MSE Pregnancy Club 26

Birdie85

Gosh darnit, just realised I totally forgot to ask for my Mat B1 form at the MW! :mad: Will have to nip into the practice on my way home and find an easy way of getting my mitts on it!

Fingers crossed that things happen quickly COMP!

Big hugs Flower, we're worried about money too but just going to have to find a way to cope. If only OH was the one earning the higher wage we'd be OK (or better than we're going to be, at least!) The debts can wait if you find it too much of a struggle. Just focus on having your lovely little girl in your arms soon and forget about the rubbish money stuff!

kerri_dfw

Flower - big hugs, I think I cross-posted with you so missed your post xx

Mat1b - when are we meant to hand this in by? I've still got mine and was going to pop it into the office when I go in two weeks time, oh well it's not like it'll make much difference being another 2 weeks late if it was meant to be there ages ago. Whoops!

Jox

I think it's supposed to be 15 weeks before due date kerri

http://www.dwp.gov.uk/publications/specialist-guides/technical-guidance/ni17a-a-guide-to-maternity/statutory-maternity-pay-smp/how-to-get-smp/

kerri_dfw

oh thanks Jox, I've already told my employer so I'll pop the mat1b in the post to them now cheers as looks like it's 3w after SMP starts

MoneySavingMamma

Flower08 wrote: »

My hospital didn't when I had DS two years ago, we had to take our own in along with maternity pads.

Mine def had pads, as I remember them having no sticky side, and really annoying trying to have 4 on & thinking they would fall out!
This was 21months ago, so I think I'll have a carrier bag in the car with pads & nappies in, and just take a handful in.

Those FF, I have always seen milk available, 2 births, 2 dif hospitals.
They tried DS2 on a syringed FF when my milk was being rubbish, but didn't warm it up?! It was room temp, in Dec, and he was having difficulty keeping his temp up (they put him in a 'hot cot' like a electric blanket pillow inside the plastic box thing!) you think a warm milk would have made sense!
Luckily about 18hrs after he was born he had a really good breast feed & things went amazingly better from there. Like within the hour all the things he was failing on, were cured! I would recommend at least 1-2 BFs even for those looking to FF. (if you can)
I have had bad luck with BF, first time horribly sore, and stupid amounts of milk pouring everywhere, greedy greedy baby, who was never happy until put on FF at 10 wks. The he was alot easier!

2nd time no milk, would try for hours, and tried pumping for nothing to come. Soreness wasn't a problem, just emptiness! Brought in 1 FF a day from first week, then sometimes had to top up after BF with FF, went a bit longer than 10wks, but gave up not long after as milk supply wasn't getting better.

This time looking to BF exclusively for first few weeks if I have milk, then prob bring in 1 FF a day (last feed at night) and try and last as long as possible that way.

My advice is to not kill yourself over it. I did with DS1, forced myself to carry on through agony, by the time he had 1 FF I couldn't take any more and gave up completely. If I hadn't been so stubborn, and realised he was too hungry (9lb4oz baby!) I could have brought in 1-2 a day alot earlier, and both of us could have been happier!

I've got a couple of tins ready, also would recommend the made up cartons, as if you do both, the tins are only supposed to be open for a week or so, but if your only giving 1-2 FF a day thats not going to use alot. A carton will do for 2 days in fridge, and has 2-3 feeds in.

Hope I've been helpful for those looking to BF, but worried :-)

Jox

I'm so confused about maternity leave and what actual money I will receive, I'm having a read trying to work it all out.

Here's a template letter to give to your employer if that helps anyone (it's about 2/3 down)

https://www.moneyadviceservice.org.uk/en/articles/maternity-pay-and-leave/?&gclid=CMDOlabGvLoCFedfpgodlQQA7g

Flower08

MoneySavingMamma wrote: »

Mine def had pads, as I remember them having no sticky side, and really annoying trying to have 4 on & thinking they would fall out!
This was 21months ago, so I think I'll have a carrier bag in the car with pads & nappies in, and just take a handful in.

I think I was given a couple of pads for use straight away but was then expected to use my own. Suppose it was a case of they were there if I really needed them, but they weren't just handing them out (im guessing down to cost cutting as usual!!).
I cant imagine they would just leave anyone to sit there without one

Maybe worth asking your midwife? She might know about that hospital because I am guessing they are all different.

Jox

I'll have to send hubby or someone out to the shops if I forget anything while in hospital (I'm still wary of being too confident that I'm going to get that far so that's why I'm reluctant to look to the future too much!)

Here's a maternity pay calculator if that helps anyone

https://www.gov.uk/calculate-your-maternity-pay

starshinning

MoneySavingMamma wrote: »

Mine def had pads, as I remember them having no sticky side, and really annoying trying to have 4 on & thinking they would fall out!
This was 21months ago, so I think I'll have a carrier bag in the car with pads & nappies in, and just take a handful in.

Those FF, I have always seen milk available, 2 births, 2 dif hospitals.
They tried DS2 on a syringed FF when my milk was being rubbish, but didn't warm it up?! It was room temp, in Dec, and he was having difficulty keeping his temp up (they put him in a 'hot cot' like a electric blanket pillow inside the plastic box thing!) you think a warm milk would have made sense!
Luckily about 18hrs after he was born he had a really good breast feed & things went amazingly better from there. Like within the hour all the things he was failing on, were cured! I would recommend at least 1-2 BFs even for those looking to FF. (if you can)
I have had bad luck with BF, first time horribly sore, and stupid amounts of milk pouring everywhere, greedy greedy baby, who was never happy until put on FF at 10 wks. The he was alot easier!

2nd time no milk, would try for hours, and tried pumping for nothing to come. Soreness wasn't a problem, just emptiness! Brought in 1 FF a day from first week, then sometimes had to top up after BF with FF, went a bit longer than 10wks, but gave up not long after as milk supply wasn't getting better.

This time looking to BF exclusively for first few weeks if I have milk, then prob bring in 1 FF a day (last feed at night) and try and last as long as possible that way.

My advice is to not kill yourself over it. I did with DS1, forced myself to carry on through agony, by the time he had 1 FF I couldn't take any more and gave up completely. If I hadn't been so stubborn, and realised he was too hungry (9lb4oz baby!) I could have brought in 1-2 a day alot earlier, and both of us could have been happier!

I've got a couple of tins ready, also would recommend the made up cartons, as if you do both, the tins are only supposed to be open for a week or so, but if your only giving 1-2 FF a day thats not going to use alot. A carton will do for 2 days in fridge, and has 2-3 feeds in.

Hope I've been helpful for those looking to BF, but worried :-)

I think our babies are the same age my DD2 was born dec 2011

MoneySavingMamma

starshinning wrote: »

I think our babies are the same age my DD2 was born dec 2011

Hello! And here we are, crazy again! I was on the under 12wks thread last time, but don't think I did much on the 12-24 or pregnancy club!

Only came back on here the last week or so as need that encouragment that everyone is feeling as rubbish & uncomfortable as me! Lol x