Anyone due in April 2024 #3

[XenaTheWarriorPrincess]

New thread for April due dates!

Feel free to tag people from the old thread so they can find us easier.

@dory0
I had my 25 week appointment last week and they didn't even measure my bump. Said it would be next appointment at 28 weeks. However I don't know if that's because this is my 3rd child (7 year age gap so midwife treating like a first pregnancy for appointments) I wouldn't be overly worried at this stage however if you are concerned there's definitely no harm in being checked out. Last thing your body needs is extra stress and anxiety!

Thanks all. I’m sure it’s fine it’s just hard not to worry about everything! I think I will contact the midwife and see if they will send me for a scan and if not I will think about booking a private growth scan for reassurance

I thought the midwife was going to measure my bump at my 24 weeks appointment, but she said no that they only measure after the baby is 26 weeks. It's so confusing when everyone has different rules. Feel like I'll have one measurement less than everyone else. This is my first baby.

@SummerOak I feel the same mine first got my weeks wrong.. then she was like oh yeah nearly forget let me measure your bump.. but it is what it is I guess 🤷🏼‍♀️ I feel also that I need to keep dragging the information out of her :/

The UK system seems mad , they scan me
at every visit , which is nice . The symphysiofundal height (bump height) isn’t very accurate so I wouldn’t be too concerned ! Anyone else dyyyying for a glass of wine . I’m dreaming about wine at this stage 😂 28 weeks on Saturday , onto the 3rd trimester .

@Hopefulfirstround wow already 3 trimester. How are you feeling? Any reason they give you a scan every time? I was told I'd only get more scans if the bump is too big or too small.
Not wine, but I really wanted some Baileys during holidays.

Yes @Hopefulfirstround I am also dreaming about wine now🤣 it’s funny because I’m by no means a big drinker when not pregnant, but I am actually really missing a glass of wine or prosecco now! I was joking to my husband that I’ll be packing a bottle, a flute and some strawberry’s in my hospital bag for a little after birth treat!😂😂

For anyone suffering heartburn - I got an omeprazole prescription yesterday after suffering constantly since about 8 weeks. It’s literally changed my life, I’ve not even had a whiff of heartburn or reflux today after taking my first tablet this morning!

@Mrsttcno1 im also not a big drinker but I think packing a flute into the hospital bag might happen here too 😂😂. @SummerOak If you go privately here you get a consultant scan at every visit, but I used to do the public clinics in work and we scanned everyone every visit also , it’s just what’s done here I think ?

@Hopefulfirstround that's awesome! We get 12 week and 20 week scan and that's it unless any issues 🤣

Hi all. I was also told at my 25 wk appointment today that they don't measure bump til 28 weeks and that they don't tend to provide matb1 form til then either. I'm sure I read on NHS website these things happened at 25 wks but hey ho.
Please can I just check when people are planning to stray mat leave? I have to tell work this week and me and my other half can't see to agree! I was planning to have 3.5 weeks off before due date but he thinks I should work another week partly so I don't miss out on the Easter bank hols this year and partly to have the extra few days with baby x

@ZB86 I got my matb1 at 20weeks and got measured first time at 25weeks app with midwife 🤷🏼‍♀️ I guess it just depends on the midwife. I'm due on 17th but planning to work up until the week before but see how it goes in practice.. my job isn't straining at all so I'm trying to save as much time to spend with the baby x

Thanks @chlo299 . We have matching due dates! Did midwife refer you for a scan last week? How did it go?

@ZB86 yay 😀🥳 I wonder what due dates we are going to end up with 😀 Yes I did! I thought she was going to refer me in the following week or so but she sent me straight away to the maternity unit so I got proper worried at that point. I ddint have an appointment so it was going to be potentially A&E sort of wait but luckily I got seen within 40mins. I could see the baby moving and they confirmed she was fine and if I don't feel more movement by next two weeks to come back. Two days later I finally started feeling movement and sometime I can even see them 💖💖

I’ve actually just rang my midwife to ask for my MatB1 form because my employer is asking for it now that I’m less than 15 weeks from due date which is apparently what their guidance says! @ZB86 Maternity leave wise my current plan is to literally work right up until I give birth🤣 I’m quite lucky in that my job is hybrid so part at home and part in the office, my manager is more than happy for me to just work from home as much/whenever needed so really for those last 4 weeks I will just be working from home. If I had a job that required daily travel or being on my feet all day I would probably be taking time off beforehand depending on how I’m feeling. Depending on how much I have left to do/how I’m feeling though I’m planning on using annual leave so that I am only working 4 day weeks from end of March x

My due date is 8th April and will start maternity leave on the 1st April.

You are all such grafters! It does make sense though to try to have as much time as possible with baby at the other end. I will just have to make sure I make good use of my weekends to make sure I am well prepared for the new arrival.

@chlo299 that's great news! I have felt the odd movement but nothing strong and certainly not every day so I'm going to ask for another scan next week.

@ZB86 definitely worth the reassurance x for me it came out of nowhere 😂 I can finally admit that I feel pregnant 😀 any of you guys going for shared parental leave ? We are planning with my boyfriend to give up my last 12weeks to him whilst I will be on annual leave for the 8weeks and back at work for the last 4. We are hoping to go travelling together in January 2025 😀

I haven't seen midwife since 16 weeks and won't until I'm 28 weeks so definitely no earlier bump measurements or matb1 forms for me until then!

I am working until I go into labour like I did my son, then taking a month off for my body to recover and returning to work with baby after that! Same as with my 5 year old son. I'm a self employed business owner of a pet care/dog walking company and also the household breadwinner so I don't have much choice😅. Going to get a lot of use out of the baby carrier haha x

@ZB86 I got sent my MatB1 form at 21 weeks and will be starting my maternity leave at 35 weeks. I don't plan to return to work after it so that's why I'm starting sooner. The company I work for is going through a lot of changes currently and I just want to distance myself from all the potential stress.

Impressed with those who could return to work within a month.

I had communicated to work (a very chill 9-5 small firm), I intend to return to work within three months. I was told I came across aggressive and is an outlier in the UK. 🙄

Re: shared parental leave - yes I am sharing the parental leave. So I am taking 6 months. my husband taking 3 months. He will be off the 1st and every other month after newborn. So we both will off full-time at some point and no concrete plan for extra help from MIL or mum. We are both first time parents, we just plan as in what we feel right. We did communicate to work that it's the plan and will change depends on circumstance.

We both think we could manage, but somehow many people asked if our parents/ family will help. Which sometimes gave us doubt if we were doing the right thing. We in fact will also have a cleaner and looking for nanny/chef in the first month to help with cooking or anything else - such that I can focus on childcare.

Curious to know other shared parental leave arrangement too!

Thank you!

Can someone explain how shared parental leave actually works?🤣 Can you give any amount to your partner for example, and can you take it at the same time to both be off?

DH & I briefly looked at it and then got extremely confused and gave up, he will only get 2 weeks paternity and is currently planning on taking a 3rd week off as annual leave but wondering if it is possible to share leave to give him a month

@Mrsttcno1 I'm confused myself tbh.. I think it depends on your company maternity benefits etc. I know you can give up the SMP element as well as leave but it's like if he's off then you have to work and it like cancels your mat leave or something (that's the confusing bit for me) that's why I'm giving up only the leave element after all the payments are finished so the last 12 weeks. Then he's not getting paid anything but because I will technically be on annual leave we will just live off that 🤷🏼‍♀️

Yay, I agree about the SPL was quite confusing at the beginning. Both my husband and I initially didn't think of the needs about it until his mates encourage him and don't miss out the benefits he entitled to.

The concept of SPL apparently was also relatively new - like a couple of years ago (?). That's why not much people familiar with it yet.

In very simple terms, both parents could share the leave make up of 12 month leave. Say using my example the mother takes 6 months, father take 3 months. It could be at the same time or one after the other. This would depend on the company. Other details say the 3 months have to be in block or anytime within first year of the newborn.

But the other element about it is the pay (which in our case is really the driver of how we plan our SPL). Using the 6-3 months example, I could take 3 months off with approx 100% pay and 3 months off statutory pay. in my husband company case, he could take 3 months off full pay. Again the payment pattern is depend on the company policy. So in this case, if my husband didn't take the SPL, he missed the chance of full paid off for 3 months. (And some of his colleagues post online about how incredible the SPL is, posting photos they doing childcare in south of France 😳)

and in total, we decided to take 9 out of 12 months of SPL, six from me and 3 from my husband. if he or me want to take extra 3 months, we both won't get fully paid.

Hope it helps!

Work were asking for mine so I text the midwife after my 20 week scan and she left a MATB1 at reception for me, I’m sure you’re entitled to it from 20 weeks on. I’m planning to take a weeks annual leave from 37 weeks and then mat leave from 38 weeks. First baby and figured I won’t get any time to myself for a long time after so might as well! Might wish I worked longer if I go to 42 weeks and am fed up though 😂