PAL Fall 2011 ***26 Healthy Babies***

[shelleney]

Aquarius - I was only 25 weeks when I finished for the summer! Its been great!
I couldnt imagine having to work right up until my due date though, as Im so tired and heavy, I definitely need to be at home!
Its great that you can get abit of work done while Sofya is at nusery. Make sure you get plenty of rest though!
xx

 

[Aquarius24]

Wow shellney that's great!! Yes im defo getting some rest don't you worry...in fact I'm very tired today, baby must be having a growth spurt x

 

[barbie72]

Aquarius- i am so jealous! MAT leave!? I don't go out until 11 days before my due date. I don't know how I am going to make it. So tired and huge already! I have a count down at my desk until I get to stay at home though lol. How long are you going to take off? It varies quite a bit at my job how long the women stay out. We are technically only covered for about 8-10 weeks paid depending on how baby is delivered. After that you have job protection and can stay out up to a year without pay. I am waffling on how long I want to stay out.

I bet it will come around quicker than you think hun. In the UK we get paid for 9 months from the government for maternity pay but it isnt much - 90% of salary for 6 weeks and then £128 a week up to 9 months - you can then take a further 3 months off unpaid. As I am self employed I can be flexible about the time off I want but am planning on at least 6 months possibly 9 depending on if we are coping financially. I went back to work when my daughter, Sofya, was 8 weeks old and miss out on so much!!

So you only get 8-10 weeks pay - is that full pay though? Is your OH in a good job to support you if wanted longer?xx

Oh interesting! I had heard that the government helps out over there but I didn't know they paid some out over a long period. Every little bit helps I suppose? That is great that you are self employed! It makes things much easier in that case. We do get 8-10 weeks paid in full. If you have a medical reason that you cannot go back then you can take extra time at 75% of your check. You have to have your dr. communicate with the company on why you need to be out and your expected return date. Apparently, this is very difficult and the dr. has to appear before the medical board to petition it. So mostly not happening without a good reason. Payment all comes through the company I work at and they continue to pay out your benefits the whole time whether you are on unpaid time off or still under the paid portion of MAT leave. So at least I won't have to pay to go to the dr. however long I am out. I am the major bread winner as they say in the family. Fortunately, my mom is awesome and my hubby so they are going to help out with finances so that i can stay out for maybe 4 months. I don't think I could leave her after just 8-10 weeks! That would be crazy. I do feel like there is pressure, at least where I work, to not take too much time off. I want the time with the baby but I don't want to stay out so long that my boss thinks I don't want to be here! There is potential that they can let me work from home. Still trying to get my boss to let me. So...i guess the answer is i am not sure . Was that long and drawn out enough, lol? I had to have the Human Resources woman at my company send me a time line because of all the weird rules and time frames for my state. I guess that is what happens when your MAT leave runs through an insurance company and all the states have different rules. 43 days left til leave though! Maybe I should make a ticker for that lol.

 

[hippylittlej]

It is all getting very exciting. Hypnobirthing classes were amazing and I would highly recommend although it is getting a little late now I guess.

I pumped up the birthing pool yesterday, it is HUGE at least for me as I am only 4ft 9" I may have to let the top layer down.

 

[fides]

shell, congrats on your leave too!!

Aquarius, so glad you're feeling relaxed.

barbie, i am glad you get a good chunk of paid leave - i've heard from so many US mommies on B&B who have to use their 2 weeks of vacation for the year, then go on FMLA.

hippy, way cool on testing out the pool! haven't even ordered ours yet - maybe i should look into that...

 

[shelleney]

Ooh, hippy! we havent ordered ours yet. 4 more weeks til we can order it.
How exciting!
xx

 

[Aquarius24]

Barbie hope u will will be able to work from home, 4 months doesn't seem long! It's so difficult to get the balance right isn't it. I will be working from home a lot more once baby is here.

I'm excited for u girls and Yr pools!! Wish I could be brave and do it at Home!

Not long left now. I've got 5 weeks to go!! Xxx

 

[shelleney]

Happy 35 weeks Aquarius!
xx

 

[Aquarius24]

Thanks shelleney!! Xx

 

[hippylittlej]

Barbie hope u will will be able to work from home, 4 months doesn't seem long! It's so difficult to get the balance right isn't it. I will be working from home a lot more once baby is here.

I'm excited for u girls and Yr pools!! Wish I could be brave and do it at Home!

Not long left now. I've got 5 weeks to go!! Xxx

If you do it at home you get 2 midwives to yourself. One for the whole labour and one comes near the end just for mum. This is what convinced me to go ahead with a home birth. Plus I am only 10 minutes away from the hospital should there be a problem.
Although judging by my current situation baby could be making an early appearance. I am hoping we make it to 37 weeks though.

 

[barbie72]

I am impressed with the home births too! It would be nice to not have to go to the hospital. Maybe baby #2 I will be braver lol. Are any of you having family or friends with you that day as well? I have heard people generally include more family with home births.
Good luck Hippylittlej on making it to 37 weeks. Is baby getting big? They are doing an ultrasound for me next week to check her size. They think she is measuring very big.
Good luck everyone else on the last 10 or less weeks. The last few weeks really seem to be slowing me down. I hope everyone else is making it through comfortably.
Thanks Aquarius! Getting the balance right is different. I am sure it will be one of the many new things i get to figure out. Luckily when I do go back to work she will be able to be with my hubby all day instead of day care. Daddy to be works night shifts so i have built in day care. Hopefully he can handle it lol.

 

[shelleney]

]
If you do it at home you get 2 midwives to yourself. One for the whole labour and one comes near the end just for mum. This is what convinced me to go ahead with a home birth. Plus I am only 10 minutes away from the hospital should there be a problem.

This is the exact answer I give people when they question the safety of home births.
People often say "ooh, its dangerous to give birth at home, there's no doctors or medical equipment, etc".
But I always state that there are such poor staffing levels on Labour Ward these days, that you actually get BETTER care at home. And if I did need to transfer to hospital for any reason, I only live a 5 minute drive away.

Barbie - I wont be having any family at my birth. Just my OH

xx

 

[Mommy's Angel]

I have a question ladies....I've been wondering about labor after having my son preterm at 22wks two years ago. My labor for him was 23 hours. I've heard that the second child usually comes faster but I'm wondering if that counts with a child that was born preterm at 22wks? Our boy was MUCH smaller obviously.

How long did your labor with your second child (rainbow baby) take after a loss preterm?

I'm just wondering if I should expect another 23 hour labor or if in fact our little girl will be quicker that we technically had labor and gave birth to our son two years ago. Does anyone know the answer to this?!

Thank you!

 

[fides]

mommy's, i can't relate, but i hope someone else might have an idea...


SOOOO - it's SEPTEMBER!!! three more weeks until FALL!!



so excited for those of you due early Fall!!! not long to go!!!

 

[barbie72]

mommy's, i can't relate, but i hope someone else might have an idea...


SOOOO - it's SEPTEMBER!!! three more weeks until FALL!!



so excited for those of you due early Fall!!! not long to go!!!

Yay fall!!! I told my husband yesterday that we can officially say we are having a baby next month! Can't wait!

 

[shelleney]

Sorry MA. I dont know the answer....but my uneducated guess is that it will be quicker this time around. I think your body will "remember" how to labour from last time, and so will be more efficient and quicker this time. I believe that because you laboured and gave birth to your son, this will still be classed as a second labour and birth with your daughter.
Good luck!
xx

 

[Aquarius24]

I agree with shelleney. I think this would be classed as a second labour ma xx

 

[Aquarius24]

Ps we are having a baby next month !!!! Lol x

 

[Mommy's Angel]

Ps we are having a baby next month !!!! Lol x

I know, I'm so excited!!

 

[fides]

that's so exciting!!

and i just checked the first page of this thread - 3 ladies have EDD's THIS MONTH!!!

I am so excited to hear some lovely rainbow baby arrival stories in just a few weeks!!!!!!!!