FEBRUARY HEARTS Due in February 2015 , open group all welcome!

[River54]

Feronia - the qualifying period is the 52 weeks before you start the maternity leave. Your only requirement is that you accumulate 600 hours within that period. So, as long as you have already got 600 hours from say dec 2013 to now ( or whenever you were going to start mat leave minus a year) you should be fine, and they'll take the top earnings from those hours into account. Well, and you were paying into ei during those hours...

 

[River54]

Sounds suspicious though that you were let go close to when you were going to start leave...was the company closing?
So sorry about it...what a stressful day you must've had!

 

[ttc126]

Congrats on team blue NickiG!


Feronia! What an awful day for you! Did they give you a reason? I'm so sorry you're going through that!

River, can't wait to hear what team you're on! I hope tomorrow flies by and your appointment comes fast on Wednesday!

Hi to everyone else

 

[Feronia]

Thanks, I work at a huge university -- the reason is "budget constraints." I think that I can take some sort of EI, but I don't know whether it will be maternity leave or unemployment. I've worked the 600 hours since my last leave, too -- full time since December 2013 (when I went back from my daughter). If it's unemployment, I'm worried about a potential requirement to look for work while receiving payments -- because I'm not exactly in a position to do that. Isn't maternity leave tied to a specific position? My position no longer exists! It was so strange for them to have me come in on a Monday and terminate me at the end of the day -- security escort and all. Such a shock.

 

[crysshae]

I'm so sorry Feronia. I hope everything works out well for you.

Congratulations on team blue, Nickie!

River - Glad your scan went well. Won't be long before you know which team.

Melly - I'm sorry your trip didn't work out. I hope you will get to make it soon.

 

[River54]

Feronia- if you got the severance package, then you could probably coast on that until you can apply for mat leave?

 

[SurpriseBub]

Sorry to hear that captain- so rude! And surely it is as simple as putting in a new order?! I hate it when people are rude about your healthcare. Also, if they really did give you those forms so many weeks ago, it is their own fault as that is a stupid system!! Whatever happened, there is no reason for the nurse to be rude.

So, so sorry feronia. I have only been fired once, and it sucked!! I hope you get over the shock and work out what benefits you are due, too. I know it isn't great and has opened up a new can of worms for you, but at least you have your severance package for now. A small serving of lemonade from a batch of lemons! I agree that it is suspicious to be fired so close to maternity leave... Hopefully you will get those benefits too.

I was diagnosed with BV today boo to having an infection. I am glad to have an answer and medication (and glad it is nothing worse), but feeling bummed about it. Also bummed that the uti I had the other week was probably this, and just misdiagnosed. I hate anything that makes me feel like baby's well being is in danger

 

[Megamegan]

Hey everyone! Glad to hear of scans going well Mine is tomorrow morning.

Feronia, I was even shocked just sitting here reading that you were let go! So sorry you have that extra stress now. Maybe a new door will be opened to you. I know nothing about benefits but I hope you manage to take advantage of everything you possibly can.

I'm glad I wasn't the only quiet one this weekend! I left my laptop at work all weekend and didn't feel like using my phone for the website (they need an app!) so I just stayed quiet and had a great weekend with DH and friends in the fall weather. On Saturday night, after a day full of cleaning the house, my back hurt so bad that I couldn't walk. Then I realized I probably need to strengthen my back and I've made a commitment to exercising a little more. Also my weight has stabilized which is good because I was gaining a little too quickly, according to my doctor. Has anyone been exercising? What do you do? I swam today but already feel like I caught a cold from the gym, so I might try to stick to walking outside- at least it's nice out for now. Walking causes my belly to cramp sometimes (like, it's painful, I don't know why that happens) but I'll just do my best and stop when I'm hurting. I also *need* to start yoga, even if it's just at home on my mat with a YouTube video.

 

[Captain]

Feronia & SurpriseBub - So I gave the lab a call and the lady was so chilled and said they keep the form the first time, and that I don't need another form the second time so I was okay to just walk in and have it done!

This was the SIPS test so I had all of this week to have it done according to the lady at the lab. And I did start off by looking at midwives, Feronia but I had a real hard time finding one here in Nanaimo, many were busy for February and some just never returned my calls! So now I have a two ob's instead! I was set up with one through my family doctor who then asked if I'd be comfortable having a student whilst he oversees everything, OH and I are very happy with both so far.

And I can't believe you were fired like that today, I'm so sorry to hear that! As River said it does sound suspicious to be fired so soon before your maternity leave, it sounds so unfair!

Megan - Best of luck on your scan tomorrow!!

River - Bummer about not being able to find out today, at least you don't have toooo long to wait!

Nicki - Congrats on team blue!!

There..I think I'm caught up for the day!!

 

[MellyH]

Feronia, that sucks. what a nightmare to have to deal with that right now. I hope you're eligible for maternity leave - I have no idea how it works in Canada unfortunately! Man, security escort and everything. I hope you got to say goodbye to your work friends

 

[RaspberryK]

Feronia - that would be incredibly illegal here in the uk I got huge compensation for less when I was pregnant with ds

Xx

 

[maisie78]

Hi all. So sorry I have been absent for.so long. I have sort of caught up and have been seeing your fb updates. Dd is in full blown terrible twos so it's almost impossible to get any spare time apart from a quick look at fb.

Feronia that is shocking! So sorry you have to deal with that. As the others say it is very suspicious. Is there anyway to challenge it? I don't know the laws in Canada as regards pregnant women but they would never get away with that here in the UK. Hopefully your Mat leave is still protected xx

Afm baby is doing well. He has already started ganging up with his sister against me lol When she starts kicking off and shouting he joins right in and kicks me! I've had a bit of a rethink about being a sahm and have decided to go.back to work after mat leave. Won't be.until late Jan 2016 and baby will be 1 by then and dd will be in nursery a.couple of days a week. She really has been such hard work the last few weeks and I realised this week that I need those few hours at work for my own sanity. I am going to ask to change my.hours though so although I will work longer.shifts I will get more days off. The pattern I am looking at is 3 on 4 off 3 on 10 off and some of those are evenings and nights so the children won't even notice I'm gone.

Anyway glad to see you are all doing well for the most part. I'd like to.say I will keep up.now but can't promise xx

 

[Mommy2missR]

Feronia: That is nuts!! They couldn't get away with that in the US either. It's way too close to your mat leave AND you're pregnant. Unless you are in a 90 trial or temp position, most companies will wait until you come back from mat leave to let you go, otherwise they open themselves up for a illegal termination lawsuit.
We had a girl at my job who was just terrible at her job, very unethical, poor file handling, etc. and none of us could understand why they kept her because she was a walking errors and omissions lawsuit waiting to happen. Well maybe 2 or 3 months after she came back from her 6 month maternity leave, they fired her. HR just didn't want to give her a reason to sue, even though they had just cause to fire her while she was pregnant.
Once you recover from the shock of what they've done, I would recommend speaking with someone about it.

 

[Feronia]

Thanks everyone, I'm very surprised as well. I've worked there since 2011 so well passed probation. Today I'm going to explore my options and a few people suggested talking to an employment lawyer. Interesting to hear that this would be illegal elsewhere -- I have no clue about the laws here.

No, I didn't get to say goodbye to my colleagues because they took everyone out of the area and I was watched by security as I packed up my stuff. Like a pregnant lady is going to start tossing computers out the window!

SurpriseBub, sorry about the BV diagnosis, but I'm glad you finally got some answers! I hope it clears up soon for you!

 

[SurpriseBub]

Thanks everyone, I'm very surprised as well. I've worked there since 2011 so well passed probation. Today I'm going to explore my options and a few people suggested talking to an employment lawyer. Interesting to hear that this would be illegal elsewhere -- I have no clue about the laws here.

No, I didn't get to say goodbye to my colleagues because they took everyone out of the area and I was watched by security as I packed up my stuff. Like a pregnant lady is going to start tossing computers out the window!

SurpriseBub, sorry about the BV diagnosis, but I'm glad you finally got some answers! I hope it clears up soon for you!

Thank you! I am bummed, but hope that I will finish the meds and that will be the end of that!

I agree with the thinking that it is a bit suss that they fired you so close to your maternity leave. I wouldn't be surprised if you find out the firing was right before some kind of cut off re: having to pay you your mat leave. I hope you find answers and I hope that you get paid your full leave! In the short term, I hope you are able to enjoy a bit more time off work before the baby comes

 

[MellyH]

What is BV, SurpriseBub?

 

[SurpriseBub]

An infection- bacterial vaginosis. It is basically an overgrowth of normal (but unfriendly) bacteria.

 

[MellyH]

Ohhh yikes. Hopefully it clears up soon. What are the symptoms?

 

[SurpriseBub]

Apologies in advance if this is tmi for anyone! My only symptom was a sudden increase in discharge. I had gone from basically none to a lot and it just seemed wrong. The difficult part for us to recognize is that some women get lots of discharge in pregnancy (so it can be totally normal), while it can also be an infection. I guess the lesson is to trust my instincts if something feels off!

Sorry if this grosses anyone out!

 

[Mom2Chloe]

Can anyone help me on this please!!

So I went to the OB on Friday for my normal monthly checkup. I mentioned that something felt off "down there" and wasn't sure if it was just from pressure from baby or a start of a bladder infection, etc. Well they took urine and that came back negative for bladder infection & UTI. However, my vaginal culture came back positive for a bacterial infection. I was prescribed Metronidazole Vaginal 0.75% Gel to do once a day for 5 nights. I know they maybe wouldn't prescribe it if it wasn't necessary, and the risk of the infection out ways the benefits of the medications, but I am freaking out about having to do it.
I did my research on it and it is a Category B for pregnant woman, but any advise from anyone that has used it before and not having any problems with it while pregnant would be helpful...

NO HORROR STORIES PLEASE!!

Thank you