The MSE Pregnancy Club

rchddap1

As I'm now at 23 weeks, I need to start thinking about maternity leave and when I want to take it from. As I work for a very small company they are usually highly flexible. Ideally what I want to do is ask them if they are happy that I take it when I feel it has come to the right time. That is, I don't want to have to set a date in stone now if I don't have to.

Normally my work are extremely flexible and have a strong suspicion that this would be good for them as well as me.

What I want to know is essentially if this is possible? Are there any forms, or procedures etc.... that have to be set up using a firm date now? I don't want to be left without my maternity pay! Hope I'm making sense here

Lillibet_2

In theory you have to give your employer 28 days notice of when you intend to start your mat leave. however, this is obviously reliant on your employer enforcing this and if they are happy to wait & see then that is fine. Personally I'd put something in writing to them saying that you want to start it say 1 week before your due date (or whatever is the latest you'd like to start it, even your due date!) but would like the option to reconsider at short notice if at any time you feel the need to start it sooner. whatever you do, even if they are a small freindly firm, confirm it in writing.

If you are off sick for more than 4 working weeks anytime from around now onwards (something like from 14 weeks before your due date but I am not exactlysure) they can insist you start your mat leave even if you don't want too. This is so that you don't "extend" your mat leave by tagging sick leave onto thet start of it!

HTH;)

bobsa1

If you are sick within 6 weeks of your due date then your employer can insist on you starting maternity leave.

I would have a talk to them about being flexible and then confirm in writing so that you know where you stand.

The solution suggested above seems good, tell them you want to commence mat leave the week before and then see how you go.

Good luck

JennyW_2

This may help with any queries you have over maternity issues and work:

http://www.hse.gov.uk/pubns/indg373.pdf

Sazere

I had disappeared off the list, lol! So here I am again, 24th October EDD!

Congratulations to Winnie81 with Evie Grace and Essexhoney with Rubie!


EDD LIST

sooz - 13th August 2006
Oueyouey - 25th September 2006
Sazere - 24th October 2006
Purplepatch - 28 October 2006
brummiebabe - 5th November 2006 - GIRL!
Rchddap1 - 26 November 2006
Bailey - 7 December 2006 - BOY!
Phatmouse - 11 December 2006 - GIRL!
funky- 01 January 2007 - ???
Madam Broke - 11th Jan 2007
Andrea - 13 Jan 2007
Lucycat - 2 Feb 2007
Hampshirebabe - 5th feb 2007
Teerah - 11 Feb 2007
Murphy The Cat - Valentines Day (aaaahhhhh)
moo842 - 24 Feb 2007 - 10 march 2007 (theres always one)!
Mrs_Monkey_Boy - 7 March 2007
Charlotte664 - 7 March 2007 - Oh, we were both "busy" at the same time!!! (Race you!!)
Mrs asandwhen - 15 March 07
Rebekah - 28th March-4th April 2007

TTC LIST

Caleo
Welshlassie
Daisykate124

BIRTH LIST

Winnie81 - Evie Grace - 28 July
Essexhoney - Rubie - 1 August

Agutka

sjcjd wrote:

Not sure what you mean Agutka by losing weight before you get pregnant? I dont think weight matters in the pregnancy game, does it?
SJ

It is harder to conceive when you're... a larger lady :rolleyes: and I'd be worried about my heart. I get anxiety, although I have learnt to live with it I may get all hypochondriac in pregnancy...

Not that I'm that large...

Agutka

EDD LIST

sooz - 13th August 2006
Oueyouey - 25th September 2006
Sazere - 24th October 2006
Purplepatch - 28 October 2006
brummiebabe - 5th November 2006 - GIRL!
Rchddap1 - 26 November 2006
Bailey - 7 December 2006 - BOY!
Phatmouse - 11 December 2006 - GIRL!
funky- 01 January 2007 - ???
Madam Broke - 11th Jan 2007
Andrea - 13 Jan 2007
Lucycat - 2 Feb 2007
Hampshirebabe - 5th feb 2007
Teerah - 11 Feb 2007
Murphy The Cat - Valentines Day (aaaahhhhh)
moo842 - 24 Feb 2007 - 10 march 2007 (theres always one)!
Mrs_Monkey_Boy - 7 March 2007
Charlotte664 - 7 March 2007 - Oh, we were both "busy" at the same time!!! (Race you!!)
Mrs asandwhen - 15 March 07
Rebekah - 28th March-4th April 2007

TTC LIST

Caleo
Welshlassie
Daisykate124
Agutka

BIRTH LIST

Winnie81 - Evie Grace - 28 July
Essexhoney - Rubie - 1 August

shelly

Like another poster said, the discharge could be anything. Both of my pregnancies ended early with brown discharge though. If the test is positive and she still has discharge I'd advise her to see her doctor.
My doc told me not to worry about my discharge in my first pregnancy but it carried on for 6 weeks. When I had my first scan I believed I was 3 months gone. The scan showed I'd lost the pregnancy at about 6 weeks. With my second pregnancy, as soon as I got the discharge I was sent for a scan. Same result.

Don't want to scare your friend as it could be anything and nothing but don't just accept it as normal like I did.

rchddap1

I've sent a quick email to the relevant bods who would either need notice, or would sort out my maternity leave from the business end. I've told them I'd like as much flexibility as possible...so we'll see what they say.

One question....would email be thought of as providing the relevant info in 'writing'. Things are usually a bit foggy round here on that issue (IT company)

mrcow

Agutka wrote:

If you don't mind I have a few questions.

- Can you exercise (jogging, rowing etc) when pregnant - or just take-it-easy stretch exercises?

You can exercise, although I personally would tone it down. I htink that rowing for example is very strenuous. You are not suppose to lift anything heavy even in early pregnancy and over stretching I would say is a no.

- Do you have to watch your diet or does that take care of itself?

When pregnant, there are loads of things that you need to avoid eating including liver, certain fish (sorry I'm veggie so this is from memory), undercooked eggs eg. in fresh mayonaise, soft cheeses that could carry a risk of listeria, peanuts and peanut products (especially if you have existing allergies).

You should also take folic acid in early pregnancy and when trying to conceive (it helps with implantantion etc)

- From what I can understand you should be having sex before just before you ovulate, so what are ovulation kits for?

There is a two day window (or thereabouts!) where you can get pregnant. Ovulation kits tell you when this window is. I have a daughter as crawling proof that these can work

- should I put off getting pregnant until I lose weight?

It's safe to diet sensibly whilst trying for a baby, AS LONG as you are eating a balanced diet and it's not a fad diet where you are cuting out nutrients (ie. you can cut all the junk out of your diet and eat lots of fresh fruit & veg!).