MSE Pregnancy Club 27

Kynthia

claire16c wrote: »

Sounds exciting Kynthia but yeah I guess could just be an early start which could either progress or tail off. Have you had any other labour symptoms like feeling sick or diarrhoea etc? Hope the exchange goes through ok tomorrow!

No period like pains today and no to the other symptoms you mentioned either. Also as baby is not engaged and there wasn't much old blood I'm assuming I have time. My friend is coming to stay for the weekend and then I'll be 37 weeks on Monday so it can all wait until then.

Faithope, I'm in no rush believe me! I'm glad I finished work early but psychologically I'm not ready. it would be nice not to go overdue but I need to move house on 24th Feb!

faithhope

Con1888 - that looks like a fab place to walk. I love walks like that I found that the Out n About can cope with quite a bit but if it's so muddy that your wellies are sinking into it as you walk then yeah even that pram might struggle. I suppose when baby gets heavy you could always let your OH put the baby carrier on

Kynthia - oh hopefully baby will hold on for you a bit then , fingers crossed

fireyfirenze

just jumping in on the how long you can store formula in a fridge and on that link it says 'if made up formula is stored in a fridge, use within 24 hours'

does that not mean you can make up bottles for the day and use them as you need them, as long as it's within the day?

TeamLowe

Con advice from HV is that bottles must be made fresh each time BUT they also teach risk reduction- if you are going to make them up in advance then it should be with boiling water to kill the bacteria in the formula then kept in the back of the fridge. Don't put boiling water in bottles in the morning then add powder when needed as the powder isn't sterile.

A made up bottle out of the fridge shouldn't be used after two hours.

I thought the HV would give me a lecture or not want to give any advice as I wasn't bfing but she was really good and spent time going through everything to do with bottle feeding which was really helpful. You get the impression whilst pregnant that everyone is only interested in you breastfeeding and bottle is a dirty word but once your decision is made they'll support you

becsxxx

Kynthia - eek! have you spoken to the MW?

Lushlifesaver - I'm also wondering about the benefits situation. Currently we earn too much to qualify for child benefit, but with my maternity pay we obviously won't for this next tax year so I'm presuming I can apply for it? There's a real lack of clear info out there, so if you find a good site/explanation, do let me know!

con1888 - they look like our walks with our muddy border collie! we definitely want a carrier so DH can carry baby. am hoping to get a second hand baby bjorn from a friend at work, although not sure if its newborn friendly or not.

afm, went to Boots last night to hand in my voucher to activate the parenting club and pick up the free changing bag (which is going to be DH's bag as the one I chose for me is "too girly"). their baby event is on (3 for 2), and the bag (RRP £30, but free with voucher) AND the nappies you need to buy to get the bag (£9.99 pampers new born pack) count as 2 of the items, meaning you can get another item worth £9.99 for free. I also picked up my Emmas Diary packs whilst there with some freebies in so came home with a load of stuff for £9.99! HTH someone.

claire16c

becsxxx wrote: »

Lushlifesaver - I'm also wondering about the benefits situation. Currently we earn too much to qualify for child benefit, but with my maternity pay we obviously won't for this next tax year so I'm presuming I can apply for it? There's a real lack of clear info out there, so if you find a good site/explanation, do let me know!
.

Child benefit Im pretty sure is calculated on each persons wage - not you and your partners combined wage.

So if your DH earns too much now - I think its over 60k, you wont be entitled anyway regardless of you going onto mat leave.

But if its a case of you say earning 30k each then youd be entitled whether you were both working or not as neither of you are earning over 60k by yourselves.

Child tax credits is another thing entirely. I think you get it for one child if your household income is under 26K but dont quote me on that. But its calculated from the previous tax year so I guess youd have to wait for a year?!:question: Im not really sure. DH earns too much for us to get that so its just child benefit we'll be getting.

https://www.gov.uk/child-tax-credit

http://www.hmrc.gov.uk/taxcredits/people-advise-others/entitlement-tables/work-and-child/work-no-childcosts.htm


Im waiting for my boots parenting club voucher to come through so I can get all that stuff!

Kynthia

becsxxx wrote: »

Kynthia - eek! have you spoken to the MW?

Lushlifesaver - I'm also wondering about the benefits situation. Currently we earn too much to qualify for child benefit, but with my maternity pay we obviously won't for this next tax year so I'm presuming I can apply for it? There's a real lack of clear info out there, so if you find a good site/explanation, do let me know!

No I have an antenatal appointment tomorrow so i'll mention it there. It was funny looking at pictures of other people's 'show' on the internet, nearly put me off my dinner! :rotfl:


I found the below link regarding claiming child benefit. Something for me to read too.


http://www.hmrc.gov.uk/childbenefit/start/claiming/how-to-claim.htm
http://www.hmrc.gov.uk/childbenefit/start/who-qualifies/do-you-qualify.htm

squ1rrel5

claire16c wrote: »

Child benefit Im pretty sure is calculated on each persons wage - not you and your partners combined wage.

So if your DH earns too much now - I think its over 60k, you wont be entitled anyway regardless of you going onto mat leave.

But if its a case of you say earning 30k each then youd be entitled whether you were both working or not as neither of you are earning over 60k by yourselves.

Child tax credits is another thing entirely. I think you get it for one child if your household income is under 26K but dont quote me on that. But its calculated from the previous tax year so I guess youd have to wait for a year?!:question: Im not really sure. DH earns too much for us to get that so its just child benefit we'll be getting.

https://www.gov.uk/child-tax-credit

http://www.hmrc.gov.uk/taxcredits/people-advise-others/entitlement-tables/work-and-child/work-no-childcosts.htm


Im waiting for my boots parenting club voucher to come through so I can get all that stuff!

Is child benefit the one that's a measly £20 a week?

VickyVics

Good afternoon ladies,

Teamlowe you have put my mind at ease with bottlefeeding. I do feel under pressure to breast feed (not from the midwife funnily enough but expectation of family). It makes me feel a little less guilty about thinking about combination feeding rather than exclusively breast feeding.

Becs - that sounds like a great bargain. Unfortunately I have already picked up my changing bag but thinking I might take a look at their baby event.

Feeling a little bit sorry for myself here because I think I need to stop driving. Unfortunately, even though I am only 26 weeks, I am very short (4ft11) so my bump sticks out more than is normal as baby just doesn't have the space. This combined with short legs means that I have to have my seat right up to the steering wheel. There is no longer enough space for my bump Luckily I do work from home so getting to and from work is not a problem its just a little bit annoying. Just means I am going to have to get more friendly with the bus so I can still go and see friends and get out of the house. Otherwise I might start to feel a little bit imprisoned lol. Think I am just a bit annoyed that this time has come sooner than I originally thought it would lol.

Just on another topic...what size nappies are people buying and how many are you buying? Are you sticking to one brand or going for a variety and seeing which suits best? I never realised there were so many different types. How has Pampers even thought up so many different types of nappy???? I stupidly thought a nappy was a nappy. Seems I was a little wrong lol.

becsxxx

claire16c wrote: »

Child benefit Im pretty sure is calculated on each persons wage - not you and your partners combined wage.

So if your DH earns too much now - I think its over 60k, you wont be entitled anyway regardless of you going onto mat leave.

But if its a case of you say earning 30k each then youd be entitled whether you were both working or not as neither of you are earning over 60k by yourselves.

Child tax credits is another thing entirely. I think you get it for one child if your household income is under 26K but dont quote me on that. But its calculated from the previous tax year so I guess youd have to wait for a year?!:question: Im not really sure. DH earns too much for us to get that so its just child benefit we'll be getting.

https://www.gov.uk/child-tax-credit

http://www.hmrc.gov.uk/taxcredits/people-advise-others/entitlement-tables/work-and-child/work-no-childcosts.htm


Im waiting for my boots parenting club voucher to come through so I can get all that stuff!

thanks Claire, hadn't realised quite how complicated it was. I am the one earning over £50k (not £60k but near enough that am thinking I won't claim as 90% will end up having to be paid back and I'd need to do a tax return) and DH earns substantially less. as my salary will be a lot less for this year, I think it will be worth it though having read this. will look into it further.