MSE Pregnancy Club 28

tatabubbly

I've packed my hospital bags properly this week (37 weeks) and hubby has the car in for a valet today before he puts in the car seat later tonight. Just moved around stuff in our sitting room/dining room and our bedroom as well so everything will be ready for when I come home with baby.

Popped the sensor pad under the cot as well so need to test it out later today. I'd like to get some freezer meals done this week and our big stock up shop done next weekend. We don't have online grocery shopping here so I need to be prepared for most household groceries. Yes, I know the 'shops' are still open but I don't want to have to worry once she gets here and focus on nesting in and breastfeeding.

moneypenny21

Congrats Skint! Sorry it didn't go as you had hoped. my first birth was like that, you can and will get through it and as you say, one look at the baby and all worth it. big hugs!

Euro - let hubby do everything, you need rest!

ThinkPink

Ok, maybe I'll think about packing it in the next few weeks.

We are doing bits to our house at the moment so that has taken priority, hopefully that will all be done in the next few weeks and I can think about getting everything sorted for little ones arrival! Until then his stuff is spread out all over the house!

flutterbyuk25

Good luck Gelly, hope baby comes soon for you x

I really need to pack my hospital bags, I'm 37+2 and seem to have a mental block about packing them! It's been on my list for over a week but I keep finding other things to do. I have everything bar snacks so i will do it by the wknd.

Terrible sleep last night, was awake between 3am and 5am, and broken sleep either side. Gonna try squeeze a nap in now.

I saw the BMI midwife yday at the birth centre. She has made me feel much better about the growth scan. If the worst happens and baby is too big for birth centre she has said she will write me a birth plan for labour ward and speak to consultant too. She doesn't think it's a problem though as I'm measuring on plan and I'm tall. Total weight gain of 7kgs which I'm very pleased with.

Today I have my first acupuncture session (have a 4 week prep for birth/post birth course booked), followed by lunch with my parents and then we have the first hypnobirthing class tonight.

psychopathbabble

Ladies, when did you all start/planning to start your maternity leave? I have a while to think about it but not sure what to do as I can only really take the 9 months while I get paid Just can't do the last 3 months without money coming in.

I was planning to start officially on 1st November (due 4th) but then use my holiday to take 1-2 weeks before that, and reduce my days for a further 1-2 weeks prior. If I start it mid october, that's potentially a month of maternity used before baby even arrives.


I guess it will also depend on how I feel at the time and whether I am able to do full days at work?

ThinkPink

I'm hoping to have the full year off. I'm using up all my annual leave for the year (leave runs Jan to Dec) which means I finish 5th august and use four weeks worth of leave with maternity starting a week before my due date. I am hoping to return to work next September, but may officially return at some point in August and use annual leave as I would have accrued a further 8 months worth of annual leave.

I'm 30 weeks and starting to find the tiredness is taking its toll so I'm not sure I would be able to cope much after 35 weeks anyway, plus I have a 45 min commute each way and space between my bump and steering wheel is already tight so I'm not sure ill be able to drive much after say 37 weeks anyway!!

psychopathbabble

ThinkPink wrote: »

I'm hoping to have the full year off. I'm using up all my annual leave for the year (leave runs Jan to Dec) which means I finish 5th august and use four weeks worth of leave with maternity starting a week before my due date. I am hoping to return to work next September, but may officially return at some point in August and use annual leave as I would have accrued a further 8 months worth of annual leave.

I'm 30 weeks and starting to find the tiredness is taking its toll so I'm not sure I would be able to cope much after 35 weeks anyway, plus I have a 45 min commute each way and space between my bump and steering wheel is already tight so I'm not sure ill be able to drive much after say 37 weeks anyway!!

Ah yes I will have accrued some additional leave, although don't want to use it all, before I go back. My commute is about 20 minutes so not too bad. Hmm, I will give it some more thought. Thanks Due to having a week of with DH in August (he can't have leave in october which would have been better!) and a few other days for various reasons, I only have about half my leave left to use.

crazy-cat-lady_2

I had planned to work later than I am doing. But still finish a few weeks before my due date. Husband goes into hospital next Wednesday for an op and I have to take a few weeks off with him. So starting maternity earlier than I planned. I'll have dependant's leave from work, then any remaining holiday days and then start my maternity leave. So all in all I'll have my year for maternity plus an extra 3 or so weeks. Works for me. Between looking after him after the op I can get the house totally ready and any jobs done and a bit of resting and relaxing time once the jobs are done and he's back on his feet.
The only problem will be if madam decides to make an appearance any earlier than the due date or the date I'd need a section of it turns out after my scan that I do need one.

flutterbyuk25

Psycho - I finished at 37 weeks (well took 2 days leave than mat leave started at 37wks). My job was easy, desk bound but it wasn't my normal job (I was seconded for h&s grounds) so it was boring. I had hr round trip commute on motorway which was fine but I was finding I was so tired at end of day the last few weeks. I'd need a nap when I got in!

psychopathbabble

flutterbyuk25 wrote: »

Psycho - I finished at 37 weeks (well took 2 days leave than mat leave started at 37wks). My job was easy, desk bound but it wasn't my normal job (I was seconded for h&s grounds) so it was boring. I had hr round trip commute on motorway which was fine but I was finding I was so tired at end of day the last few weeks. I'd need a nap when I got in!

Thanks My job is desk based so not too strenuous. I've just worked out if I use the rest of my leave, I would be 36.5 weeks when I stop working so not too bad! Then potentially it'll b 18 days of maternity at the latest when baby arrives.