MSE Pregnancy Club IV

Triggles

AM - I stopped worked at 34-35 wks as I was having problems with SPD that were aggravated at work. I had already been working shortened hours (at the behest of both my physio and my supervisor bless her - so was getting full pay), so it seemed like that last two months being pregnant went on forever! I took the full 6 months off, then used my years allottment of accrued holiday/bank holiday days (as it still accrued while I was off on maternity leave) to be off about 2 months more, then went back full time. I hated it though and now am a SAHM. As I'm doing Usborne books now as my job, I will need to check the tax webpage and see how it works with the self employment tax and maternity benefits.

The minute we knew we were pregnant, we started tucking away every
penny we could so we could top up the maternity benefit money, which is really the only reason at the time that I could take the full 6 months off. We saved all our boots card points in case we needed them for baby supplies to keep costs down as well.

A lot of employers are happy to have you come back part time initially then go back to full time in a few months - better than not coming back at all!

astonsmummy

mookiandco wrote: »

I can only really take 6 weeks off. They pay the normal 90% for the first 6 weeks then 50% for the next 6 months. We cant live off 50% really although it would cover the rent so if nescessary I can take up to 4 weeks more before I end up in the dreaded over draft. We have saved about £1300 for baby bits so far and i'm sure other people will buy us stuff, but the bills still need paying etc.

It breaks my heart that I cant take longer and my little one will have to go to a child minder but I dont have a choice. Also i'm a family solicitor and client's aren't too understanding if i take time off and I dont want my colleagues having to deal with them.

My eyes are welling up just thinking about leaving my baby and he/she's not even here yet.

Aww hun, sorry you feel like that, but at the end of the day you are doing it for your family.

astonsmummy

Gosh i feel a bit bad.
At the moment OH doesn't technically live with me, he's got a place with the council but it's temporary with no garuntee of a permanent place, although he does stay here alot (I know it's a bit naughty )
But we were talking today and he wants us to be living together properly by the time the baby comes.
I only work part time so my income is like only £550 a month so if I took the full 39 weeks off it wouldnt really affect my finances, plus I live in a HA house so the rent is pretty cheap and we both have no debts as such, well I have rent arrears but only have to pay a minimum of £15 a month towards paying it off.
He's on trainee wages till about feb then he'll be on quite good money so we should cope fine, I'm planning on leaving work at around 34 weeks, maybe earlier, I went into prem labour with Aston and am a bit worried I will again with this one although there was no specific reason why I did last time.

But I have no problems with going back when babe is about 6 months old, I wont be using a childminder though I dont think, I dunno, but If I dont I already know which nursery he will be going too, it's the same one Aston was at for over 18 months and they are brilliant, most of the staff have been there for a few years and the manager is a diamond.

Sami_Bee

ooh I really feel for those who have to go back so soon, I don't think I was ready to go back to work 6 weeks after giving birth nevermind factoring in leaving my boy I had a full month off before I was due including just over a week of holiday I'd saved, I started to look into going back when Chris was 9 months but instead got made redundant! (I think they were hoping I'd just quit!) but it turned out that going back to my old job wouldn't have worked anyway coz child care was too much, I looked for a job for a while and got a few offers but none that suited what I wanted/needed so I became a SAHM until a friend gave me the perfect job but it was only for 3mths so now I'm back to staying at home
I doubt I'll ever go back to work if I become a foster carer like I want to. I've just started mystery shopping so hopefully that will earn me some spends - I don't like having to ask hubby for extra money when I want to have a haircut or need new shoes.

My_Fathers_Daughter

Hiya all.

SB & Miss C...no babies yet?? Sending my best labour vibes to you.

AM - I am working til 38 weeks (all going well). The hardest bit for me is the drive to and from work (about 40 mins each way) but I should be able to work from home if I really need to beforehand. As for going back - I'm still not sure if I have a job to go back to or not so I will see what happens closer to the time. I know it is not very MSE but as far as I am concerned I would rather go into a small amount of debt than give up those first few months.


I have been worried for the last few days because I had not really felt bubba much. Just the odd little movement here and there as opposed to the constant kicking I was having before. I spent about an hour lying on the bed with my bump out last night talking to bubba and he eventually gave us a bit of a dance but I was reaching panic levels

He has been moving around - yesterday morning it was like the left hand side of my bump was empty because he had moved over to the right but it just hasn't felt right IYSWIM.

I am guessing that as he gets bigger and has less room to move around that he will just start to feel different? Any thoughts anyone??

Jvic28

My_Fathers_Daughter wrote: »

I know it is not very MSE but as far as I am concerned I would rather go into a small amount of debt than give up those first few months.

I really wish it was an option, but due to past debt problems, I couldn't if I wanted to. I have an electron card with no overdraft facility and shockingly bad credit. I suppose it's for the best in the long run.

Sami_Bee

MFD: I'd mention it to the MW to be safe, I think as it got a bit cramped in there, I felt more sort of a rummaging type movement rather than kicks n punches

Triggles: take a peak at the first post in the mystery shopping thread there is a bit of info and links to tax and NI info for self employed peeps.
as I understand it as long of you've been paying NI for enough weeks in the "test period" which is something like 66 weeks beforehand then you can get MA but that is simplifying it just a touch

feelinggood_2

Another movement question - when did you feel the baby changing position, and not just kicking?

At the last 3 scans, baby has been in same position (head down). I've been feeling regular kicks for a good few weeks now, but haven't felt anything other than definite kicks.

Do all babies roll over and change position? Wondered if this one is lazy and just stays in the same position.

MFD - Here is a good article on movement, not sure it answers the question, as I couldn't work out how many weeks you are, brain isn't functioning:
http://www.babycentre.co.uk/pregnancy/antenatalhealth/physicalhealth/babysmovements/#8

slscarborough

I will be leaving work at 33 1/2 weeks and using my 5 weeks holiday at the start so only officially going on maternity leave at 38 1/2 weeks. For those going back to work so soon is it not an option for you to use your holiday before your six weeks?

This will be baby number 3 for me and this time I will not be going back to work (mind you I said that last time and went back after 6 months). My husband was a SAHD for 18 months so my DS2 has only been going to a childminder for 3 months since turning 2 and that has broke my heart.

Sami_Bee

feelie: I don't think I ever felt him change position but I do remember him being head up, head down and transverse at various MW apps have you looked in your notes/always asked which way round it is?