Due June 2022 (thread six)

[MrsNT]

Wow we are on thread 6
Please tag anyone ive missed

@Flowerbug1994 scan was about half an hour (despite being uncooperative, sonography could still get the measurements so I didn't need to go out and back to try and have her in a better position), was running pretty much on time, I didn't need to see the midwife for anything else afterwards x

Hi ladies! We have a perfect little boy!
I had such anxiety also last night.

@3yearstrying that's amazing 💚 what a brilliant picture 💚💚💚 congratulations

@3yearstrying Congrats!! Beautiful boy!!

Did people go to scans with empty bladder?

@3yearstrying congratulations lovely 🥰 he’s perfect

A girl for @mrkb and a boy for @3yearstrying

How perfect!!! Congratulations to both of you!xxx

Congrats to everyone who has had their 20 week scans over the last few days and have found out the gender! What an exciting time!!

I’ve got mine on Thursday & I know I will be wishing away the week to get to my appointment so I’m happy to see all these posts as they’re keeping me going! Haha!

Can I please ask (as I haven’t been given much information at all) - Are we advised to have a full bladder like with the 12 week scan or is this not an ask this time around? I was literally sent only the appointment but with no accompanying information so I’m a bit clueless. Thanks!

@Roxystar23 my letter says you should have a full bladder but friends have said that is not necessary because the baby doesn’t needed to be pushed up by the bladder to be seen.

I am still going to drink some water before just in case but won’t do the full 1 litre

@Roxystar23 @Prema112
I didnt have a full bladder, like you say thats only in earlier scans to see better. I had to wait around 15 mins and i couldnt hold it and went for a wee before the scan and it was all fine!
Best of luck it was amazing to see x

Congratulations @3yearstrying

I accidentally had an empty bladder because I was desperate for the loo and even though I was downing water, I was called earlier than my appointment. It didn't seem to affect anything but she did ask if I had been to the loo because she could see my bladder was empty 🤦🏻‍♀️

Can i ask anyone whos already had a little one, when did you start maternity leave? I was think 2 weeks before im due but not sure if thats cutting it fine or just right?

Congratulations @mrkb on your little girl! And @3yearstrying what a perfect photo of little boy! So exciting to hear about these 12 week scans. Very happy for you both :) 💜

I wondered if anyone’s scans had been uncomfortable? Last time I had one it was very unpleasant as the sonography went really deep and I had cramps afterwards. Hoping the 20 week is less uncomfy?

@Rolledthedice my 20 week wasnt uncomfortable at all, sorry you had a bad experience! Hopefully next time its better for you. I guess it also depends how big bump is! I am hardly showing and only look like ive had a big lunch so maybe it might be different for people with a bigger bump

@Rolledthedice I think because your uterus is higher up this time they don't have to push so much to get the image. My 20 week scan wasn't uncomfortable either, so fingers crossed you'll be ok.

I went with a comfortably full bladder because I checked on the NHS website but I don't think it's anywhere near as important this time xx

@3yearstrying first time mommy here and i initally said 1 week before due date to manager but a few ppl have said to me take atleast 2 so ill change it

@3yearstrying & @Clomid1 - Thanks very much for the advice! 😊

I was so uncomfortable for the 12 week scan because I needed to pee even before I left the house. The sonographer even mentioned how full my bladder was during the scan & all I could think was “but that’s what I thought was requested of me!?”. I think I’m just scared of being told off at the hospital for not doing right.

Thank you @3yearstrying and @fpeg! It sounds like this time around they might not need to dig around as much. I’ll probably go with a mostly full bladder in case that helps. Scan is next Wed so not long to go! It’s honestly so wonderful hearing all the scan stories and seeing all the photos. :)

Before my 12 week scan I drank loads of water - about a litre. My bladder was so full the baby was all squashed up and was pushing at my bladder with his feet to get more space.

The midwife asked me to go and do "half a pee" so that the she could do the measurements properly. I was very embarrassed. On the plus side, seeing the baby pushing my bladder out of the way made the reality of the pregnancy really clear to my DH - he kept talking about how the baby was really alive and like a little person already!

@Roxystar23 I also have my 20 week scan on Thursday!! What time is yours?
So excited and so nervous at same time.

@3yearstrying my work have told me I have to take all my years AL before I go so I’m planning on finishing 2.5 weeks early then depending on how much I’m allowed to carry over to next year (if any they are really funny about this) using rest of leave to book 2 days off a week up until then so essentially going part time from end of April to finish mid May.

Does anyone know what happens to AL if baby comes early as Mat leave will automatically kick in? Will any days remaining be carried over as not physically able to take them? I have a meeting with HR next week but trying to plan everything now and I’m so confused as FTM

My 20 week scan took about 30 mins but that also included an internal scan to check length of cervix. I went for a pee before we set off for the hospital (about an hour before appointment). Then just drank 500ml water on the way. Seemed to be about right as pictures were really really clear although I did get sent to pee in my appointment at the end to see if the baby would turn to allow final measurement (it did).

@Rolledthedice only one bit was uncomfortable for me when they were having to press quite hard to measure the valve at the back of the brain. Aside from that it was a lot less uncomfortable than the 12 week and only felt a bit tender for a couple of hours after (vs the next day on 12 week)

Also given the amount of chat on movements, just wanted to share my experience of the past couple of days. The past 1.5 days until just now I’d felt very little (way less than what I now consider ‘normal’) so was getting a bit worried. However baby is now having a post lunch party in my uterus so I think a lot is to do with which way they are facing and can hide themselves away for a fair while at this stage. I know the medical advice is to expect a pattern only around 24-28 weeks but it’s hard when I’ve been used to more and fairly consistent movement. Just in case anyone else has a panic like I was!

@Littlemilomoo I'm no HR expert but I think they have to roll it over for you, just looked it up online and apparently they do have to allow women on maternity leave to use up their accrued holiday entitlement. Apparently by law, if you are unable to take your annual leave due to being on maternity leave (as would be the situation you describe) your employer is required to allow you to carry it over into the following leave years (ordinarily you must take your statutory holiday entitlement in a leave year, but your mat leave trumps this). Hope this helps!

Essentially if they say no get them to put that in writing (I bet they don't!) because then you can prove they have broken the law.

@Littlemilomoo only caveat is that they can require you to take it all if they give you appropriate notice of that (twice as long as the leave would be for), unless your mat leave interrupts that leave. The leave that your mat leave interrupts must be carried over to the following year. Sorry if that's a bit convoluted

If that helps, my hospital letter says “It is helpful to have a small amount of fluid in the bladder for the scan, but you do not need to actively fill your bladder. Please do not empty your bladder during the 30 minutes before your appointment.”

@fpeg thanks that is a little clearer!! I’ve been trying to read online but I get confused 😂 and our HR won’t really discuss anything with me at all until they get the 20 week midwife form which is annoying when I’m trying to plan to give them notice aha