Due January 2024, Part 7!

[RG9895]

Thought better make a new one!

@Kalodin fair play to your DH. Mine would be the typical man who wouldn't ask for help and would try to figure it out lol

House almost cleaned,most bags packed, dogs off to kennels tomorrow, pack the car and tomorrow evening let the dreadful journey begin.

25 weeks today and just had my FINAL cervical length scan! 🥳 Stitch is holding well, only a smidge of measurable cervix above it and a big old crater a funelling but it's no different to what we expected to see and there's only been minor progression so Consultant was pleased with that.

Tomorrow is the gestation my 6 year old was born at and I think/hope it'll be a bit of a relief to go beyond that. 28 weeks is my next major milestone though.

4 weeks ago my Consultant said he expected I'd deliver within 4-6 weeks so just two weeks to go to surpass that 🤞

@Kalodin are you are least going somewhere fun at the end of the journey?

@PartRadish that's great news, lets hope you get to 28 weeks and beyond! You might be the first one to actually have a baby in this thread!! Starts to feel a bit more real around this stage right!?

Brilliant that there's been minimal change @PartRadish And best of luck that you make it to at least 28 weeks really hoping 32/34 weeks for you 🤞

It might just be wishful thinking but I just don't feel like she's going to be very early. I feel different this time. I can't explain it but something just feels different. Annoyingly it does very little to ease the anxiety of another potentially early arrival, if anything it makes me feel like I'm temping fate, can't win! I mean I could be totally wrong but I just really wouldn't be surprised to still be pregnant at Christmas/New Year.

That's great news @PartRadish! Really hope baby continues to stay in as long as possible.

Great tips about hospital bags, I haven't thought much about mine yet as it's just been such a busy few weeks. I'll be 28 weeks next week though so we need to be getting serious about all these things, it definitely feels more real now. @Mushroo period pants sound like a great idea, I'll look at those M&S ones!

I'm 27 weeks today and definitely still have days where I feel baby less, especially when I'm on my feet a lot. Usually after meals, in bed or when I'm resting on the sofa they have a rave! But I've been a bit worried about reduced movements a couple of times, then they tend to have a wiggle before I get too anxious. Yesterday they were constantly moving so it still comes and goes.

Is anyone else going to be applying for maternity allowance? I've got my SMP1 form from work, I've not been there long enough to qualify which I was expecting so just need to navigate the other form now and send everything off.

@Onedayatatime24 I had that with my first, I'm surprised they want to scan you straight away. Being big is better than being small I always thought. I was measuring 3/4 weeks ahead for a number of weeks and I was sent for a scan after a GD test came back negative. She was fairly big but not massive, born at 8lb 6 but all leg (which makes sense as I am 5'11 and DH is 6'2.) My bump was very central and all out front and I'm sure it was just because her bum was pushing against my belly button and she had so much leg to curl up! Either way, the head measurement is the important bit so make sure you find that out - hers was pretty small, she was just long so fairly easy to birth!

Great news @PartRadish I hope you make it at least another 2 weeks!

@PartRadish really hopping baby can stay in there a bit longer for you.

Anybody switched jobs during pregnancy? Just been offered an interview for a great role, not sure whether to say something now or whether to do interview and mention it.

@TunnocksTCake Not sure why they want to scan me so soon, maybe because I'm high risk for gestational diabetes? I'm 3-4 weeks ahead as well so pretty big for this stage apparently. Midwife said the same, bigger is better than a too small baby generally! Pretty sure it's just because I carry all of my weight on my stomach so the measuring tape was always going to measure big.

Good news @PartRadish - fingers crossed they stay comfy in there!

@Bims2019 honestly all the forms and info you need to digest is so complicated! I do get maternity pay but even then they can't tell you exactly how much and then i've got pension and tax ontop of that etc etc! So many things to think about

@Luhou i'd say go for it, but yeah you'll have to mention it i guess, i assume the interview isn't in person as that would be fairly obvious at this stage? 😂

Boots have a baby event on just now, i think it's only online but you can use BABYSEPT5 to get £5 off for every £40 spent, they also have a bunch of other deals, i stocked up on maternity pads, pants and some of the expert midwife items and saved myself about £20 in total, plus extra boots points. If anyone is looking! It says "ends soon" so not sure how long that'll run for as it's obv October now! I also bought the new mattresses for the cot and the pram today!

@Luhou I've switched jobs, not a decision I made lightly but hated my previous role and found it really stressful. I interviewed when I was around 18 weeks so could still get away with hiding pregnancy with floaty clothes, and decided not to tell them until I had an offer in writing - I didn't want being pregnant to be the reason I didn't get the job! Then I had a call with my new manager before I started and told her. She and the team have been really nice about it, even though I know it's an inconvenience to them.

I think tell them when it feels right for you, to be fair a company worth working for should take it well and support you. I fully intend to go back to work, hopefully being away for 9 months or so won't be too much of an issue in the long run and they understand that!

Thanks @Bims2019 and @suz2285 I'm just going to go for it and see how I get on. It would speak volumes about the business if they could accommodate.

Just won't get my hopes up.

@Bims2019 yes me! I submitted my forms yesterday. The only thing I don’t know about is when baby arrives, I assume you let somebody know so that your mat allowance pay starts? Or maybe it’s done via payroll? Literally no idea.

@buckingmad you will have to let HR know the date you’re baby has been born 😊

@Luhou good luck! If they think you're the best person for the job then that should be all that matters 😊

@buckingmad oh great! How did you find the forms? I've got payslips from my previous job to send for the qualifying weeks, just need to sit down and actually look at it all properly. Did you include your original MatB1 or a copy?

I think maternity allowance goes straight into your bank from the start date you request, which can be any time from 11 weeks before baby is due. Did you select a specific date? Then I think if anything changes you just have to notify HMRC. I might be wrong though! And yes, you would still tell your current work when baby arrives as well 😊

@suz2285 the forms are so long winded! It's a lot to get your head around while also still working and growing a new person 😂

How are you all booking Covid and flu vaccinations? Is it at your GP surgery?

I've just had a look online to get the jabs and the nearest chemist mentioned is 25 miles away which is a huge problem with me not driving and serious lack of public transport in my area.

I'm getting flustered as both my daughters teacher, her friend and friends Mum have been quite poorly with Covid last week and she came over to chat with me today and now I'm feeling a bit rough! Taken a test and it's negative but as you can imagine, I'm eager to get vaccinated now!

@Bims2019 mat allowance form on the HMRC website and yes original mat1b along with payslips for the period requested and the form from work saying why I don’t qualify for SMP.

I put down a date but im sure the form said it will be paid no more than 14 days after baby is born.

Have been non stop since I got home at 3.45 from work. Almost all packed for holiday tomorrow, dog handed over to dog walker, tidied up a bit.. just chilling on the sofa watching MAFSUK

@Vikki7 I just booked at my local Boots, you can just walk in though if they're not available at your GP surgery.

@Vikki7 mine is at GP surgery but also noticed our local pharmacy is offering them too so could be worth looking there if GP can't do it.

Ffs just got my results that I have gestational diabetes 😭😭.

Anyone else in the same boat? Need to do lots of reading up but can it be managed through diet? Or will I need insulin?

@Mushroo ah that’s rubbish. But yes, majority of women control through diet. Start looking on the gestational diabetes uk Facebook page. Reduce carbs and sugars, up protein and good fats. If you’re struggling to control with diet they will introduce metformin which can be played with a bit and then insulin is last resort but that’s actually not that common, and I see alot of GDM women. I’ve got my repeat GTT in 2weeks when I get back from Rhodes. Dreading it being positive.

currently at Pret in Gatwick airport ☀️ ✈️ planning to pick some gaviscon up from Boots 😬😬

Thank you 😊 I’ve had a rubbish couple of weeks diet wise being on holiday so need to get back on the healthy band wagon!

Have the best holiday!!

Oh no @Mushroo - got my test In a couple of weeks and I'm so worried. Are there any signs you have it? Hope you're ok!!
Enjoy your holiday @Mummyme87

@Mushroo apparently there's a good GD facebook page as the NHS guidance is a bit pants about "healthy food" tbh! Mostly can be controlled by diet, you'll have to check your sugars just like a regular diabetic would which is a bit to get your head around but once you know what impacts the carbs/sugars have on you personally it's a bit easier to manage (my sister has type 1). I'm apparently getting a blood test in a few weeks re my bloods - but not referred for the GTT which i find strange, but anyway.... i'm not massively keen to do the GTT anyway! my sister's visiting in a few weeks so she's also going to check my sugars!

One of my pals had it in her last pregnancy and did end up on insulin, induced a few weeks early - 37 + a few I think but her and baby totally fine 😀