MSE Pregnancy Club 24

whowants2brich

norabatty wrote: »

Whowants2brich, might I suggest a trip to a solicitor? Usually all it takes is a solicitor's letter or two to make the culprits appreciate they can't get away with what they are doing and they will settle pretty sharpish. One relative of mine had an accident at work, involving faulty machinery that he personally had warned his employers about. They did nothing, 2 weeks later it collapsed on top of him, he couldn't work, they dismissed him, didn't give sick pay or anything. After 3 letters from a solicitor, he was offered 5 years salary as compensation!! A former boss of mine was awarded £70K for "constructive dismissal", also settled after a few months, a few letters and one meeting. At most, employing a solicitor to send a few letters will cost £200-300. On the grounds that if they didn't follow proper procedures in terms of written warnings alone, I would have thought your legal costs would be refunded but the fact that your wife was pregnant means they would have to have considerable written evidence to dismiss her. It may sound like going to tribunals etc is a lot of hassle, but in reality for one day's (in total) work of meeting a solicitor, chasing them up with the odd phone call, etc, and agreeing on a settlement where possible, I would have thought it would be an excellent hourly rate in terms of financial compensation! Very few cases actually go to courts or tribunals, the vast majority are settled between the employer's and employee's solicitors within a few months of the first letter being sent.

Critical point number one: my wife is a solicitor, so was her employer. He is representing himself and has no costs to run up.

Critical point number two: we have instructed solicitors, racked up bills, and the ex employer is digging heels in and saying he did nothing wrong.

We have already filed for an employment tribunal, he's responded to our claims and said that he's done nothing wrong and sees no reason why we have any claim against him...

Maybe if we ask for the appeal meeting, the penny will drop as to why we think he has not followed the ACAS code...

fluffnutter

I was lucky. My grievance was fairly straightforward (pay me what you pay men, please), plus my union gave me legal advice and would have represented me at tribunal had it got that far.

As a result it only cost me the price of a couple of stamps (plus union subs I guess).

fluffnutter

How about this for instilled behaviour..

As some of you no doubt know, it's been a long journey for me and the OH to get our lovely baby. I'm sitting here at gone 36 weeks and I've started getting some griping lower back pain (it's not bothering me, I get it now and then).

But it really feels like the start of period pain and I've become so conditioned over nearly 10 years to feeling bad about the start of my periods because they meant I wasn't pregnant that my first instinctive thought was 'oh no, here comes my period again'

Then I looked down and saw this enormous great bump and instantly realised 'fluffnutter, you dozy twat. You're going to have a baby this month!'

fluffnutter

savageHK wrote: »

OK, a dumb bump question. I'm pretty petite and usually like my clothes fairly tight fitting. While most of my tops are stretchy and can allow for a bit of 'bump' growth, I'm starting to struggle with my trousers/jeans/etc. In fact, most of them are now only comfy if I leave both button and zip undone! If I get one of those bump bands, are they tight enough that my trousers won't fall down?? Or do I need to get inventive with a hair-elastic around my buttonhole as well just in case? Also, any recommendations for online maternity shops welcome. I think I like the Isabella Oliver style but I don't usually like wearing synthetic materials at the best of times and she is a bit pricey!

PS: currently 15 weeks and a size 8!

Hair elastic plus bump band will see you for a few more weeks. My favourite place for maternity stuff has been H&M. Mamas and Papas is good too, as is Mothercare.

I preferred shops to online as I was never sure whether to size up or not. And it depends on the shop. Mamas and Papas does vanity sizing and their size 10 was too big for me (I haven't been a size 10 since birth). H&M on the other hand advise you to size up.

TBH, I've not bought much. At the moment I'm just wearing non-maternity dresses.

fluffnutter

Going to give someone else a chance to post now... 4 in a row makes me look demented.

whowants2brich

I'll break your 4 in a row, so you can post some more, fluffnutter!

MrsH...2B

Hi ladies, just thought i'd post a little picture of Olivia Faye. Being a Mummy is amazing! Apologies in advance if the picture is really big.

MrsManda

savageHK wrote: »

OK, a dumb bump question. I'm pretty petite and usually like my clothes fairly tight fitting. While most of my tops are stretchy and can allow for a bit of 'bump' growth, I'm starting to struggle with my trousers/jeans/etc. In fact, most of them are now only comfy if I leave both button and zip undone! If I get one of those bump bands, are they tight enough that my trousers won't fall down?? Or do I need to get inventive with a hair-elastic around my buttonhole as well just in case? Also, any recommendations for online maternity shops welcome. I think I like the Isabella Oliver style but I don't usually like wearing synthetic materials at the best of times and she is a bit pricey!

PS: currently 15 weeks and a size 8!

I bought this: http://www.jojomamanbebe.co.uk/sp+multi-use-maternity-bump-bandeau+A9117?tyah=y
You can probably find something similar for cheaper but it was recommended by a friend and I needed something quick.
It has a double button (2 buttons tied together) and 3 button holes. You slip it over your trousers (or pull your trousers over the top if you want) and put the button of your trousers into one of the button holes on the band, and put the band's button into another hole in the band and also into the button hole of your trousers.
I started wearing it when there were only a small gap in my trouser fastening so used the two button holes next to each other. Now I need to use the ones furthest apart.
It works fine to keep my trousers up.

jediquigley

i used bando up till about 20 weeks pregnant then brought some maternity clothes, especially trousers for work because i do a lot of sitting down and wanted to feel comfortable.

i brought a size 10 maxi dress from new look a few weeks ago and am still fitting in it at 32 weeks preg, maxi dresses are fab!

had a tiring day today and my back has been sore, luckily now have 4 days off work.

have just ordered a fish and chip dinner for me & OH, really hungry and need something to fill me up.

Have a great bank holiday ladies,

Laura

emsbet

Olivia Faye is beautiful mrs h Thanks for posting.

xx