Due December 2023 Part 5

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Starting Due December 2023 Part 5

I think it really depends how prepared you are prior to mat leave, and if you have any things you want to do while you're off before the chaos of a newborn.

With my first, I had plans of batch cooking, sewing, coffee with friends and long baths for a couple of weeks leading up to the birth. So it was a bit of a shock that I went from working a very busy job, straight into being a new mum with no break!

I had a hugely swollen ankle last week but only left side! Had a DVT scan to be safe but very common now 3rd trimester and when warm 😬

I'm going on Maternity leave early as I got a lot of annual leave to use up so I'll be off from 32 weeks!! Hope I don't get bored 🙈

I would love to batch cook, sew, and have long baths!! We are also moving house so will be loads to do in the house too around then. Tempted to bring it forward now…

I was also planning on starting Mat leave at 38 weeks but haven't put my official request in at work yet - got until Friday to decide, so maybe I'll need to re-consider when to start as well...🤔

I'm leaving at 38 weeks but i have scans at 32 and 36 so if anything comes up then that might allude to an early arrival I will leave earlier work are quite flexible.
I'm looking forward to mat leave lol

I work term time only so can't add annual leave to the start of my maternity like some people do. I've currently said I'll work until the end of term 10 days before due date. I have to give 8 weeks notice if I want to change so will review just before half term in October. I work in a physically demanding care job with late to early shifts!

@VillageFete found out today that before the test it was around 9 and after was 7. Midwife thinks it’s a lab error. When I tested myself in the morning it was around 4.8 which is odd. I’ve being extra careful with eating sweet stuff until I redo the test next week

My maternity leave is down for 18th Dec and due date is 29th Dec. I will be working from home for last month or more and work will be winding down so I imagine it won’t be challenging so want to keep it close to date. I’m going for c-section but haven’t been told date. I’ve been told it could be 22nd which would just give me a few days but more likely just a day or two before my due date.

I'm officially in my third trimester today!
Feeling so happy and blessed to be here with a healthy baby and pregnancy 😭💞

@SMG1992 woohooo! I'm third trimester tomorrow and feel exactly the same. It's so exciting!

@Flowersandfloral it feels like such a milestone doesn’t it? it just makes all the less good bits feel so worth it

Hard to believe this is the start of everyone going into third trimester 🥰 Where has the time gone! I'm only 25 weeks so another few weeks to go!

@Charlielechat its crazy!
Work wise, I have a few holidays booked so I only have about 12 working weeks left, it’s going to fly by!

I wonder if I’m the last in this group - due date 30 December. I can’t wait to see all the birth updates start coming in

Is anyone the else the 30th or later?

@Mushroo I have 10 working weeks left, counting down already and I've only got back after summer 😂
I feel so late at 27th as well. Will be trying everything to induce labour earlier!

@Charlielechat yup! I’d love her to be here for Xmas but not sure I’ll happen, I’ll probably still be here moaning mid Jan!

@Mushroo I'm due on the 25th. Currently hoping he's early!

@Flowers90 wishing us all pre Xmas babies!

@Mushroo I'm only a day ahead of you, due on the 29th - due another scan at 32 weeks to check if my placenta's moved up, so guessing if not I may have to have a C-section...
Time in definetly flying past now though! It'll be December before we know it! 😁

It’s interesting everyone seems to want the baby for Christmas. I’ve been thinking about this and I’m leaning towards wanting the birth after. I’ll get to have one last Christmas with just my son and spend more time with him playing with new toys. More chance of enjoying Christmas dinner. Also I will be heavily pregnant but if I had c-section scar it’d probably be worse for mobility. One downside is I’m not sure if it makes sense to dress the babies in christmasy clothes when born which would be cute for a first outfit.

This baby is due end of November so no chance of am Xmas baby but dd2 is boxing day and I often wish she'd come a few days earlier. The anxiety of watching her open her Xmas presents off others and praying they aren't what we've bought her for her birthday with no option to exchange before if very real lol. Though possibly less of an issue if her birthday was a few days after Xmas rather than the next day

@ThomasinaLivesHere that is a good point and would be lovely for you to have another Christmas just with your first child and the time to spend together.

I hadn’t even thought of the Xmas clothes! frantically searches online for a newborn elf costume 😂 I am definitely going to have at least one just in case!

Quick one regarding maternity leave, why this is so confusing I have no idea! My due date is the 18th Dec however as I will be having a c-section, my consultant will give me my date on the 29th September during week 38 which is week commencing 4th December.
Initially I wanted my last day to be 1st December and take 2 weeks annual leave before the 18th December (even though baby is arriving week of the 4th Dec however that leaves me less than a week so enjoy some me and toddler time before I have my surgery any day on during the week of the 4th December. Now I would like to take annual leave and make my last day 17th November and have 4 weeks annual leave. My question is, even though my matb form says my due date is the 18th Dec and I will be on annual leave 4 weeks prior to the 18th Dec, baby will arrive week of the 4th December so as I am on annual leave does that mean my maternity leave will still start on the 18th December? Regardless of what happens before that as I am annual leave.

Please advise as I really don't know why I am getting so confused. I have a catch up with my manager next week so just wanted to know the details before that.

@RG84 I'm doing really similar- I'm taking 4 weeks of annual leave from 1st November (to spend time with toddler) and then starting my mat leave on 4.12.23. My due date is 20th December but c section is booked in for the 5.12.23.

If you have had baby I don't think you can be on annual leave and your mat leave will automatically start.

@RG84 I think what @ejg504 said is right.

You’ll be on annual leave, but as soon as baby arrives your mat leave will trigger. But you should get the annual leave you’re no longer using to use next year, so overall hopeful limited practical difference.