MSE Pregnancy Club 20

Make-it-3

ema_o wrote: »

Should have mentioned this sooner, but for anyone going for the flu jab - mine was done in my left arm, but it really hurt for a day or so afterwards. As I have only been able to get comfy sleeping on my left side, I really wished I'd asked for it in my right arm, I coped but it would have been much easier.

I meant to mention this as a tip here too and forgot. It's meant to be better to sleep on your left hand side, so for anyone else getting it done in the next few weeks, ask to have it in your right arm.

Just woken from a lovely two hour snooze, there's got to be some benefits of being on maternity leave right!

Also for ladies concerned they aren't connecting with their babies yet, please don't worry. It's not something you can just switch on, you've probably spend the first 12 weeks worrying if you would miscarry and just when you start to feel relief from that you find there's not much to see or feel for many weeks after. Give it time and your baby will constantly remind you of its presence.

vroombroom

*sigh* had a meeting with HR today and because I haven't been at the company for two full years I won't qualify for their maternity package. I'm so annoyed - I've been there almost 3 years - I started on a maternity contract to start with (!) then got took on perm, but they don't take include the contract in the time I have been there.

So its 6 weeks full pay for me, then SMP. We are really going to struggle:(

alamaya

vrooom i am very sorry about that.
I was the same started off on contact luckily been there 4 years including contract time so covered our one year policy.

xxx

annibee

vroombroom wrote: »

*sigh* had a meeting with HR today and because I haven't been at the company for two full years I won't qualify for their maternity package. I'm so annoyed - I've been there almost 3 years - I started on a maternity contract to start with (!) then got took on perm, but they don't take include the contract in the time I have been there.

So its 6 weeks full pay for me, then SMP. We are really going to struggle:(

6 weeks full pay on top of 6 weeks @ 90% for smp or is the full pay before the smp?

Im sorry that you will struggle thats a real pain we've been worrying lots too about money unfortunately theres nothing really to do. Are you on mat leave already? can you start saving a little bit each month in prep for the shorter months?

vroombroom

no I leave on 18 march. I will get the standard 6 weeks at 90%, then SMP after that:(

sharkeybabe

Thats no such good news Vroom - I am getting exactly the same as you. Why dont you give the benefits helpline a call and find out if you are entitled to further help? I done that and found out I was entitled to quite a fair bit more than I thought. HTH

dustystar02

sharkeybabe wrote: »

Well ladies today must be a lucky day today. I called the HIP grant helpline today to check that they had recieved my form ok and they said yes and I had been awarded the money. Sure enough just checked my bank account and there it is. Chuffed becoz now i can go and buy the rest of the bubs nursery furniture. It only took just over a week as I only sent my form away on New Years Eve.

Do you have the number handy? We sent our form off on Xmas eve

sharkeybabe

dustystar02 wrote: »

Do you have the number handy? We sent our form off on Xmas eve

Here you are dusty 0845 366 7885 it does say whilst you are waiting that it takes up to 6 weeks, however I played it by just checking if they had recieved the form and they told me that it was paid out. HTH

Evansangel

Evening everyone.

We have pizza hut for dinner, have a 50% off £30 spend voucher, so :j

Have booked a GP appointment about the fact that im always in pain and can hardly move about, thats on Friday. I have my therapist at 9:30 and my Flu jab at 3:30pm tomorrow. Busy day tomorrow and i have to walk there

Pixiepops

vroombroom wrote: »

*sigh* had a meeting with HR today and because I haven't been at the company for two full years I won't qualify for their maternity package. I'm so annoyed - I've been there almost 3 years - I started on a maternity contract to start with (!) then got took on perm, but they don't take include the contract in the time I have been there.

So its 6 weeks full pay for me, then SMP. We are really going to struggle:(

If you're worried about money, it might be worth looking at the parent's guide to money which came in the bounty pack. It has loads of different sections like budgeting, entitlements, work options, borrowing money etc. It looks quite useful. Hope this helps.