12 to 24 week pregnancy thread

pigpen

I think they assume you have stuff you can reuse for subsequent children.. dont see how that would work though if you have different genders.. everything is just as expensive.

I also get the lower rate for Squeak despite there being nothing still from having DD5 (I dont want or expect more it just seems odd) so it is strange the first child is somehow meant to be more expensive.. I think Squeak was my most expensive as we have had to buy absolutely everything for her! I had loads of hand me downs for the others..

Though, seeing as the CB gets spent on whoever needs something at that time it doesnt make any difference.

jenjade

i just find child benefit a strange system... just pay the same for all the kids... although saying that i dont want less for DD1 so they cant win really lol

any money is a bonus.

I guess at some point i should sit down and look at what i will get from where. Who i need to inform when DD2 arrives and how.... thats is so boring though!

janninew

Crabapple wrote: »

So... it might be too soon but I've ordered my oyster, with red colour pack. Had a long debate with DH about the right colour, would have preferred blue but as team pink seems a bit odd. I didn't like any of the other options. Figured if I get it now there are offers on plus I have a few months at work to regain the money I spent!!

Mozzy and bluebell - I guess we'll all have to see what the furbabes do! I'm not sure about a screen door, we have one cat who is a big bruiser and I can imagine him just walking straight through it, demolishing all in his path :rotfl:. The youngest cat is the one who has proved really scared when young children come round, but maybe it will be easier with a baby rather than the toddlers he has met so far. Bluebell, I was figuring on gates with the odd hole cut in if necessary so where we have the food bowls and litter tray can be separated off.

Jannine, I really hope someone knows the answer, because it's a mystery to me. I saw the stuff that said we have to apply based on the previous years earnings, which just means they will say we aren't entitled to anything as together me and DH would be over the limits, but based on the figures we will be entitled to something if I am not working for all that time. Seems like a really perverse system where I can't just explain that I normally earn x but because of maternity pay I will actually be on y.

It really is a mystery! Apparently I have just read that a certain amount of your maternity pay isn't counted for tax credit purposes as well!! Arghhh, could they make it any more confusing! I might call them and ask for a rough idea as Delain suggests! I don't think we will be entitled to much, but every little helps!

janninew

I've just noticed your due date jenjade in your sig - I'm jealous, I would love my baby before Christmas! I love Christmas time and can't wait to have my baby to spoil! Why do I have to wait until the beginning of Feb?!! :rotfl:

Crabapple

I don't think we'll get much help either, but I am going to claim what we are entitled to as it will make a difference. Not sure quite how we will cope with my wages mostly disappearing, but I keep reassuring DH that the worst that can happen is we have to sell the house and move in with my mum and dad... he's not so keen. To be honest I think they (especially my mum) love him more than me so I'd be the one going crazy while he got waited on hand and foot :rotfl:.

One of my friends told me that they have had terrible trouble with getting their second child added to the tax credits claim as they didn't do it fast enough and now they have to go through some special office who apparently are the only people who can deal with it. She's not exactly had much help from the helpline, but I'm hoping that's just because she caused extra confusion by not ringing straight away. I can't remember, but I think she said that they had a month or two after the birth - worth checking.

As this is child one for me and DH I hadn't looked into the different rates, but as pigpen says, I'm sure they assume you can re-use stuff, even if maybe not clothes. Also probably as with benefits they pay for couples, you don't get double because there are two, just a proportion extra.

pigpen

jenjade wrote: »

i just find child benefit a strange system... just pay the same for all the kids... although saying that i dont want less for DD1 so they cant win really lol

any money is a bonus.

I guess at some point i should sit down and look at what i will get from where. Who i need to inform when DD2 arrives and how.... thats is so boring though!

once the birth is registered you can fill in the child benefit form which is in the bounty pack you are given at the hospital after delivery.. they will backdated up to 3 months

Ring the tax credits immediately.. they backdate to the last Monday after the birth (or I assume that is the same and not been changed.)

if you received JSA or IS these wont be affected but you let them know and they double the heathy start vouchers.

other than that noone else needs to be informed I dont think I informed anyone else when we had Squeak.

And I agree.. they should pay the same for each child.. it is odd.

Crabapple

Jannine - just saw your comment and it reminded me that I complained to my mum about Christmas as I am not going to have room for my full Christmas dinner (baby due 2nd Jan). She didn't have much sympathy!!

Mind you, it does definitely mean I am not having sprouts this year - I refuse to waste any room on them when I could be eating roast potatoes!

janninew

Crabapple wrote: »

I don't think we'll get much help either, but I am going to claim what we are entitled to as it will make a difference. Not sure quite how we will cope with my wages mostly disappearing, but I keep reassuring DH that the worst that can happen is we have to sell the house and move in with my mum and dad... he's not so keen. To be honest I think they (especially my mum) love him more than me so I'd be the one going crazy while he got waited on hand and foot :rotfl:.

One of my friends told me that they have had terrible trouble with getting their second child added to the tax credits claim as they didn't do it fast enough and now they have to go through some special office who apparently are the only people who can deal with it. She's not exactly had much help from the helpline, but I'm hoping that's just because she caused extra confusion by not ringing straight away. I can't remember, but I think she said that they had a month or two after the birth - worth checking.

As this is child one for me and DH I hadn't looked into the different rates, but as pigpen says, I'm sure they assume you can re-use stuff, even if maybe not clothes. Also probably as with benefits they pay for couples, you don't get double because there are two, just a proportion extra.

I must admit I am slightly worried after seeing how much my wage will drop when I go back part time! We have saved up enough to cover the shortfall when I'm on actual maternity leave, I think we will struggle more when I go back! I'm not going to stress though, people manage on less and I know we will have to cut back, but its doable!

My Mum has very kindly offered to take the baby 1 day a week for us, and hubby's Dad has offered to do a day as well, which I'm finding a bit odd and I don't know why! My Mum has raised 5 of us and is a pro, my hubby has 3 siblings, so I know his Dad is experienced, but my MIL who has passed away did most of the child rearing, but FIL really wants to get involved! I sure baby will be fine with him and they will hopefully have a great relationship together.

pske_lisa

Afternoon All!

Well I've been away for ages! Still trying to catch up but i'm nearly there!

I've been to Barcelona & the South of France and the lake district and Liverpool all in the space of 4 weeks! Back to reality now though!

I went to see a consultant today about a blood clot I had on my lung 2 years ago and as I'm at a higher risk of getting another I'm on blood thinning injections until 6 weeks after the baby arrives :eek:
The only thing that worries me is I have to do them myself :eek:

Never mind though I've been really lucky so far with no MS or anything so I think this is payback!

I went to collect my Bounty pack No2 yesterday! I think I'm being a little ungreatful but there wasn't much in it! It might just be my area though? I joined Asda's baby club and got a huggies pack with a pack of nappies, baby wipes and a little hat :j I would reccomend everyone to join!

Hope everyone has a good week ahead - I'm 17 weeks tomorrow and can't wait for my next scan - 3 weeks Friday!

Lisa x

Kira000

Bluebell1000 wrote: »

As for the litter tray, ours is in the kitchen and we really have no idea how to baby proof it. Our cat is really not at all agile (age 10-12ish, fat, lazy) and barely makes it onto the sofa, so lifting the tray up just isn't an option.

Bluebell, we have the same issue with our 2 indoor cats. I have seen something which might work, its like a little cupboard, with a door with a hole in, and the litter tray goes inside. Makes it harder for litle fingers to go in the poopy litter. Its not cheap, but it solves a problem, and looks alot nicer than a poopy tray! And it stops them hoofing half the litter out onto the floor whilst "covering".

Like this one: http://www.zooplus.co.uk/shop/cats/cat_litter_litter_boxes/hooded_litter_box/214086