MSE Pregnancy Club 23

Gillyx

I really need to get some bits and bobs for the hospital bag, but I have no motivation at the moment, keep saying "oh I'll go between xmas and NY" but I know when it comes to that I won't want to either, will probably want to curl up on the couch eating Turkey sandwiches and after eights

thanks Kira, maybe it is, doesn't really make a difference either way, aslong as baby is ok

cloudberry45

Off to sleep now, night ladies x

Gillyx

Night night xx

Kira000

Night ladies. Just trying to persuade DH to come up to bed. He is doing that REALLY annoying bloke thing, of refusing to come up cos he has "things to do", despite the fact he is snoozing on the sofa and telling me to go up and he'll be along soon. Which actually means, i go up, doze off, wake up, realise he is snoring downstairs, and then have to wake up properly to go and get him to come to bed, so i'm nice and awake. Pis*es me right off that does.:mad:

Right F**K it. I'm off to bed, turning off all the lights, closing the bedroom door and he can sodding well stay on the sofa all night. So not in the mood for this tonight. Grrrrr.

lisa26_2

Morning ladies!

Gilly, so glad you got your delivery sorted. is the travel system all sorted yet?

ginvzt wrote: »

Ok, I have a financial question - should I reduce my pension contributions now, with the view that less would be deducted from the maternity pay once I get there? Does anyone know what weeks are used to calculate maternity pay?

Gin, my personal opinion would be that reducing your pension contributions would be a seriously big no no unless you were absolutely forced to. that money is for your future which is easy to think, it'll be ok, now when its years away but the way things are going with both government and company pensions your best off getting as much paid in now as you can! I guess I may think of it slightly differently to some though as I am lucky enough to still be in a final salary pension scheme so for us its really worthwhile getting as much into it as possible now as its bound to be changed to a different type sometime!

Gillyx

Lisa - yep, everything delivered, MIL phoned yesterday to say the hoods arrived and according to RM tracking M&P got my complaint letter yesterday, so will see what happens with that.


Just walked my bump into the sharp corner of a set of drawers, ouch!!! baby is wriggling away, no wonder!

ginvzt

lisa26 wrote: »

Gin, my personal opinion would be that reducing your pension contributions would be a seriously big no no unless you were absolutely forced to. that money is for your future which is easy to think, it'll be ok, now when its years away but the way things are going with both government and company pensions your best off getting as much paid in now as you can! I guess I may think of it slightly differently to some though as I am lucky enough to still be in a final salary pension scheme so for us its really worthwhile getting as much into it as possible now as its bound to be changed to a different type sometime!

Hi Lisa, I know it is not usually advised - but I have been putting a large percentage of my salary in for a long time, so it wouldn't be the worst of the options. the reason I am asking, as it seems that even from the maternity pay the money will be deducted (at the same rate, but smaller amount). But then - I don't know, I think I am just trying to clutch every straw with the twins!

And knowing our HR/finance departments, it would probably take them about half a year to change them!

keelykat

Morning-due date here and no sign of baby yet!

I had an appointment with the consultant yesterday afternoon, got a shock when she said she was going to do a sweep. My god-i did not expect it to hurt so much! She said my cervix isn't ready-which is probably why it hurt, she's put on my notes that i am 1cm dilated and has given the cervix 3 sweeps/stretches. I was seriously close to crying at the idea of baby being late and because my lady bits now hurt.

So the plan is to go back on friday for another sweep-see if there is any progress. If nothing happens-i'm booked in for the 28th for an induction. I feel really down over it all, my son is more ill then we first realised (but is hopefully on the mend now-on antibiotics) and i was so wheezy and coughing at my appointment it was embarasing. I think baby realises its probably safer staying put right now then making an appearance with mommy coughing etc and his big brother being ill.

I have had some bleeding and cramping since the sweep, but nothing worth getting my hopes up over.

Looks like i won't be having a xmas baby but a new year one at this rate!!

keely.x

Kira000

ginvzt wrote: »

Hi Lisa, I know it is not usually advised - but I have been putting a large percentage of my salary in for a long time, so it wouldn't be the worst of the options. the reason I am asking, as it seems that even from the maternity pay the money will be deducted (at the same rate, but smaller amount). But then - I don't know, I think I am just trying to clutch every straw with the twins!

You are right- my understanding of what i am expecting, is that Pension, tax and NI are all still deducted from your Maternity pay during the Ordinary mat pay period, but smaller amounts are taken as the overall pay is lower. If your company pays in an amount as well, they have to continue to pay this as well though.
Don't forget that till 2013, you can claim child benefit per child, and it might be worth looking at your overall household income, to see if you are under the threshold for child tax benefits. I think off the top of my head (might be wrong!) it is a total upper income threshold of £60k, with more credit available the further below this you are.

*Ro*

I am just getting up but lots of (((hugs))) Keely sorry its all pants at the mo xx