November Babies: Thread 4 (Into the Second Trimester and Beyond!)

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Hi everyone,

New thread for those of us due in November 2024. Old faces and new: welcome!

The last thread got a bit quieter as the Facebook group seems to be picking up. Link is here: fb.me/g/p_dSrSRkjpYfziyYWj/jkEMUg9j
It will expire in 48 hours so just ask if you need a new one!

Looking forward to hear how everyone is getting on as we approach/enter the second trimester ⭐️

Thank you so much and happy to be here!

I will keep on listening to my body and eating and I’ll tell work soon enough too!

Hi there! I just wanted to jump in and say that I'm in a really similar situ to you in that my entire work team are all men - we've never had anyone go off on maternity leave before so I was super hesitant to tell them!

I had my 20 week scan last week and told them after - and it was totally fine! So I just wanted to assure you that there's nothing wrong with waiting until after the scan - you legally don't have to tell them until 15 weeks before you're due.

Re: movement, it's my first baby too and I think I felt something for the first time last night (20+5) but I can't be sure! 😂

@ChocolateSaxophone
Sorry for the slow reply. I've not checked the thread in a few days. We go around every 2 weeks for a scan. I love that we have her documented from just a small blob.

I had my 20 week scan yesterday (NHS) and all was good. My husband loves the scans, I think it helps him feel connected to her.

Regarding work, I had to tell them as soon as I found out I was pregnant, but I work for a huge company, so I literally just give my staff number over the phone and then I just stay at home until maternity leave ends. So really it's like having almost 2 years off work. One of my friends had back to back babies so she had almost 4 years off!

Thank you so much and I’m glad everything went well for you after you told the guys at your work!

Aww how exciting! It must be such a surreal feeling - I can’t wait!

Hi everyone, I haven’t followed this thread for quite a while now but looking for some advise… over the last few days I’ve had a bit of bleeding and I’m not sure what to make of it. It’s not heavy or painful, just like what you’d get at the end of a period. I’m going to speak to my midwife but is anyone able to reassure me that this is normal? all I’ve read online is that most bleeding is in the first trimester so I’m trying not to let my mind run away and start panicking! I’m 18+4. Thanks x

@Sunandstars28 I'm sure there have been a few posters on here (or maybe on the FB group) who've had bleeding and all has been fine. You should definitely call your midwife and get checked though x

@Sunandstars28 more likely to be nothing than anything to be worried about but not normal in that it's uncommon, I'd get in touch with your midwife to get checked out to confirm it's all fine.

Hi just wondering how long before due date are you all going on mat leave?

@carlymarie24 - last time I planned to go at 38 weeks, and then baby came a couple of days before!

I still want as much time as possible with baby, so I think I'll plan to stop working for October half term (baby is due 4th November). I'm not a teacher, but my DH is so will hope for three weeks in a row together (assuming baby cooperates!)

What are your thoughts?

@carlymarie24 due date is 25th November and I'm hoping to work till roughly 10/15th November. I work in a school so have said I'll definitely be there till end of October but when I give my official date I'll probably add a week after half term so I get more time once baby is here if that makes sense.
It completely depends upon your job, and if you plan on returning after mat leave. I think you can set a date to start it which you can't work past but you can finish earlier if you need to.

I’m stopping work mid way through October. Just to give myself 3 weeks or so leeway, incase she decides to appear early!

Apparently first babies can go two weeks either way - not sure how true that is, but that’s what I’m told lol 😂

@carlymarie24 my due date is 4/11 and I'm setting my official first date of mat leave as 28/10 (so 39 weeks) but I'm a teacher and the week before is half term so I won't actually work after 37+5 (but get a bonus week of full pay!)

I have said however if I'm really struggling either with the drive there and back or just the physicality of teaching I'll finish earlier. I'm not taking a full year (will return for summer holidays in July) so I can afford to take a bit extra at the beginning if I really need.

Thanks everyone, I’m a scrub nurse so standing in the same position for long periods of time is not very comfortable 🥴 I might just aim for as late as possible and see how I feel at the time

@carlymarie24 last time I officially finished 2 days before my due date, but was on annual leave the week before so I technically finished at 39 weeks (and the monster was 10 days late so I was home feeling miserable and fed up for longer than planned!)

I'll probably aim for the same again... and hope that #2 isn't as late as big brother.

I’m planning on starting on my due date and then taking two weeks off annual leave before.

DS was two weeks late so hoping for one that’s a bit more punctual.

I want to maximise my mat leave as DS starts school next year and want to be off to cover his first half term.

I’m a teacher too and planning to finish at half term, with the official start being 28/10. I’m due 20th November so it gives me a few weeks. Last time, I ended up starting mat leave 2 weeks earlier than I planned as I couldn’t drive anymore and my son was born before I would have started anyway. You just never know when they’ll come! My friend’s first was 15 days overdue and her second was 10 days overdue. You’ve got to base it on how you’re feeling and how much your job is impacting that I think. Give a late date now and you can change it when/if you need to.

Anyone else still got ages till their 20week scan? Mine isn't until 11th July, I'll be 20+3. I know it's all relative but feel like I've got ages yet till we get to see the mini gymnast again.
Hope everyone is coping okay with the warmer weather 🤞

@LegoBear84 mine is on Monday, so not too long. I reminded my husband last night and he said "20 weeks already? This pregnancy's gone really quickly, hasn't it"

I pushed him out of bed 🤣

@LegoBear84 I feel the same, mines not until the 10th! The joys of being one of the last in the group! 😂

Mine's not til the 18th!! But I am due the last day of November so...

(And we also had a cheeky private gender scan as my youngest was getting quite attached to the idea of a sister - she's having another brother haha)

Ladies my worst fears have come true and I think I'm starting to leak a bit of wee 😭 so mortifying! Anyone else having this?!

(Posting here cos it feels more anonymous than on fb!)

@LegoBear84 mines not until 8th! We’re currently discussing the idea of not finding out the gender and just waiting. 😅

Separately, I’m adamant I felt movement yesterday for the first time (18+5) but I’ve not felt anything today…

Absolutely. I'm genuinely worried I have a prolapse or something it's that bad. I feel quite heavy down there when I'm squatting or walking. And if I cough, sneeze, laugh or jump it's 50/50 whether I'll wet myself (even if I've been to the loo ten minutes beforehand). I've never had this in any of my previous pregnancies and it's come on quite suddenly. I'm obsessively doing pelvic floor exercises to try and help and wearing a pad as well. It doesn't help that I've got an awful cough at the moment which shows no signs of getting any better. 18 weeks to go....

Hello I am 22 weeks pregnant and have felt baby kick in the past but for the last 2 days I've not felt much not sure if I'm over thinking or I should contact my midwife, this has happened to me before and baby was all okay. Has anyone else experienced this? X

I feel like I have to brace myself, and my pelvic floor, everytime I go to sneeze!!
The other day I definitely leaked wee but luckily had period pants on and disaster was averted!
I've started to use the reminder to get my steps to as a reminder to do some pelvic floor clenches 🤞