'd be back for the financial year end the way our babies are due. Too bad I'm already 99% sure I'm not going back...

Is anyone planning to have a naming ceremony? In Finnish tradition the baby's name isn't revealed until the Christening / naming ceremony and I'd like to do that. We're not religious so would do a naming ceremony rather than Christening, but I've never been to one, I've only been to countless Christenings and they obviously follow a certain script. Not sure how to start planning it, all we know so far is we'll plant a tree.

[quote GinnyBee]@aNewYorkerInLondon Yup I can't wait to go on mat leave! Today my boss emailed me about finding maternity cover, and suggesting that an existing employee could take over my stuff temporarily and do the necessary bookkeeping bits until I come back and can tidy up any more 'accountingy' stuff that's more complicated - a sound plan since I'd be back for the financial year end the way our babies are due. Too bad I'm already 99% sure I'm not going back...

Is anyone planning to have a naming ceremony? In Finnish tradition the baby's name isn't revealed until the Christening / naming ceremony and I'd like to do that. We're not religious so would do a naming ceremony rather than Christening, but I've never been to one, I've only been to countless Christenings and they obviously follow a certain script. Not sure how to start planning it, all we know so far is we'll plant a tree.[/quote]
A naming ceremony sounds lovely, such a lovely tradition to follow too. My DD11 is christened but haven't thought about it with the new baby yet! So much to think about!

@GinnyBee, I really want to do something like this! I was raised Catholic but we're not religious; however, my desire for a welcome-to-the-tribe ceremony is really strong.

When we got married, my husband and I eloped and we wrote a little ceremony with some favorite readings (poetry, etc) and our vows, and we had the ceremony in a park (with just us and the officient and a photographer, who also signed as our witness 😆)

I was thinking of following a similar format with a few readings and a little ceremony for his sponsors/"godparents." Then afterwards a nice lunch somewhere.

There are non-religious officiants you can hire for this (though, unlike a wedding, they don't need to be licensed by the State). I'm thinking of looking for one via one of the British Humanist organizations. This is the one I've found so far:

humanists.uk/ceremonies/

Of course, if you have a friend with a talent for public speaking, you could always invite that person to officiate, which would make it even more special.

We would want to do it after baby is at least two, maybe three months old and has a bit more of his own immune system going.

Does anyone know what the rules are with bank holidays and paternity leave? With the early June bank holidays announced today, my partner is worried he will lose the extra bank holidays if he will be on paternity leave?

I feel like employer should be obliged to give days off in lieu as he wouldn't normally be working those days, but I know it's never normally that simple...!

@Sarah239 I've been wondering the same thing

Ahh it's my 20 week scan this afternoon!! I'm 20+6 and it feels like I've been waiting so long for today to come! We haven't had any private scans so it feels like absolutely ages since we had the 12 week scan. Hardly slept a wink last night, I've got to work til 1pm and then have booked the afternoon off. So excited and nervous! Hope everyone is doing okay xx

Best wishes for your scan @autumn321! It’s amazing seeing how much they’ve grown from the 12 week scan

I have my 24 week midwife appointment this afternoon, has anyone else had theirs yet?

In terms of maternity leave, I’m going to speak to my line manager about it on Wednesday and give my form to HR. I started a new job last week and I’m really enjoying it (it’s a company I’d been working with as a consultant on/off for a couple of years), I only get 20 weeks full pay before going down to statutory so I want to leave as much of that time for when baby is here. All being well I will go on maternity leave the Friday before my due date, which is a Sunday. I’m also going to go into the office at least once a week for as long as I feel comfortable because I think it would be a bit odd if I didn’t meet anyone properly then disappeared for 6 months! I’m feeling quite well at the moment so hopefully that will continue 🤞🏻.

@TashieWoo I don't have my 24 week midwife app until the 3rd of feb, it seems so long away 😂 but then they go to every 3 weeks after that don't they so I think it'll fly by!
'Only' 20 weeks full pay is an absolute dream 😂😂 I'm getting SMP 😭

Hi all, joining the thread late although I’ve been reading everyone’s comments. Hope you ladies are all doing well!

I’ve got my 20 week scan today, looking forward to it but nervous in equal measure!

@TashieWoo I haven’t got a 24 week appt but midwife mentioned a 26 week one which she booked for me.

anyone else a bit irritated that most of the baby furniture on the market is white (or very, very light grey or cream)? I feel like darker colours would not show age as much?

@Sarah239 that’s a good question. I would assume they would get the bank holidays added on as that what happens during maternity leave, but who knows! My husband’s company is rubbish and he is only entitled to the statutory pay and no salary at all. We would be better off not telling the company and him calling in sick!

@yfenniChristie
Hi I was the same u couldn't tell I was pregnant til I hit the 22 week mark but they've said it was because I was tall and before getting pregnant I was a bit of a fitness enthusiast so I had strong stomach muscles. I've got a bump now at 23+4 I wouldn't worry, everyone's bumps are different like everyone of our little ones are unique.

@aNewYorkerInLondon I told everyone our babies name as soon as we revealed the gender as we revealed the gender in Christmas cards so it was nice to write them from all of us including our little ones name. His name is gonna be Leo, as my dh has really bad dyslexia so we wanted something easy for him to spell but also I really love the name.
With the furniture I fully understand where you are coming from I really wanted a dark grey nursery (not massively dark but a noticeable grey) with little specks of blue but it's hard to find anything. Same with newborn clothes they all seem to be cream or white as well. Don't get me wrong it would be nice to have some cream and white I allready do have some but it would also be nice to have some darker or more colorful clothes for him

Sorry @MissM94 I didn’t want to seem ungrateful, I’m just used to seeing my friends taking 9 months to a year off but I don’t think I will be able to do that, at the moment I earn more than DP but that could also change before I go on leave. Can you try and negotiate a better deal with your employer?

@mowglika welcome & good luck for your 20 week scan!

I quite like all the light coloured furniture, but then we have a white bed, cream dressing tables etc already so it will match. I’ll just have to be careful not to scuff things too much. I’ve actually started buying now and have a bouncy chair and Moses basket, and we have kindly been given a baby wardrobe from friends. I am looking at second hand snuzpods now, but will buy a new mattress of course x

@TashieWoo, I think the white furniture is beautiful, but I was hoping to buy some items like a chest of drawers to use as a changing table they will last many years. I'm just concerned that it will look worn out faster in lighter colors and also that maybe a 5 or 6 year old boy may prefer a dark blue or green over white. I'm probably overthinking it, but usually when we buy furniture it's a long-term thing. 😅

@TashieWoo thank you! Found out we are having a little baby girl and everything seems absolutely fine! 💗

@autumn321 awww welcome to team pink 💗 I didn't sleep before my scan either... mind you that's standard at the moment!

We're unboxing/building the crib/travel system tonight... I'm clueless hope other half has more of an idea 😂

@Kittycaz My partner says I have a bump, as does my Mam. I just feel fat and bloated 😂 I'd love it if it was due to being tall but I'm 5ft 4in. I've been dying to have a bump since I was 10 weeks!

Can I ask what furniture people are getting for their nursery? We're at a complete loss here. We're unsure about getting a crib as the baby will be in bedside cot in our room for the first six months or so. We have chests of drawers we're going to update and reuse. So far all we've really purchased is a chair and a dinosaur rocking horse (completely age inappropriate, but it was so cute I needed it).

I'm thinking of getting a moses basket and stand while little ones on bedroom with us and when he can be in his own room I'm thinking of getting one of those cots that turn into a toddler bed so it will last a good while.
Only big thing I've got so far is the travel system but am planning on moving in the next month or so, so might get the other big bits then.

Thanks @TashieWoo, the scan was fine and baby was playing up, refusing to move for the measurements in the end she relented and we got a good look at her face which was awesome. We knew the sex already but was good to have it reconfirmed.

Re nursery furniture, I bought white about 9 years ago @aNewYorkerInLondon and it still looks good, we’ll use the large cotbed and wardrobe again this time. It all looks pretty similar stylewise to what you can get now so hasn’t aged.

@YfenniChristie we had a changing unit but we got rid of it after our first and didn’t really replace it for our second dc. So furniture wise this time we have cotbed, wardrobe, bedside cot which she’ll be in for 4-6 months, and a Moses basket for downstairs. Mine also slept in sleeping pods on the sofa until they could wriggle for naps.

The only new things I’m thinking of getting are the doona car seat buggy and a swing bouncer/rocker