12-24 weeks pregnant (part 4)

countrybum

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Recent graduates (who are still welcome !):

Jojo_fry - EDD 31st August

Current list:

saver-j - EDD 22 October
2ba3c - EDD 5 November
TwentySomethingGirl - EDD 4 December
Timeflies EDD 6 December
Roz_V - EDD 8 December
Countrybum- EDD 13 December

WHEN YOU SEE THIS POST DO YOUR PELVIC FLOOR EXERCISES!!!

countrybum

I'm 15+1 and haven't felt any movements yet. I can't remember when I started feeling anything last time although I did have an anterior placenta so that did affect what I felt.

Glad you've got it cleared up re being consultant led TwentySomething. I'm consultant led because of the IVF and I was born with a cleft lip & palate

saver-j

Hi all, how's everyone doing? I am very glad it's cooled down a bit now, really didn't feel like I could enjoy the warm weather. Dread to think what it would have been like if I'd been further on.

I've spotted there's some mothercare expectant parents events on at the moment / over the next few weeks. Anyone been or planning to go? Anyone know if they're any good? I know you get 10% off if you go which might be worth it although we've not made many decisions about prams car seats nursery etc. Think I'm still a bit wary and will probably end up holding off purchasing until after 24 weeks.

I'm also debating nct classes at the moment. Any of you 2nd (or more) timers done these? What did you think?

penguingirl

saver-j wrote: »

I've spotted there's some mothercare expectant parents events on at the moment / over the next few weeks. Anyone been or planning to go? Anyone know if they're any good? I know you get 10% off if you go which might be worth it although we've not made many decisions about prams car seats nursery etc. Think I'm still a bit wary and will probably end up holding off purchasing until after 24 weeks.

Just un-lurking to say we went to one of these and it wasn't a hard sell at all and there were talks on prams, car seats nursery furniture and demos. The 10% voucher was valid for a month and could be used online so you're not rushed into using it.

countrybum

We went to an NCT antenatal course for our first and would highly recommend it. We made some great friend and we still see them regularly 4.5 years on

countrybum

When are you all thinking of starting maternity leave in relation to your EDD?

saver-j

Thanks penguingirl, really good to know the 10% is valid for a month.

And thanks re nct countrybum, the friends thing is what I've read most about it, but good to hear of someone having personal experience of it.

As for mat leave I'm starting just 1 week before edd, but taking some holiday before that so will be off from 37 weeks I think. How about you?

countrybum

Tbh, the main reason we did the NCT class was to hopefully meet some friends as we didn't know anybody with children.

As for maternity leave I'm not sure. Last time I took 2 weeks leave then started mat leave at about 38+4 then she was born 2 days later!

TwentySomethingGirl

I'm planning to go on mat leave a week before my EDD, my boss is letting me carry over holiday so i can use it at the end of mat leave and have less time unpaid.

Timeflies

Roz-V hope you’re having a fab holiday! Yes, the 3 of us are are so close in EDD aren’t we? I really want to plan a mat leave date, but it all depends on so many things! Last time my midwife was encouraging me to go at 34 weeks, so I changed my 37 week start to 36 weeks. This time my (different) midwife said if they did schedule me for a C-section (due to carrying a giant baby again) it would be at 39 weeks. I know there’s some projects/admin/nesting I’d want to do at home on mat leave before baby arrives, not to mention lazing about! I am due to a big work event at around 36 weeks – not sure if I’ll be there for that.

That’s exciting you heard the heartbeat twentysomethinggirl – my midwife said she wouldn’t do it at 16 weeks. I first get to see the consultant (and midwife again) at 21 weeks. My 20 week scan is the day after yours!

Saver-j I am planning to make one of those mothercare evenings – worth it for the vouchers and freebie goody bag, but also the talks about first aid, breastfeeding, etc etc. We can’t both go this time round though, as littlun will be in bed. I guess I’ll go – not sure if they let lone men in! :rotfl: In all seriousness, dads really do get sidelined in a lot of things. Daft comedy books about how to treat a baby like a car, some places only have baby change in the ladies, patronising comments… it’s tough for dads.

I didn’t do NCT last time because I was too slow to book it and it was full. I did do the free antenatal classes and set up a social media group for the others to join. Seemed awkward as we’d barely spoken to each other, but we see each other all the time, a nice support network and good friends. I’d definitely recommend some kind of antenatal classes, and thrusting contact details on people, even though it’s a bit awkward with strangers!

Is anyone planning to do shared maternity/paternity leave? I’d like OH around for the first 6 weeks (he gets 3 weeks’ paternity leave), so I’m thinking of either giving 3 weeks of my mat leave to him as pat leave, or just getting him to take 3 weeks unpaid. I kind of want to string my 52 weeks mat leave to cover two Christmases though!:xmassmile