The MSE Pregnancy Club

Becles

MUSLIMAH_MUMMY_TO_BE wrote: »

Yes ebay is a good place to pick up bargains and because they are being sold and not given away the majority of items are in perfect condition.I can see your point! I am pregnant with my first child so maybe I will change my mind.
But to be honest im a bit of a clean freak !! But thats just me I tend to worry too much about these things i guess.

I had a friend with similar views. She said she couldn't stand the thought of wearing second hand clothes or putting a baby/child in second hand clothing. She said she just didn't like the thought of someone else using them first.

I asked what she did on holiday. Did she sleep in the same sheets and use the same towels that everyone else had, or did she take her own towels and bedding?

It gave her something to think about!

crawli1

Welshlassie wrote: »

You don't have to tell your employer anything about when (or even if) you are planning on returning to work. You have to give your employer 28 days notice ebfore coming back if it is before your maternity leave would be up. If you tell your employer that you are not planning on returning to work you wouldn't be entitled to any maternity pay entitlements that they offer so I'd keep quiet and let them know just before your leave comes to an end that you won't be returning. Look after number 1 and of course your new baby!! :rotfl:

But what about all this about having to pay them back money if I don't return?? I don't understand and sorry if I'm sounding a bit thick. When I was pregnant the first time I worked for an agency and didn't have any of this. Back then I should have been claiming income support as well as my SMP from benefits office but no-one had told me so I didn't start claiming IS until he was three months old. It's always a case of "If you don't ask you won't be told". I think I'm just worried about problems arising after I've had the baby (money wise). My partner isn't very good with money, even though I try to take control but I hate doing that.

Welshlassie

crawli1 wrote: »

But what about all this about having to pay them back money if I don't return?? I don't understand and sorry if I'm sounding a bit thick. When I was pregnant the first time I worked for an agency and didn't have any of this. Back then I should have been claiming income support as well as my SMP from benefits office but no-one had told me so I didn't start claiming IS until he was three months old. It's always a case of "If you don't ask you won't be told". I think I'm just worried about problems arising after I've had the baby (money wise). My partner isn't very good with money, even though I try to take control but I hate doing that.

You don't have to pay anything back. You will be entitled to basic SMP £115 (ish) per week and anything else your company offers. None of this needs to be paid back. They can't make you decide how you are going to feel about wanting to come back to work before the baby is born.

You may go off on maternity leave with the intention of not coming back, but realise after 3 months off with the baby you want to go back to be around adults again, therefore you shouldn't make this sort of decision for definate until you absolutely have to. Therefore don't say anything to your employer until you absolutely have to.

Becles

I think if they company offers you top up maternity pay (eg they give you more than basic SMP), and you decide not to go back, they can ask for the top up back. I'm not really sure how it works though, as I'm not employed myself and not entitled to SMP.

Dormouse

Welshlassie wrote: »

You don't have to pay anything back. You will be entitled to basic SMP £115 (ish) per week and anything else your company offers. None of this needs to be paid back.

I think some companies might have their own rules about this sort of thing. A pregnant friend of mine is a teacher and she said that if she didn't go back to work, she'd have to give back whatever money she got on top of SMP.

I'm really not an expert on these issues though. I got the standard SMP with my first one, and did not go back, and with this one I'll just be getting the MA.

And crawli1, don't apologise, you don't sound thick These things are quite complicated and could do with a bit more transparency. Good luck.

Dormouse

Snap Becles

crawli1

Becles wrote: »

I think if they company offers you top up maternity pay (eg they give you more than basic SMP), and you decide not to go back, they can ask for the top up back. I'm not really sure how it works though, as I'm not employed myself and not entitled to SMP.

On the direct.gov website it says that on my earnings I will receive just over £200 per week from my employer for the first six weeks. If it does turn out that I will have to pay them back, it would be about £600 at a time when I need it the most. I've discussed all this with my partner and we have both come to the same conclusion - when I'm ready to go back to work I can find a job with better pay and prospects.

minskerella

I think you will need to pay back anything you receive on top of statutory. I work at a University, and the rule is if you don't return for at least six months, you have to pay all the top up back. I would check withyour Personnel department before you decide to do anything.

india

Thanks for all your kind thoughts.

The birth was straight forward. 1st stage labour 2 hours. 2nd stage 10 mins.
So very quick. I only had to spend the night in the hospital and left in the morning.

You may of seen my post on breast feeding because I'm having problems but after being given lots of advice I feel more relaxed and more likely to suceed.

Naomi is brillant and everything I could of hoped for. She so quite and content.

My son has fallen in love with her.

Fritha_2

Becles/Dormouse, could you explain MA allowance to me please? I'm self employed but don't earn enough to pay tax or NI, does this mean I wouldn't get anything if I were to get pregnant? I'm not but this does really impact on when we decide to have children, so an explanation would be helpful!

Thanks