Due August 2023 (Thread 3)

[BoodifulGoose]

Follow on from thread 2 cause we talk, a LOT 😂

www.mumsnet.com/talk/pregnancy/4693024-due-august-2023-thread-2?page=40

@AnnieApple123 I'm glad you've been seen by the obstetrician and they are keeping a close eye on you. Did you also have a booking appointment with a midwife too?

I have the badger app and I've noticed that I have an appointment with an obstetrician after my 12 week scan. I'm wondering if this is normal practice or if it's because of my health condition (I have a pituitary tumour which could potentially grow in pregnancy).

@sally16 🤣 I was feeling okay, no bigger than usual. But then I tried on my jeans and oh hell! They were so tight!!!

@CityKity my work normally only let you carry 5 days over, but maternity is different and I was able to carry over more (I carried only 10 in the end as I wanted to use two weeks before my daughter came to relax - which I recommend if you can! And she came on her due date! 😂)

im only back to work mid October there and had 50 days annual leave to take with what I carried, my new allowance, plus all the bank holidays I’d missed. I used mine to take the rest of October off, and nov and dec I’ve been taking 2 days off a week, and then Jan - March I’ll take a day off a week 😊 and then I’ve 1 day left still to use. My manager was happy enough for me to do this as he didn’t want me to carry loads over, and it’s really helped ease me in.
Finance wise, my husband and I have been lucky and managed to save up from shortly after I found out I was pregnant enough to cover my shortfall from maternity pay. I sat and worked out how much we’d need and we put a chunk of money away each month, and I basically had 13 months off without being financially impacted at all. I think we’ve been lucky to be able to do that, but also Covid meant we weren’t going anywhere really so we weren’t needing to spend as much! We’re going to try and do our best to do the same this time as it worked out well.

Just to jump in with my symptoms, the only ones I’m having right now is slightly sore boobs (and it feels like it’s underneath?), and my skin is breaking out a lot. The bloating is coming and going and I’m really feeling it today. I absolutely don’t think it’s anything to do with the fact I’ve opened all the Christmas chocolate and treats though… 🫠

@Knov20 Doing a digital test later this week sounds like a good idea! I will do the same :-)

I did 2 tests yesterday (the first one was a cheap one and I couldn’t believe it so did a first response straight after), and one this morning to reassure myself that it was true. They were not very dark but a line was clearly visible (I posted a picture, i think it is now on the previous page or a bit higher on this one)

I hope they stick, for both of us!

Welcome and congratulations to the newbies 🥰

@Knov20 @Londongirl87 I’ve got one digital weeks one left and did one last Wednesday and got 2-3 (so 4-5), I should be 5 weeks today so I might do the last one tomorrow or Wednesday just to hopefully see 3+ 🤞🏼 Trying so hard not to think about it but also thinking of nothing other than it 😂

@LBF2020 I’m also starting to find clothes tight now at 8 weeks, although haven’t gained weight.

That does sound likely to be the reason you’ve been referred to the obstetrician. Can you ask if in doubt? I had some time with midwives doing the bits like blood pressure, measurements, etc. then the consultation with the obstetrician.

@LBF2020 I had my booking app with a midwife on Friday. She is organising an app with a consultant due to something in my past medical history. I think they need to do it just in case and if all okay, can be handed back to midwife. Although I don't think it's necessary to be referred unless something is flagged up.

@PumpkinEverything thanks so much for the mat leave insight, it’s so helpful. I hope my company are as accommodating with carrying over leave, but I’m sceptical for now.
I feel like it’s really hard to find out the ins and outs from people IRL how they managed both leave and finances during Mat leave, as no one loves talking about money in real life.
I have savings that could easily cover a year off, but we’re also trying to buy a house next year, so it’s hard to know if we’ll need to dip into that money for the house. 2023 is going to be an expensive year that’s for sure!

@CityKity I went back to work with my first when he was 7 months old and it’s my biggest regret - I genuinely wish I’d have got a loan out to have a full year. They grow up SO fast and you don’t get it back. I know that’s not a feasible option for everyone but I just mean if you can find a way round it, it’s so worth it ❤️

Just to add on that he has suffered no consequences from going to childcare at 7 months, it’s purely me that wanted more time. He is confident and loving and incredible xx Don’t want to guilt anybody!!!

@Amme18 your experience is totally valid, no need to apologise! It’s fairly uncommon where I work for woman to be off longer than 6 months, so even though I can afford a year, I can imagine feeling pressure to go back early. I would love DH to take a few months out whenever I do decide to go back, but I’m even more confused about how shared parental leave works!
I realise I’m jumping the gun a lot, but thinking about practicalities keeps my mind busy these days while counting down till the 12 week scan

@Amme18 I’ve started to think so much more about how fast life goes since he was born. My phone did one of those little memory video’s of photos of him today and it started with the first photo in hospital when he was born right through to him now, could of cried watching it just seeing it all flash before my eyes. I read a thing a few months ago about how you never get to say bye to the newborn baby, suddenly you just have a toddler, then they’ve got school uniform on all of a sudden and so on 😭 I love him so much at this stage, I can’t cope with how fast it’s going

Agreed @Amme18 totally valid and no need to apologise. I’ve never gone back and, whilst there are definitely disadvantages to that too, on balance I’m grateful to have had the opportunity to be able to be at home for this early bit.

Is anyone else awake? I’m so worried now about having ketones. I eat very healthily with virtually no sugar but food aversions are clearly making it hard to get enough. Two of DS’s favourites and staples are peanut butter and bananas. Both currently turn my stomach and put me off whatever I’m eating. I’m going to arrange a dietician appointment for tomorrow.

@CityKity We did shared parental leave last time and I really recommend it! We took six months off each and overlapped a couple so we were off together for a while. My husband has a brilliant bond with our son - sure this would’ve happened anyway but definitely helped that he spent a period of time as primary carer. It was a bit complicated as we had to get our companies to talk to each other and neither had done it before, but once sorted was brilliant!

Not sure if we’ll do it again as my husband has changed careers and is now a teacher so will be off when this baby arrives anyway - we may still do it but more of a 75:25 split this time around.

I was naughty and seen 6 week baby last night 🥰 tiny little heart beat flickering away! Cant wait to see them again already, the addiction has started 😂

In regards to mat leave I'm taking a year and all my annual leave I can at either end, I struggled to go work past 32 weeks last time and I hated using my mat leave when baby wasn't here yet 😅 I've decided to do an extra night every week for as long as I can to make up the shortfall and then use my KIT days at the end to bump up my wage :)
Remember KIT days are paid and can be any length of shift you want! It's what suits you too keep in touch!

Hi everyone! I woke up today and my boobs are no longer swollen and sore so I am worried that something might be wrong.

I always have sore boobs during the second half of my cycle and it always stops 1-2 days before my period arrives. I am so scared that it means my progesterone levels might be dropping (or something like that) and that it won’t stick :/

I took a test this morning and the line progression still looks ok, I must be at 12 or 13dpo today

Aww that’s great @sally16

That’s so nice @sally16 🥰🥰

@Londongirl87 it looks like they’re getting darker if you compare 18 and 20 so they seem good to me!

@sally16 oh I am jealous!!! Counting down the hours til mine Thursday and praying all ok 🙏🙏🙏🙏 but at this point I’m just gonna focus on excitement 😃😃😃😃

I wish I hadn't felt so smug about a lack of symptoms except sore boobs and bloating. Nearly 7 weeks now and the nausea and food aversions have hit, I don't want to eat anything which is really unlike me 😂
It's great to hear all about everyone's booking appointments, mine isn't until the start of January so got a few weeks yet.
Me and DH have discussed shared parental leave which I'm quite excited about, rough plan is I take annual leave before due date, then take about 10 months then go back to work. DH to take 2 weeks plus 2 weeks parental leave at the start to support us then to have up to 2 months at the end when I'm back at work. It feels like a good balance. Would really recommend this website for calculating it all, you can tick each week as to whether you're taking mat leave and partner taking leave to work out how to split it as I found it baffling trying to do it myself.
https://www.gov.uk/plan-shared-parental-leave-pay

@LMM91x I am on a rollercoaster of feeling nervous and excited 😬 ours isn’t until 5 I don’t know what I’m going to do with myself all day!

Hi everyone, could I join please? Tested positive yesterday... due date is 26th August.

I'm quite overwhelmed as it wasn't planned, and even though my husband and I are technically in a good place for it to happen (both emotionally and financially) it's still such a shock!! I really have no clue what I'm doing. Have ordered some folic acid and informed my GP. I had a few whiskies last week - oops.

Congratulations to everyone!! It would be lovely to be able to chat here with people who are going through the same or have the experience I lack!! There are no children yet in my family and I've held a baby once in my life...