12-24 weeks pregnant (part 3)

Whattodonow

This thread moves so quickly!

I also get sharp pains when sneezing and have had a pain like a pull on my left side for a few weeks. Mentioned it to midwife and she was not at all interested, she said you will have lots of aches and pains and not to worry.

So glad your bleeding has stopped Daisi!

Welcome Lixi xx

I can't believe all you ladies worrying about waxing! I honestly could not give a flying f*rt! I'd blame my feminist tendencies but tbh i think it's just cause i'm a scruff Might get some hair removal cream for due date though in case I have to have stitches. Thanks Lixi for that tip!

I'm taking my mat leave 2 weeks before I'm due (well that is the plan, commuting everyday might change that) - only because I want as much time with bubs as possible. I'm having 12 months and then I get my holidays/BH entitlement after that so should be about 14 months in total.

Congrats on your team blue status Bluebell

Whattodonow

My sympathies to those with headaches. Drink as much water as you can - I've found this has really helped me. My headaches have stayed away for over a week now (touches wood)

Whattodonow

Anybody else getting downy type hair on their jawline/neck. I seem to have loads! Think i'm turning into a fawn!!

daisiegg

Whattodonow wrote: »

Anybody else getting downy type hair on their jawline/neck. I seem to have loads! Think i'm turning into a fawn!!

Not that I have noticed, but I have a hairy belly! Yuk

We just ordered a car seat, car seat base and baby monitor! :eek: hubby is feeling very smug as those were 'his' responsibilities to research and sort out. Everything else is up to me then!

Lixi_2

Thanks ladies for the welcome. I can't say I will post daily, but I will certainly read a lot. These threads were a constant comfort in my first pregnancy and I don't doubt they will be the same again in this one. I am a lot more relaxed this time round though and can actually imagine the birth this time (couldn't get past that in my head last time!). I'm even considering a home birth though I will make that decision later on down the line!


Peonie - I have had a look for a directive and can't find anything which relates either. The general consensus (leaving aside that it is clear cut that you continue to accrue holiday) from the advice online(.gov.uk, ACAS websites and others) is that maternity doesn't affect your right to holiday. Advice on the ACAS website does suggest that it is a matter of contract between employers and employees as to whether you can roll over holiday from year to year. My employer won't let you do that unless you have been on maternity, but as I go on maternity mid-holiday year they don't specify I have to take it before maternity starts either so I don't have that problem luckily.


It just feels wrong to me that an employer could do that. What if you were due to go on maternity leave a week after your holiday year started? Your maternity must start on the delivery date at the latest, so how can you take everything before? You can't. If the only reason an employer is specifying that you have to take holiday at a certain time of year is because you are pregnant and due to be going on maternity leave then this is surely discriminatory and there would be issues with the Equality Act 2010? It has been bugging me so I have done some digging, but haven't turned up much to support that though! Let me know what you find.


I had 11 clear days from the end of work until my due date and in the end only had 7 as boy arrived early. I was getting a little bored at that point though as I was well prepared and had bought everything I needed equipment and supply-wise. I also had straightforward pregnancy so far as it goes so I didn't feel I needed to rest up or anything. I work in an office environment and whilst it is stressful and pressured at times I don't let it get to me on the whole so it was relatively easy going!


I will probably take the same approach this time I would think and leave it to relatively late on in pregnancy to start maternity. That won't stop me from putting a working day countdown in my diary (hard copy - old school!) like I did last time!


We are just chilling out today and enjoying the lovely BH weather. Little man is napping and the house is tidy. OH is cooking tonight for friends so I have nothing to prepare there so I have been googling employment rights and paying bills!


Almost bliss!


Lx

Lemon_Tree

I've already been thinking about maternity leave and holidays and stuff.
I am planning to start my maternity leave on the day the baby is due, so to get time off beforehand I'm going to use some annual leave. I will definitely be having the week off beforehand, and would like the week before that but indications are I won't be allowed the full week because it's the final week of our audit, so may have to split those 5 days between the preceding two weeks. Obviously if I'm not fit for anything I will take the time off come what may, but at the moment this is what I know i'll be allowed.

Peonie

Lixi, I looked on maternityaction and some directive consultations and they did not mention anything either. I've started working on the Equality Act at work and have read quite a bit of guidance on it. It seems to me that as long as you justify your decision, properly, you can still do what you want. They can also favour the protected characteristics in comparison to those that do not have them.

I'm planning on starting mat leave the Sunday before the baby is due, as you have to, and taking 2 weeks annual leave before that. If I lose it because the baby comes early then so be it (although I would be gutted). I plan on carrying 5 days over. The last couple of months I'll drop down to 4 days a week and use my annual leave that way. They offer free aqua natal classes at the local pool every Monday. Can you guess what days I plan on taking off...

LailaP_2

Welcome Lixi

No hairy jawline but another hairy belly here.

I'm due on the 28th Sept and taking the 2 weeks off before as part of mat leave and then the 2 weeks before that as holiday so I will finish at the end of August. A month is plenty, my job is super chilled (to the point of being boring) so it's not as if I will be under stress.

Oh and I'm also getting the sharp pains other ladies have mentioned. I hate sneezing! ouch!

monty-doggy

Well after all my troubles when I told work about my pregnancy, my oh has put his foot down and said I'm not going back. This gives me just over six months off work! I'm getting the house sorted and we will have builders in over the summer.
As I'm a risky pregnancy too, he just wants me to rest and make sure baby is ok. I'm enjoying being able to potter about, read, watch crappy tv and see my friends

Bluebell1000

Hello Lixi!

I have a 2 and a quarter year old boy and this morning we asked him to name the new baby... and he came out with something sensible! So I think that's the name sorted Though we're not telling anyone else, sorry!

Last pg I took mat leave from my due date, because we couldn't afford to do otherwise. Then went into labour at 38 weeks... quick call to the boss... 'I think you need to get my maternity cover to start early!' She was the only one who knew the baby was on the way!

Think I'll be off from about 36 and a half weeks this time, but I'll be using up my leave over the summer so that i'm only working 3 days a week.