I know it can do literally nothing but I’m that desperate to get things going or for literally anything to happen that I jumped at the chance lol! MrDragName is no help, he doesn’t understand what I’m talking about.Ooh is that quite early? I don’t think I had my first sweep until after 40 weeks last time! Good luck!Guess who’s getting the sweep on Friday
Tell me why I’m so excited
Thank you!! I’m being induced early next week (39 weeks), for GD and my baby is measuring big (8.6lbs on my scan 2 weeks ago). I asked if I could get a sweep 38 weeks just to see if my body can get things going on its own and therefore I don’t need the induction. They agreed today to give it to me on Friday
I had this same issue this week like what do I do, I’ve opted for 7 months off but using a months annual leave within thatI’m trying to write the ‘I’m pregnant’ letter to work (who already know and are totally chill) and I am struggling with my mat leave intentions and the letter has to go in this week.
Was going to take 1 week of annual leave then start my mat pay/mat leave clock after that which will be 1 full week before the week in which my due date is knocking about.
Intending to take 52 weeks but thought I could maybe cut the mat leave short by a couple of weeks and then take some annual leave so I have some wages back. But then I realised I’ll go back to work and miss JuniorDragName’s first birthday and I’m like, I can’t do that! My consultant has said must have delivered by 40+6 which gives me a ‘latest’ birthday date, haha. So, do I take all 13 unpaid weeks, then stick what could end up being 3 weeks of annual leave on the end of that? Or do I just use my annual leave for a phased return to work that manages to miss his birthday once I know what it is.I will have accrued 5.5 weeks of leave between today and then assuming I book absolutely no further annual leave (unlikely), and will have additional entitlement to leave after that as the leave year starts in April.
I know I don’t have to be totally final about when I’m coming back right now. I also know my boss is super flexible. But I really want to have a crystal ball to know exactly what I need and exactly how painful the no pay weeks are going to be before I embark on all this
I just can’t decide at all, which is totally useless and means nobody can help me
. I think I want as much time with the baby as possible but we don’t have unlimited funds and I forgot to buy a Euromillions ticket tonight so that plan is out the window! I’ve opted for the full 52 weeks without really understanding if ifs affordable. I think it is because we’re reasonably lucky that our mortgage isn’t too crazy and I will obviously save a tonne in travel costs etc but the thought of having basically no income of my own is crazy to me. I have no idea how I’m going to cope with work and a very small child so I think holding on to lots of annual leave to do a phased return/work ‘part time’ could be really handy, especially as I don’t want to make big decisions about my role and/or how many hours I work till I really see what it’s like. I don’t even know what childcare options exist for a small child or the costs (I’m in for such a shock aren’t I?! I feel so clueless. Who has allowed me to get pregnant?!) I’m reluctant to ‘use up’ all my leave in case I need to wind myself down a bit earlier than intended as well. It’s a 2 hour round commute most days (supposed to be 40 mins each way but there is always traffic/roadworks/something) and whilst it’s predominantly desk based it’s senior management and it has been tough going this year, and I don’t know if I really have it in me to go on as long as I want to, though it’s too early to really tell right now! I checked ACAS and I can amend my return with 8 weeks’ notice which could include going ‘take me off mat leave on X date but stick me on annual leave for however many days/weeks.’ If I want to be earning full pay again sooner.I know this is easier said than done but my advice would be to try and relax and not think about your return to work in too much detail until much nearer the time. I decided pretty early that I was going to go back part time and I made sure work knew this, submitted FWR early etc. And actually the way I felt when my little boy was 11 months old vs how I felt earlier on in my mat leave was very different! I only went part time for a short period before going back to full time. There will be a big period where you can’t imagine EVER leaving your baby. But now I can’t imagine ever giving up my career! I need it for my sanityI just can’t decide at all, which is totally useless and means nobody can help me
My ‘boss’ (I report to a board) is an HR expert and could not be more chilled out about all of this, which is a total dream, but it’s more that I just want to map everything out and know exactly what’s happening but pregnancy and babies just don’t lend themselves to the sort of meticulous plan I’m after!
Exactly this. I fully expected to go back to my career but actually my whole mind set totally changed and after sitting down and doing the maths decided that being a stay at home mum was the right path for us. More so as at the time I believed I was going to be one and done and I felt like I didn’t want to miss a second. Anything you choose is so personal to yourself (and comes with its own set of strange thoughts, dilemmas, joy and identity crisis!!!) - as someone who is very much a “think of every possible scenario and try to plan/mitigate for it” I was really surprised at how I changed. I’m not being as articulate as I would like but long garbled response short: I agree wait and seeI know this is easier said than done but my advice would be to try and relax and not think about your return to work in too much detail until much nearer the time. I decided pretty early that I was going to go back part time and I made sure work knew this, submitted FWR early etc. And actually the way I felt when my little boy was 11 months old vs how I felt earlier on in my mat leave was very different! I only went part time for a short period before going back to full time. There will be a big period where you can’t imagine EVER leaving your baby. But now I can’t imagine ever giving up my career! I need it for my sanity
I’m so torn about this one haha! I thought my career WAS my baby and whilst my job is not perfect (because no job is), I am basically exactly where I’ve always wanted to be career wise, the goal has been scored etc. I’m just not sure small children + this job and its commute are exactly compatible so I am currently quite conflicted. I don’t think I am personally cut out to be a stay at home mother (but celebrate and support those who are because they’re fabulous!) but equally I don’t want to never see my son because I’m always at work and I miss special events/milestones/things that matter to him. I guess this is just Mum guilt starting really early! But yeah, I’m trying to remain flexible to what happens next, it’s just not massively in my nature to do so! I’ve decided to leave my letter fairly open ended about my return which I know my boss won’t even care about it’s more me ticking something off my todo list!I know this is easier said than done but my advice would be to try and relax and not think about your return to work in too much detail until much nearer the time. I decided pretty early that I was going to go back part time and I made sure work knew this, submitted FWR early etc. And actually the way I felt when my little boy was 11 months old vs how I felt earlier on in my mat leave was very different! I only went part time for a short period before going back to full time. There will be a big period where you can’t imagine EVER leaving your baby. But now I can’t imagine ever giving up my career! I need it for my sanity
should I have something in writing confirming my Mat leave start date etc? I only have 4 and a half weeks left of work so probably should be thinking about this stuff!HR should send you a letter confirming everything with the dates and the payments so you have this. Give them a chase xxI had a meeting with my manager and decided I wanted to start maternity leave a week before my due date and I'm taking 2 weeks annual leave before that. I've decided on 9 months at the moment for financial reasons.
I know my manager sent my Mat B1 form off to HR etc, as everything at my work HR related goes through the manager rather than direct to HR. But I'm just realizing I've not had anything from HR at all, I know they sent a letter through to my manager with a breakdown of my maternity pay.
Is that normal
obviously it might vary by trust but at my booking appointment, the midwife pressed a button that sent something to the ultrasound people to book my 12 week scan and I'd had it through by the time I was back in the car after the appointment. But I had my booking appointment a couple weeks ahead of you so can't hurt chasing
