12-24 weeks pregnant (part 3)

time2deal

My mat leave starts on 4 August, which will be around week 32. My manager has asked that I use all my leave up first, so I suppose my first actual Mat Leave day will be sometime in September. Our leave year runs from July-June so I will have the full annual amount to use up.

Due to all my illness I also have a lot of leave from this year left (13 days) and work have agreed to allow me to roll it all instead of just 5 days, only on the basis that I will use it all up once I start Mat leave.

I'm happy leaving early, my sister is coming to visit in August so we can spend some time together, and the docs seem to be saying I could go anytime from 34 weeks. Knowing me I will be no-where near ready in advance so the time will be useful.

The only issue for me is that my Mat Leave is based on the average 3 months salary. And 3 months before August 4 I get my bonus. So if I use the holidays first them the bonus becomes 4 month earlier and so isn't included in the calculation. It's a big difference, but I think I can't avoid it, so I'm not going to worry. I'll be paid almost 6 months full pay in the end, which is pretty generous so I'm not going to take the p.

Only 63 work days left!

daisiegg

Ooh t2d you have just inspired me to calculate how many working days I have left...taking into account I am off sick until Friday and the fact I work part time (8 days a fortnight), and we have half term...it is...39! Wow ! And that is scary because chances are I won't go back to work for years. Eep!

daisiegg

Anyone else getting any back pain? I have been getting lower back/hip/pelvis pain a lot at night but nothing too bad during the day. Today I have been sat at a desk marking all day and oh my goodness...my back feels on fire from my neck down to my bum have taken a paracetamol that seems to have got rid of the headache I had earlier but is not touching the back pain.

On a more positive note, I am almost sure I am feeling proper movements now

18+2

daisiegg

Ooh. Me again. Having a marking break! My mum texted me saying she has bought her first baby items. A super cute hungry caterpillar clothing set she saw on sale apparently she and my dad also went into Mothercare to look at prams. They have very generously offered to buy the pram for us, though we are choosing it. She texted to say dad has said the pram budget will be £1000! :eek: I told her that is very kind but you can get really nice ones for much less than that. Don't want to waste their money!

time2deal

We looked at prams today, and DH is annoying me saying why don't we just get a stroller. Why do we need the car seat or sleeping cot. Can anyone give me some arguments to explain why?

He's obsessing over the fact that we don't use the car much (apart from shopping every week!) and will need a new car seat in Australia as the regulations are different. Does a car seat last longer than 6 months anyway?

He gets himself caught up in ridiculous logical tangles, and I can't be bothered trying to argue out of them. I just want to say 'because we are - so stop arguing!'

lilmissreading

time2deal wrote: »

We looked at prams today, and DH is annoying me saying why don't we just get a stroller. Why do we need the car seat or sleeping cot. Can anyone give me some arguments to explain why?

He's obsessing over the fact that we don't use the car much (apart from shopping every week!) and will need a new car seat in Australia as the regulations are different. Does a car seat last longer than 6 months anyway?

He gets himself caught up in ridiculous logical tangles, and I can't be bothered trying to argue out of them. I just want to say 'because we are - so stop arguing!'

Can you get an ebay one or do you only want new?

Sure you might not use the car much now but you are having a c section aren't you? Maybe you'll need to use it more, particularly in those first 6 weeks? We are planning to use the carry cot for pushing out and about in town on foot, they fall asleep and you don't want to lift them out and wake them. some people use them as travel cots for staying overnight.

TBH though because we do is the most compelling arguement and you've already tried that.

lilmissreading

ps thanks to everyone with mat leave date feedback. DH is now back tracking furiously on having raised his eyebrows at me wanting 2 weeks off before. Can't quite get my head round the luxury of 3 weeks! Quite like the idea of short weeks though...

time2deal

Its not really a price issue. On principle he seems to want me to have a detailed counter argument for every point, including 'they didn't have this rubbish 20 years ago and people seemed to cope'. The fact the 99% of people who DO know and DO have experience get them is enough for me!

Might just order one...

lilmissreading

time2deal wrote: »

Its not really a price issue. On principle he seems to want me to have a detailed counter argument for every point, including 'they didn't have this rubbish 20 years ago and people seemed to cope'. The fact the 99% of people who DO know and DO have experience get them is enough for me!

Might just order one...

well ahem, 'people' didn't cope, women put up with hard work and inconvenience. My great grandmother didn't have a fridge. i do. She didn't have a washing machine. I do. She didn't have a car. I do. She didn't have options and choices, like epidurals and where to have the baby. I do. Sure I could cope without these things but why would if I didn't have to!? Bless his heart.

Yes just smile and nod but go ahead

lilmissreading

daisiegg wrote: »

Anyone else getting any back pain? I have been getting lower back/hip/pelvis pain a lot at night but nothing too bad during the day. Today I have been sat at a desk marking all day and oh my goodness...my back feels on fire from my neck down to my bum have taken a paracetamol that seems to have got rid of the headache I had earlier but is not touching the back pain.

On a more positive note, I am almost sure I am feeling proper movements now

18+2

I'm 16+5 and no more back pain than usual for me. Did second session of pg yoga with the aim of trying to prevent too much by stretching. Am aso seriously considering antenatal hydrotherapy.