Due December 2022 (thread 4)

[Sdoubleyou]

Hi all, looks like we'll be filling up today or tomorrow. I wanted to create the thread early so we can have a link to the new one. Have a nice weekend!

I work for the nhs. I’m being asked to take my annual leave before going off as when I come back I’ll have loads to use.

Bit of a mid term lurker but should probably join. I’m due 02/12 just waiting anxiously for my scan next week

@Seraphim87 I'm due the 1st and have mine next week too! Counting down the hours!!

I know it’s very frustrating. I saw an offer on a 4d scan but it’s only on for a couple but I paranoid booking it will jinx things

Yes @HayleyBean I'm NHS too. Finally told one of my managers today - I've been holding off because I don't want to be put on light duties (theoretical risk of aggression from patients in my field). Thankfully he said since I appear to have done my own risk assessment and not told him til 16 weeks he'll try and get it agreed that I can continue with my full range of duties. My other manager is far more by the book and I'm sure will tell me no lone home visits. Anyway, he said I've got to use the whole financial year's entitlement of annual leave before going off for mat leave.

Due baby no 2 on 26th December '22, hi everyone.
Had a difficult first trimester with sickness and exhaustion whilst trying to still be a decent parent. Finally starting to feel a bit more human again and the weeks are passing quicker 😁
Hope all you ladies are doing well x

@JC84 and @PinkFizz1 I wasn't aware of dispersible aspirin. I didn't know that was an option! I'm taking 150mg of the gastro resistant tablets. For risk of pre eclampsia, due to just- over- the- limit BMI (darn you, ivf meds!) plus age.

@Bluebonnet3 neither was I but that was what was in my prescription when I picked it up, I was dreading it as my gag reflex is horrendous and multiplied due to huge pregnancy tablets but it went down OK thankfully. I'm on 75mg for previous pre-eclampsia which was missed for months until I went to hospital the day before I was due having been kicked by my horse.
I was told to start at 16 weeks but my prescription said 12 weeks on it - better late than never at 16+4 hey?!

@Bluebonnet3 - most 75mg aspirin are dispersible. They can be swallowed whole or mixed with water before taking. The gastro-resistant that you're taking aren't and are designed to reduce the risk of any stomach irritation and issues such as ulcers. I'm a pharmacy technician for the NHS, not sure if that differs for community pharmacies

Morning ladies from sunny Spain! As nice as it is to wake up to blue skies and breakfast in the garden I was attacked by the mosquitos last night, off to get a wee plug to kill them all!!!

Also definitely showing now at 16 weeks! Feels less like bloat and is more of a hard round bump

18 weeks today! Hoping to feel some movements soon! Don't have my 20 week scan for another 3 weeks which feels like an eternity!

I'm 18 weeks today too! Have another early anatomy scan next Thursday, then my standard big one on the 27th (when I'm 21 weeks).

In other news, my boss wants to have a meeting with me to discuss me working back in the office rather than mainly WFH. I really panicked when I got the email. I know lots of people work in their workplaces right up until their due date but I've been having a really hard time with my pregnancy and I'm not sure I'll cope adding daily commuting in. I haven't been full time in the office since March 2020 and the timing just feels awful. I should add that I am the only female employee and most of my work is done solo (not collaborating with anyone else). I'm needed in for the odd meeting/task in the office but have been attending on those occasions anyway, except for one which clashed with an antenatal appointment. Has anyone got any advice?

@LolaJ87 could you get some evidence from your GP that your pregnancy is a difficult one and the commute would be too much for you? Otherwise you may need to try it and then get yourself signed off if you cannot manage.

Hi @LolaJ87
I'd suggest doing a risk assessment for coming into the office and make sure you put all your concerns on there. Don't forget we're also still in the increasing phase of a new wave of covid. Get evidence from your GP or midwife if you're high risk and point out that without the commute you can get more work done around appointments etc?

Hi all, Im 17+4 , due 10th of December. Got positive covid test today☹️ headache is strong (no temperature) and sore throat. Does anyone had covid during pregnancy? Any suggestions if any painkillers can be used ? Up to now was trying to avoid any tablets etc but think will need to use smth this time as headache is strong. Still waiting for my midwife to reply but thought will check here in case anyone has any information. Thanks:)

@Janiuta I had covid at 12 weeks and took paracetamol as normal

@LolaJ87 I am in a similar situation, I have been WFH for over 2 years and I am now having to go back to the office 5 days a week - I am exhausted! I am submitting a flexible working request for 2 days at home. You could run it past your boss informally then follow up with a formal written request?

You'll have to include the following in you request:

• The date you’re sending it
• The change you’d like to make
• When you’d like the change to start
• Days / Hours / Shifts you are proposing to work
• How any effects the change could have on your work or the business might be dealt with
• The date of any previous flexible working requests if you’ve made any
• If your request relates to something covered by the Equality Act 2010, for example, to make a ‘reasonable adjustment’ for a disability you have
• Any benefits that the change could have to your work or the business (for example, cost-saving or doing shift times that others prefer not to do)
• Any benefits to your co-workers (for example, if a co-worker would like a job share, too)

@LolaJ87 I agree with all the suggestions people made. Also worth checking trade union guidelines (as well as HSA guidelines) to see if there are some legal protections for you there.

@Toffee2911 the employer should need to make a business case for having you back in 5 days! That's ridiculous, especially if you are all able to do at least some things at home.

Life update: I have replaced my nighttime glass of water with a reuseable plastic tumbler that has a straw. It is so much easier for those dehydrated 2am wakeups (not so good for the 3am pee wakeups mind you!)

@Vg92 I work for NHS and I plan to take my annual leave before I go off probably finish work beginning of December (due end dec) take annual leave then start Mat leave when I’ve taken all my annual….you accrue annual leave whilst your off so have loads to take at the end anyway. I’ve not told anyone in work im pregnant yet though as I don’t want to be treated differently. I will have to tell my manager soon though. Have you read your maternity policy, it’s all in that :)

@LolaJ87 I think most places now are moving back to normality after the covid situation. We arent wearing face masks in our hospital anymore and those who were vulnerable and were shielding are being reintegrated back into the offices/ workplace etc so your boss is probably doing the same in your workplace, it was maybe an email sent to all staff wfh. However, have u told them you are pregnant yet? As Far as I’m aware you are very well protected by law in most work places when pregnant and they have to carry out risk assessments and arrange alternative duties/ hours/places to work etc if you are struggling with certain aspects of the job due to being pregnant so I would go down that route. I am currently doing ok in pregnancy however I usually do well first and second trimester then have bad 3rd trimesters, my last pregnancy I ended up anaemic and needing iron infusions so was off work for a week for that in my 3rd trimester then I couldn’t walk due to pgp and was on crutches from 33weeks needing physio and hydrotherapy…I did carry on in work but really I shouldn’t of, in the risk assessment they got me parking on site and no patient contact that’s about all they did to help me…this time if the same happens Which I’m really hoping it doesn’t I will be putting myself first and probably ask my doctor to be signed off work which is why I’m trying my hardest to stay in work now during the first 2 trimesters. Your workplace will always put themselves first but if you explain your issues in your risk assessment they have to help to alleviate those issues for you, if they can’t then you shouldn’t be there. If there is no real need for you to be in the office (especially not everyday) they should be supporting their pregnant staff to stay in work by all means possible and if that means wfh then I don’t see the issue x

Thanks so much to @TradedAtlanta @lifechanginglemoncake @Toffee2911 @Tofu35 @Jaaxe ❤

Toffee I'm so sorry to hear you're in the same situation.

It's a small company so things are usually managed fairly informally but I think I'll have to take a different approach with this. There was no risk assessment carried out. There are no maternity policies in place or in my contract (like I said, only female employee). I had bad morning sickness early on so my boss has known since I was 4 weeks. I have also let him know that I am high risk, why, and kept him informed of my extra appointments. I get headaches 3-4 days per week and can just about make it through the day when taking breaks at home, but even with that have still had sick days. I took last week off work (annual leave) purely to manage my exhaustion. It was the first time in my entire pregnancy I was up to doing something properly social (went to a gig).

Jaaxe funny enough with what you'd said about covid - my workplace is enforcing mask wearing due to increased covid cases, yet I'm expected in tomorrow even though my boss knows my husband is currently ill with covid. There's still mandatory self-isolation in Ireland for people with covid, masks are still mandatory in healthcare settings so it's a little bit stricter than the UK but my workplace policies seem a bit contradictory. I wish it made any sense to me.

I was feeling very upset when I posted, you've all been really helpful. It was so nice to feel heard and understood.

Just had my first colostrum in the bath. Cleaning my boobs then noticed some had come out. Not much at all but was kind of shocked 😮😂 seems like a big first in my life 🤣🤣 anyone else had it? I'm 18+2 today

@tasha4eva10 @ElephantGrey101 no, I didn’t ask specifically for it, but the midwife explained that as part of arranging any c section, the consultant will have a discussion with the mother.

I spoke to my midwife about several reasons why I want a c-section, none of which I want to discuss here as they’re too traumatic, and she put it on my form at the Booking Appointment, and advised me that I’d hear from the consultant anytime between now and a couple of weeks before the due date

Hey all. Can I join please?

I'm due 31/12 with DCDA twins. I can't go over 37/38 weeks so 10-17th Dec. Hoping babies stay nice and cosy until at least December.

Spoke to my twin consultant yesterday who did say 50% of twins are born early and some other scary things. I know she has to tell me. She was lovely.

I will be having scans every 4 weeks from 20 weeks with a consultant appointment straight after every scan x

I also have covid and took paracetamol when I needed it yesterday. Took it before in this pregnancy also.

Paracetamol is fine to take x

@AG96, lol my first reaction was "I'm jealous"! That's pretty cool! I've been having dreams about the baby and breastfeeding and I'm really looking forward to it. My breasts didn't get much bigger during the first trimester but they're definitely swelling up now. I've gone up at least a cup size (I'm a 34B so it's pretty noticeable... and fun!)

@AG96 @PinkButtercups thank you very much for your responses girls, took paracetamol and feel a lot better as migraine was killing me.