Due December 2023 part 4

[wannabemum38]

Part 4 thread ladies

I didn't get an outy belly button last time, but it went from a very inny one to flat. I'm at the flat stage again now, but my bump is a lot bigger at this stage than it was when I was pregnant with my daughter! I'm hoping it stays flat and doesn't pop out as I have a weird dislike of outy belly buttons!!

Belly buttons kinda weird me out too, and mine is on its way to being an outtie- when I laugh it is one, which makes me laugh more because it's so weird. I'm hoping when I'm bigger it'll be too stretched 🤞 to be an outtie.

I'm also a bit weirded out by belly buttons, mine is still in at the moment but stretched.
I can see scars from my past key hole surgeries!

My bellybutton is still in at the moment but definitely looks different. I can see the inside of it more if that makes sense! Baby had hiccups in the night last night. It was the first time I’ve felt her hiccup 😂

Well I'm pleased to say the pelvic girdle pain was not here to stay! It seemed to arrive on Sunday and by Monday morning gone lol
Fingers crossed doesn't come back as been 5 days now phew 🙏🏽
I think I over did it Sunday cleaning out the car so maybe it was that I just over done it.

Has anyone had a pregnancy massage yet?
I have a lot of tension in my neck and shoulders and went to a pregnancy massage on Thursday where they literally just stroked me with massage oil lol
They said they were not allowed to do pressure during pregnancy massages 😭
Better to be safe than sorry I guess ... but I have already booked and paid for another one on the weekend as we have a weekend away booked.
Just wondered if anyone else had been and been to one and was told this x

Pregnancy massages vary from therapist to therapist. Most will just stroke you, as they are taught in training that lots of pressure on certain pressure points can trigger labour or dislodge a DVT. Therapists who are also trained in sports massage or similar will add a bit more pressure and really get into the knots. I'm trained as a massage therapist and have done the pregnancy massage course and was a little nervous of applying any type of pressure right after I'd qualified. I'm much more liberal with pressure now though!

I'm lucky (or not quite so as it can be uncomfortable!!) that my husband will give me a sports type massage, even in my first trimesters as he's had lots of training in that area and knows his stuff. I also see another massage therapist who will give a thorough massage, but not half as firm as him. It's more relaxing than therapeutic and it's my relaxation/pamper time, whereas my husband's treatments are to get rid of any tightness or niggles.

Saying this, I need to get him to do another massage for me- my hips are getting a bit tight!

@bookbathnap how did you know it was hiccups? What's it feel like? That's so cute! 😊

Ladies, has anyone been unwell in pregnancy so far? I’m 3 weeks in with some kind of virus (i’ve also had a couple of UTI’s)

Whatever it is, it’s affecting my chest. I’m coughing non stop and have pulled something in my stomach due to it - plus have to wear really thick pads in my underwear 😩 Dr says it’s viral. No temp etc…

I just worried about it impacting baby. I take Vit D, Choline and Omega 3, but thinking I may need to start on some Zinc? Anyone else taken Zinc in pregnancy?

@VillageFete My pregnancy vitamin has zinc so it’s definitely safe to take and probably good for you. I’m worried I’m coming down with something as feeling tired and throat has that feeling you get before a cold starts. It’s just perfect timing as I’m off work next week.

@ThomasinaLivesHere I stopped my pre natal at 14 weeks but from memory that had zinc in too, so i’ll get myself some. Just found some in the cupboard but it expired last month so don’t particularly want to take it.

What pregnancy vitamin are you taking? Mine were making me feel so nauseous so I stopped at 14 weeks. I’m ok with separate stuff though, just not the actual big pre natal pill!

Vitamin d, c and zinc are good for immune system support. We have some effervescent tablets of vitamin c and zinc in the bathroom cabinet for when DH is feeling run down.

Also, have a look at your diet and make sure that you are eating a variety of healthy, nutritious foods. If you're struggling, a smoothie is an easy way to get some extra goodness in!

I hope that you're feeling better soon

Hi ladies! Has everyone sorted or sorting their maternity with work? Is it until 25 weeks you have to formally let your employer know about your leave?

@Pitstop1986 Thank you. I’ve had a cry tonight because i’m so fed up of my weak chest and how exhausted it’s making me feel 🙈 My diet has been rubbish the last 3 weeks whilst i’ve been unwell. Will definitely get some Vit C and Zinc.

• btw I don’t mean let them know you’re pregnant, I mean formally let them know how long you’ll be on mat leave etc…

@smldnlove i submitted the forms this week! Our policy says 15 weeks before the week of expected childbirth which for me is the 13th which is a Wednesday but the week they are counting from was from the Sunday before as that’s what they class as the start of the EWC, the policy also says to submit later if not possible by that date though.

@smldnlove The policy at my work is just that you need to inform your employer by 15 weeks that you’re pregnant so yes like you said you’d be 25 weeks. It’s possible at my work to say you don’t know when you’ll start maternity leave or to change it but each place might be different. All my employer knows so far is my due date and they have a copy of my mat b1 form.

@VillageFete I’m taking pregnacare vitamins but they are the big ones that can be hard to swallow so just small separate vitamins will be fine if that’s better for you. I was more religious about taking them in the beginning but have been taking them infrequently recently, might be why I’m not feeling so great.

I think it's 15 weeks before EDD that you have to tell them that you're pregnant and hand in your matb1. Maternity leave can be sorted out at a later, I think.

My work policy is that I can change maternity leave dates with 2 month's notice, so if I arranged 9 months off and then decided whilst on maternity that I wanted the full 12 months, for example, as long as I let them know 2 month's before I was meant to return to work that I want an extra 3 months, then that can be arranged

When taking separate vitamins just makes sure you have the right doses as some can be too high during pregnancy. I also take the Pregnacare ones. I've taken cod liver for years but if I take them before eating or after 20 mins post eating they make me sick. I think it's when the capsule dissolves and the oil is left in my stomach that sets me off 🤢

Also the vit c drinks aren't always safe either, my husband has them too and I was feeling ropey last week so thought I'll take one of those and they weren't safe for during pregnancy 😢

Im sure you all do check but just in case you think somethings all ok to take but it's actually not.

Yes this is my work as well.
I’ve told HR I want a full year off, but given my manager the heads up that I’ll probably go back November / December and do some shared parental leave.

I’ll work out what I actually want to do nearer the time depending on how I feel when the baby’s here! As long as I give them 8 weeks notice of changes it’s fine.

@smldnlove not formaly submitted my mat leave as yet but similar to others, I need to confirm how long I'll be taking off 15 weeks before EDD.

I'm looking to take the full 52 weeks off and tag on my accrued holiday to the end of my mat leave. The only thing holding me back from confirming to HR is working out the total payments I'll receive from work - my manager is a bit clueless about it all.

As for vitamins and minerals I've been taking them separately, rather than an all in one tablet (can't swallow massive tablets!). I've also been taking Spatone but reently I'm really sruggling to take it because it makes me nauseous and gives me heartburn, so missed a few days here and there of not taking it - I have been feeling more tired recently but not sure if it's due to not taking Iron regularly or simply because my workload has doubled in the last few weeks and had to put more hours in.

Do you need to book an appointment to get your mat B1 form? Or can you ring midwife or GP? I have my midwife appointment on week 25 but don't want to leave until then to submit my maternity leave forms.

I have sent a picture of my matb1 form as i work from home. My head office HR is based in South Africa. I still don't know how long I am going to be off for but you need to let your work know 2 months in advance if returning to work should there be any changes. I've decided my last working day will be the 1st December. I'll take a minimum of 9 months off and take my remaining annual leave and bank Holidays when I return. We'll that's the plan.

@Charlielechat I just rang the midwife to ask for my Mat B1 form and she's done it for me to go and pick up. I'm not seeing midwife until I'm week 26 which will be too late to submit the form for work.

Thanks @Beans1982 ! I'll ring on Tuesday after the bank holiday!