Due July 2022 (thread 4)

[CaptainCarp]

Hi all another new thread as the old 1 was almost full!

Previous thread
www.mumsnet.com/Talk/pregnancy/4445441-Due-July-2022-thread-3?pg=1

@CaptainCarp my work haven't even sorted my replacement yet... I am already dreading coming back after mat leave - I think it's going to be a mess!

@KizboBaggins haha don’t worry, before the HV called me last pregnancy, I’d never heard of tummy time 😂 I was like what the hell is that!!

@KizboBaggins blimey that sounds like a challenge! I honestly wouldn't go back to my teens for any amount of money, it was awful! Funny how I never really considered how tough it also was for my mum until I started to think about having kids myself. You got this though 💪 us mums are hella strong!

@KizboBaggins oh wow are they just planning on winging it!?
We are having a bit of a reshuffle & someone is coming part time into our department to help cover. Can kind of see it ending up a bit like lockdown / furlough where everything got behind but we'll have to see!
1 of the managers keeps telling me I'm only allowed 3 weeks off 😂

We're all over the place at the moment. Haven't got a thing for baby that we didn't have already (except the local football strip 😅) because we're moving in a few weeks. We've still enough time to get everything though, 2 months is plenty. Trying to get my replacement at work up to speed, they started 3 weeks ago. Going on holidays on Saturday, cannot WAIT to just lounge at the pool and drink mocktails for a week- very much needed at this stage because I am truly knackered, physically and mentally.

Otherwise my MIL is unfortunately out of action for a time so no babysitting for our PFB available. It was my plan to spend as much time as possible 1 on 1 with PFB, in all the school holidays etc anyway, but it would have been nice to have a little bit of 1 on 1 time with DH too. Second whoever is suggesting the cinema, it's something I don't do a lot of any more and wish I had more time to.

I have to go on leave at least 4 weeks before due date so I have 17 or 22 work days left, depending on if I take any more leave before then. Actually really nice to count it out like that, even though it will be another 7/8 weeks in reality it feels like less! Off more 7 whole delicious months then, really like I'm going on sabbatical!! Only had 4 months (through the winter!!) with my first so this time is going to be real luxury.

@NotAsOldAsIFeel it's certainly going to be an adventure! I definitely think teenage years will be harder than newborn lol

@CaptainCarp haha they keep assuring me they've got a "plan", but I know for sure they won't recruit so they're likely to try and "spread it out" amongst the wider team which is going to be a disaster. I don't know about you but I hate training people up too... I'm so bad at teaching. This is the first role I've really enjoyed and made my own so I'm worrying how it will be when I come back. But I'm sure all that worry will disappear when the LO is here ☺️

@MollyRover wow only 4 months maternity leave with your first? That's crazy. How did you find it? Im planning on taking about 9 months (if finances will allow it).

Your holiday sounds amazing, hope you have a lovely time! We have booked 3 days glamping when I'll be 32 weeks and although I'm not sure how I'll cope on a wooden bed, I'll be glad of the break away

I cant believe people are having HV visits already! Do they not think people are at work etc? I hope no one visits here, we are still in the middle of needing a joiner after just having plastering done!

I’ve declined the antenatal HV appointment. I didn’t find it very useful last time (although that was during covid so maybe I’m being unfair) but I feel happy I’m up to date on safe sleep / feeding advice etc.

@paintfairy I know right! She rang expecting that I'd be available the very next day with less than 24 hours notice. Erm no, I've got other things going on actually. With all my medical appointments scheduled I'm not always free at the drop of a hat. Growth scans every 4 weeks, midwife every 2 weeks, its beginning to really get on my nerves tbh with all this intrusion in my life. Feel like it's not my own anymore you know? Don't fancy someone coming here and scrutinising me and my environment. Just not in the mood for it

So the HV was actually really nice, she was only here for about 30 minutes. Left some information for me to read at my leisure about feeding, sleeping, gave me some vitamins to take from birth and explained how often they come to visit. Wont see her again until 9-14 days after birth now

@KizboBaggins it was very very hard. I was 6/7 months pregnant when I started in the company so I felt I had something to prove, but where I am the statutory maternity leave is only 16 weeks across the board anyway. I was back in when pfb was 13 weeks old, after which DH took parental leave for a bit and we juggled that with creche. Even though I could work 2/3 days a week from home, all of the expressing milk and running around and working full time pretty much gave me a nervous breakdown. I didn't stop doing everything, but it's taken me quite a bit of therapy and self care (which doesn't come naturally to me!) to get back to a me I'm happy with.

This time I'm planning on taking unpaid parental leave (we have put money aside to pay me my full salary during this time) until baby 2 is at least 6 months old, and then only coming back 4 days still using 1 day parental leave per week until my leave runs out- it means my pension will still be built up at 100% for a total of 26 weeks of unpaid parental leave. After that I will possibly fix my hours at 4 days but we'll see. DH will be picking up his parental leave after I've used mine too. It's important to us that parenting is 50/50, and that we are both financially secure for our children.

We didn't need to both work 5 days for the last few years but we were looking for a new house so thought it was smarter to max out our mortgage potential. Now that we've found a place the pressure is off so we can both work less too. But I'm just going on a bit now, aren't I 😂

Please someone recommended me a maternity support belt, ideally Amazon, very overwhelmed by their choices !

Tried and tested pls

I'd prefer one with the strap going under and above bump

I'm 26+4 back ache, bump ache and heard these can help

Thank you

Xx

@strawberrysummer19 I bought this one and it does the job! BABYGO 4 in 1 Pregnancy Support... https://www.amazon.co.uk/dp/B07V6YQJ3M?ref=ppxpoppmobappshare

It has strap for underneath and above. I only use the underneath one for now, but will start using the above one soon too I think

Helps my back when I'm out with the dog, definitely felt a difference when I've been using it!

The slip on one that I posted up thread (not the velcro) is great. Covers from the bottom of the bump to the boob (extra support under and over) and is totally unnoticeable under clothes. I didn't get it on Amazon but they're all pretty much the same I think. The velcro one doesn't seem any better but it's noticeable under clothes. Useful for putting on and taking off easily though.

@strawberrysummer19 I also got the support belt that kizbo suggested. I've only had it since last weekend, used it 3 times and it makes a world of difference so I'm happy with my purchase so far.

Thanks ladies, all ordered - 😀

Baby and toddler event back online for aldi if anyone is interested

@missv556 thank you for letting us know! I shall be looking, haven't bought anything apart from about 5 outfits 😳x what has everyone bought at 27 week stage ?

We are pram shopping next weekend! X

I have got pretty much everything at this point, either brought, gifted or handed down. Only big thing left is the pushchair which I'll be getting in the next few weeks. There's the baby show in Birmingham in a few weeks time so I'm gonna see what I can get there

We've bought a few big items now, but there's loads of little things we still need. We've bought the Joie Versatrax pram which is a travel system which included two car seats and isofix base, a Tutti Bambini next to me crib, bottles as I plan to bottle feed, a Milton cold water sterilising unit, a Tommy Tippee perfect prep day and night machine (heard this is a lifesaver), and we got a good condition baby bjorn bouncer from Facebook marketplace. My mum keeps buying us Aldi nappies every time she goes shopping so we are sorted for nappies for now! We've bought several outfits but I need to think more sensibly about what we actually need going forward, need more multipack basics like short sleeve sleep suits as it may be hot in July and some summer hats. I just have a long list on my phone with loads of baby items to consider, as it's our first baby it's all a bit overwhelming but exciting at the same time 🙂 any must have baby product recommendations are welcome!

@missv556 I hope you know I'm now holding you fully responsible for the £50 I've just spent in Aldi 😂

@KizboBaggins 🙈 my bad haha. Or did I save you money that you would have spent more of elsewhere for the same items? 😅

@missv556 well that's exactly what I told DH when he raised an eyebrow when I walked in laden with carrier bags 😅

Tonight I've felt movement really really low down! Is this normal? Anyone else getting this? I'm 26+4

Some movement has been side and higher up but tonight's it's so low, feels like she's kicking my bits! X

@strawberrysummer19 I get movement all over but every now and then it feels like I’m being kicked in the cervix. It’s very unpleasant! I think it depends on what position the wriggle themselves into.