Calling all the Pregnant PS''ers

[Tuckins1]

Hey ladies!
Did you all have a nice Valentine's day? I hope so! Tell me how your day went!

DH brought me home a big box of chocolates (score 1 for him) and then took me to dinner at Maggiano's Little Italy (Score 2 for him)! I had my first stranger rub my tummy too lol. This nice older couple noticed I was pregnant and offered their place in line to us and we only had to wait 10 minutes as a result! We made sure to thank them a couple of times The night ended with the yummiest desert ever (score 3 for dh!) and cuddles with the 2 furballs

RT- how weird, DH and I went to Maggiano's on Saturday. Are you in Michigan?

 

[Kay]

I am going to have to come back later to catch up with everyone, but I have a quick question re baby showers because a colleague is pestering me for an answer. What do you guys think of the idea of a double baby shower? Friend A was planning on throwing a shower for the second baby of Friend B, who is due 2 weeks before me. (We all work together.) When A found out I was PG too, she thought a double shower would be a good idea and would make things easier on the shower hosts and on the overlapping guests we would both invite. A sprung this on me last week and I told her I need to think about it because I am not sure I even want a shower this time. Yesterday, she asked again, because she wants to e-mail out “save the dates.”

There are probably 15-20 people B and I would both put on our lists, but we also have separate friends outside of work. I am worried the whole gift thing would be awkward. I don’t want anyone to feel obligated to buy me gifts, which is why I am not sure I want a shower at all, but it seems even more awkward with two “honorees.” I don’t want her friends to feel like they have to give me something, or vice versa. I’ve never been to a double shower, so I have no idea how it would work out. I just picture us both opening gifts and think it would be awkward.

I don’t enjoy being the center of attention, so maybe having a dual shower would be easier in that respect. Ugh, I just hate feeling pressured about this right now when I have so much else on my mind with work and a house remodel. A doesn’t understand why I am not on board. I feel very awkward having a shower at all with a second baby girl – we really have everything we need already (except diapers and formula if BF doesn’t work out again).

Does anyone here have experience with double showers? WWYD?

 

[CatLuver]

Kay, I have no experience with double showers but I agree it would be awkward with different sets of friends. If you really don't want a shower, it sounds like you have good reasons you could give for telling your friend it's just not necessary, without being offensive? I would just tell her you don't want to have a shower. I know, easier said than done!

 

[Kay]

Basil, I am sorry you are having so much uncertainty at work. It certainly is bad timing to have your boss and mentor leaving as you are going on mat leave. Maybe it will turn into a good promotion for you, even if not at the best time. Hugs.

Modernsparkler, I hope you are having a fab time in Cabo!

Cupcake muffin, thanks for posting the great 3d scans of Lorelei. I bet you can’t wait to meet her.

Mrs, sounds like you have your hands full with a crazy toddler too. A wants everything her way and right now! Naps and bedtime are a real nightmare, especially since the crib rail came down. My MIL, who lives across the country, is going to try to take time off work to come out the week before my EDD, but we have no way of knowing when the baby will actually show up, so it is hard to plan.

Skippy, how sweet of your DH to make you special V-Day meals! I find this one kicks the most right when I lay down at night.

Luvinlife, you look great! It’s wonderful that you are feeling great and squeezing in couple time.

Deelight, congrats on finishing work! Man, I would love to take a year off. Yay for being almost full term!

Geri, your little girl is gorgeous! She looks so content in that photo. I love that your hospital lets you room at a beach hotel for the end of your stay – what an awesome idea! Having a newborn is overwhelming at first, but also so full of special moments of awe. It will get easier!

Princessplease, welcome to the big girl thread! 14 weeks is a great milestone.

Random-thought, sounds like a great V-Day! Love the bathroom shot – you look great!

LovesVintage, Samantha is beautiful! You are very lucky to have a baby with a happy disposition. I love your description of watching the snow fall between contractions.

Dreamer, I hope you have a great scan today.

Catluver, I hope you go into labor this week. If not, I can understand wanting to be induced quickly so your DH can take time off to spend with the new baby. Sending you good labor vibes.


AFM, DH and I have both been sick for over a week. A also has a bit of a cold but it doesn’t hit her as hard because she can sleep when she wants to. Last night and today, the congestion is so bad that I have a terrible headache. I have not taken any cold medicine because I do not know what is safe to take while preggo.

On a brighter note, we ordered my Christmas/anniversary/birthday gift from BGD last night and it should be here by the end of the month. It is my first sparkly purchase in over 2 years.

 

[Kay]

Kay, I have no experience with double showers but I agree it would be awkward with different sets of friends. If you really don't want a shower, it sounds like you have good reasons you could give for telling your friend it's just not necessary, without being offensive? I would just tell her you don't want to have a shower. I know, easier said than done!

Yes, I could just tell her I don't want a shower at all. (Of course, these particular friends think it is crazy to turn down an opportunity for gifts.) The problem is I might change my mind later in pregnancy and relent to other friends offering to throw me a shower. I just don't want to have to make a decision this early, and I hate being pushed for a commitment.

 

[random_thought]

Hey ladies!
Did you all have a nice Valentine's day? I hope so! Tell me how your day went!

DH brought me home a big box of chocolates (score 1 for him) and then took me to dinner at Maggiano's Little Italy (Score 2 for him)! I had my first stranger rub my tummy too lol. This nice older couple noticed I was pregnant and offered their place in line to us and we only had to wait 10 minutes as a result! We made sure to thank them a couple of times The night ended with the yummiest desert ever (score 3 for dh!) and cuddles with the 2 furballs

RT- how weird, DH and I went to Maggiano's on Saturday. Are you in Michigan?

Nope we are in Colorado!

Thank you for the bump compliments everyone, quite frankly, I feel like a giant cow/whale combo, ugh

 

[Tuckins1]

Hey ladies!
Did you all have a nice Valentine's day? I hope so! Tell me how your day went!

DH brought me home a big box of chocolates (score 1 for him) and then took me to dinner at Maggiano's Little Italy (Score 2 for him)! I had my first stranger rub my tummy too lol. This nice older couple noticed I was pregnant and offered their place in line to us and we only had to wait 10 minutes as a result! We made sure to thank them a couple of times The night ended with the yummiest desert ever (score 3 for dh!) and cuddles with the 2 furballs

RT- how weird, DH and I went to Maggiano's on Saturday. Are you in Michigan?

Nope we are in Colorado!

Thank you for the bump compliments everyone, quite frankly, I feel like a giant cow/whale combo, ugh

You are not a whale!!! You are a baby incubator.

 

[Dreamer_D]

DD, that is great you did not have tearing or an episiotomy, but I don’t think that necessarily means it is possible for every woman, though of course that is what we all hope for. Women are different sizes and stretchiness and the size of the baby’s head and shoulders can make a difference. They have different sizes of speculums at the doctor’s office...and a taller baby can have a smaller head than a baby who weighs the same or less, but has a bigger head.

Of course, I would not try to imply otherwise. But I still think more doctors and nurses should do things to avoid it if possible, and at present most do not.

 

[basil]

Oh wow, so much to catch up on!

Kay - hope you feel better soon! What did you order from BGD? I don't really know the answer to your question about the shower...but I would probably turn it down if it was making me uncomfortable.

CatLuver - hurry up little baby! I hope your baby arrives soon so that your DH can have maximum time off after then. I can empathize though...DH's boss thinks that it is perfectly acceptable that he should take 1 week of vacation for the week after my due date and that's it, as if the baby is going to get here on a schedule. And she's a mother of two herself.

Dreamer - did you find out the gender? Or are you going to have a surprise? Did you get some good photos?

LV - Samantha is GORGEOUS

RT - you look awesome. Glad you had a great Valentine's day with your DH and furballs!

Princess - nice to see you over here, stranger

Modern - hope you had a fabulous time in Cabo. Is this your last trip before the baby arrives?

Cupcake - what beautiful pictures! Your little one is such a cutie!

Mrs - I am having issues about my body image too...and only in the last few days have I really felt that I might look pregnant and not fat. But still I think for people who don't know me, I just look chunky. I will have to try your trick of wearing more maternity clothes...I don't need maternity tops yet but maybe I will buy a few to accentuate my belly....that probably sounds like a really dumb idea to those who are further along than me though!

Skippy - glad you had a great Valentine's Day, your DH sounds so sweet!

Luvinlife - you look great! You are all belly!

Deelight - congratulations on being done with work and being so close! yeay for getting your bag packed and all ready to go!

Geri - Claudia is totally beautiful! What a little angel!

Anyway, I hope I didn't miss anyone. If I did, I'm sorry!

So we had another appointment yesterday and we heard the heartbeat again (16 weeks). The doctor said that the baby was moving all around but I still can't feel anything, which just seems weird to me. We scheduled our anatomy scan for March 7 (19 weeks) so we are excited to find out the gender. But not quite as excited as our parents, who aim to go on a baby clothes buying spree when they find out!

I finally told my chairman that I'm pregnant today. He took it well but I suppose he has practice in these things. I really feel guilty - like I'm bailing on the department at an important transition time. But I didn't know that the other doctor was leaving and what can I do now? We talked briefly about me taking time off - he would prefer if I start in November which is 3 months after my due date, whereas I originally wanted to hold off until January to start. I brought up the possible option of part time and he said that he had done that in the past. I'm pretty tempted by going back 2-3 days a week in November, then starting back full time in February, when the baby is 6 months. I think it will be a good transition for the baby into childcare, and myself into getting back to work.

Unfortunately for women's rights, I feel like I'm definitely giving something up in terms of my career by doing this. I know that I do not have as strong of a position going into my salary negotiations now. I know that I will not have as much shot at the clinics I want to run because I will be absent for a few months. It makes me mad that my male colleagues don't have to consider this in their career plans. I could probably negate a lot by starting work 6 weeks post-partum, but I do not want to sacrifice my family for my principles. It's just annoying that we've come so far, yet in some respects, not that far at all.

 

[fieryred33143]

Dreamer-did you opt to find out the sex this time around??

 

[Deelight]

Princess Welcome and yay on nearly being in your second tri I so remember breathing the biggest sigh of relief making it to that first milestone

RT Cute belly pic

Mara I keep to much the same philosophy about birth - I mean it freaks me out to some extent not as much as it used to - as you say billions of women have done this before and some go back again and again- my grandmother had 10 (one set of twins) and this was before modern pain relief.

LV Samantha is just beautiful - I just want to give her a big cuddle - I can see why you love that photo she looks so alert and content at the same time - she is a little stunner

DD Tons of dust for the scan - I hope bubba behaves and you get awesome shots - are you finding out the sex?

Cat Sending your painless, fast labour dust - here is hoping things get along for you soon

Kay I am not sure what I would do - I didn't want a shower because I felt weird having a party that people buy you gifts for (in saying that I love other peoples showers and love gift buying for them) however was told I had to have one it was nice - I did get gifts which was lovely but it was a good way to catch up with everyone

If you don't feel comfortable I would opt out or can you have a modified shower/sprinkle at a later date? Is this the other girls first bubba - maybe you can use that as an excuse - saying you don't want to take away from her and you really have most everything you need and would rather attend as a guest but thank you for thinking about me .

It is a tough one really sorry I am not much help

However I am curious to know what sparklie is on its way to you

Basil Glad your appointment went well - as for not feeling the baby it took me till about 18wks to be sure that what I was feeling was a baby and not gas or something else - eventually you will feel the bubba

There is no reason to feel guilty about falling preggo even if you did know things like this happen - but I do get how you feel about the whole giving things up, I feel the same and I work in one of the most family friendly places in Australia. It is that hard balance and it seems like all the best opportunities arise when it is not the best time to take them - the thing I keep telling myself is that these ops will come again and they will for you as well - you will get there it might just take a little longer - but as you said it does not seem fair.

__________________________________________________________

36 weeks 5 days here nothing new to add - but for the mums that have BTDT before you went into labour did you have any group of indicators, symptoms happen just before - ie subtle signs that your body was preparing?

Not sure if that makes sense.

Hope all you guys are well

 

[canuk-gal]

HI:

Ohhh the cutest babies and bellies!

cheers--Sharon

 

[Dreamer_D]

Dreamer-did you opt to find out the sex this time around??

No! Here they won't tell you the gender at the anatomy scan and we don't want to pay for another one to find out. DH is very against finding out, even though, once again, I would like to know. But I am letting him have this one

His reasoning is that he really want a girl and he will feel disappointed if he finds out it is a boy in the scan, but if the baby is born and it is a boy, well who can be disappointed then?? I agree with him on this one, so we will wait, even though it means enduring the torture of trying to come up with another name! We have a girl name all picked but not boy name in sight.

***
As for the scan..

It was great! Best scan ever, the tech was wonderful and walked us through it all, which was really fun. From what I could gather from all his really informative comments everything looks fine. Heart has 4 venticles that functions as they should blood flow good, baby had fluid in the stomach and baldder, two kidneys, nice brain. So we are happy!

We saw some 3d images and I think this peanut looks a lot like our son, which was our hope, since our son is really exceptionally cute and we worry about having a second one who is not as attractive and how hard it would be to be the "ugly duckling" The things parents think about, eh? So silly. We still get a good laugh about it all.

 

[Dreamer_D]

Unfortunately for women's rights, I feel like I'm definitely giving something up in terms of my career by doing this. I know that I do not have as strong of a position going into my salary negotiations now. I know that I will not have as much shot at the clinics I want to run because I will be absent for a few months. It makes me mad that my male colleagues don't have to consider this in their career plans. I could probably negate a lot by starting work 6 weeks post-partum, but I do not want to sacrifice my family for my principles. It's just annoying that we've come so far, yet in some respects, not that far at all.

I hear you and feel the same way! I am fortunate to live in a country where the norm is 12 months leave, and there are many accommodations that help limit the negative impact of leave on my career (like the stop the tenure clock for my leave), but it does not eliminate all the negative repurcussions. And it irks me, just like it irks you.

 

[Skippy123]

PRINCESS ~ yay for the 2nd trimester! Glad you are here with us, woot!

DREAMER ~ awesome about your scan; aren't they the coolest thing. it is amazing what technology can see and do! Sounds like you are not having twins. Yay for your healthy lo!!!

CATLUVER ~ oh my gosh, you are almost there!!! How are you feeling; sooooo exciting!!! fingers crossed on the baby coming soon!!

KAY ~ aw that is sweet of your coworker but I usually go with my gut on stuff like that. I have never been to a double shower; it sounds like it could be fun though. I wish I had better advice. YAY for your BGD bday/anni/xmas gift! Is it the dbty? I am so excited to see it!!!! I will be on the look out in SMTB, woohoo!

BASIL ~ yay for hearing the heartbeat and being able to see the baby and gender in March!!! I think I felt light movement at 17 weeks and then really felt stuff for sure at 19 or 20 weeks. I am sorry you couldn't take off longer but I am glad you came up with a compromise about going part time, hugs.

DEELIGHT ~ Munchkins put some symptoms in here and then soon after the baby came; [URL='https://www.pricescope.com/community/threads/engaging-lightening-3rd-tri-possibly-tmi.155210/']https://www.pricescope.com/community/threads/engaging-lightening-3rd-tri-possibly-tmi.155210/[/URL] It was interesting to read what happened to her. That is a great question; I am interested in what others say too!!! Yay for just about 37 weeks; woot for being full term!!!

TUCKINS ~ hi, how are you?
------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------


Well I was curious if others have soreness in the rib area? Not sure if my chest is expanding? Any thoughts are appreciated. TIA

Today a sweet neighbor of mine called to tell me she wants a list of meals I like so when the babies come along she make make us a meal every once in awhile; this neighbor is always so thoughtful. I thought that was so sweet of my neighbor to be looking out for us!!! hehe

Oh and on a fun note my hubby got to feel the boys playing soccer in my tummy and he couldn't believe how strong their kick was!? haha

Just curious but how much stronger do the kicks get further along?

Have a great day Beautiful Preggos!!!

 

[Kay]

I finally told my chairman that I'm pregnant today. He took it well but I suppose he has practice in these things. I really feel guilty - like I'm bailing on the department at an important transition time. But I didn't know that the other doctor was leaving and what can I do now? We talked briefly about me taking time off - he would prefer if I start in November which is 3 months after my due date, whereas I originally wanted to hold off until January to start. I brought up the possible option of part time and he said that he had done that in the past. I'm pretty tempted by going back 2-3 days a week in November, then starting back full time in February, when the baby is 6 months. I think it will be a good transition for the baby into childcare, and myself into getting back to work.

Unfortunately for women's rights, I feel like I'm definitely giving something up in terms of my career by doing this. I know that I do not have as strong of a position going into my salary negotiations now. I know that I will not have as much shot at the clinics I want to run because I will be absent for a few months. It makes me mad that my male colleagues don't have to consider this in their career plans. I could probably negate a lot by starting work 6 weeks post-partum, but I do not want to sacrifice my family for my principles. It's just annoying that we've come so far, yet in some respects, not that far at all.

I know how you feel. My firm has been good about letting me work reduced hours, but it is clear I am not considered a rising star anymore. In some ways, I feel like I am kind of being written off right now, at least temporarily, now that I have announced I am pregnant again. After my mat leave, I will have to work really hard to try to regain status, but I know I will be really tired and stretched thin with 2 little ones. My male colleagues who started about the same time I did make more money. I guess it is fair since they work more hours now, but they can do that because their wives are home raising their kids. Unfortunately, we have to make harder choices and juggle more roles.

 

[Kay]

Kay I am not sure what I would do - I didn't want a shower because I felt weird having a party that people buy you gifts for (in saying that I love other peoples showers and love gift buying for them) however was told I had to have one it was nice - I did get gifts which was lovely but it was a good way to catch up with everyone

If you don't feel comfortable I would opt out or can you have a modified shower/sprinkle at a later date? Is this the other girls first bubba - maybe you can use that as an excuse - saying you don't want to take away from her and you really have most everything you need and would rather attend as a guest but thank you for thinking about me .

It is a tough one really sorry I am not much help

However I am curious to know what sparklie is on its way to you

The one nice thing about having a shower would be the opportunity to catch up with some friends I don't see often. I just hate the cheesy games and gifts. (And yet I am happy to buy gifts for other people's showers, so maybe I am just being weird about this.) My other friend is also PG with her 2nd, although it is her first girl. When I mentioned feeling awkward about having a shower for a 2nd baby (after they sprang the dual shower idea on me over lunch), both ladies looked at me like I was crazy. I sent the host an e-mail yesterday explaining my concerns about it being weird for some of the guests, so I think I am out of it now.

We are just starting a kitchen remodel and it will probably be done shortly after the LO is born. Maybe I will have a ladies lunch once the house is done so my friends can come over and meet #2 and see the new house.

As for my sparklie, I ordered a 3-stone 18K YG DBTY (0.54 ctw). I usually wear white metals, but I have a few older YG rings and earrings I like to wear on occasion, and I do not have any nice YG necklaces to go with them. (My old herringbone chains are a little too late 80's.)

 

[geri]

Thanks everyone for your lovely comments on Claudia. We think she is precious, although not always that peaceful and angelic unfortunately! I think it was DD who said somewhere that they wake up around 2-4 weeks. Ain't that the truth! Am typing with one hand as she is finally asleep in the sling against my chest and I dare not move her. She does have quite a head of dark hair which surprised us a little as DH and I were both blonde as babies. Will be interesting to see whether it stays that way.

LV - Wow, Samantha is gorgeous. Those eyes are amazing!

Catluver - labour dust to you! Look forward to hearing about the arrival of your little boy! I hear you on the paternity leave issue. we could at least organise our dates because of the c-section but DH's boss seemed to think paternity leave = working from home I hope you get some time together because it is such a precious, albeit a little overwhelming, time.

Hope everyone else is happy and healthy>

 

[Kay]

Dreamer-did you opt to find out the sex this time around??

No! Here they won't tell you the gender at the anatomy scan and we don't want to pay for another one to find out. DH is very against finding out, even though, once again, I would like to know. But I am letting him have this one

His reasoning is that he really want a girl and he will feel disappointed if he finds out it is a boy in the scan, but if the baby is born and it is a boy, well who can be disappointed then?? I agree with him on this one, so we will wait, even though it means enduring the torture of trying to come up with another name! We have a girl name all picked but not boy name in sight.

***
As for the scan..

It was great! Best scan ever, the tech was wonderful and walked us through it all, which was really fun. From what I could gather from all his really informative comments everything looks fine. Heart has 4 venticles that functions as they should blood flow good, baby had fluid in the stomach and baldder, two kidneys, nice brain. So we are happy!

We saw some 3d images and I think this peanut looks a lot like our son, which was our hope, since our son is really exceptionally cute and we worry about having a second one who is not as attractive and how hard it would be to be the "ugly duckling" The things parents think about, eh? So silly. We still get a good laugh about it all.

Glad to hear the baby looks healthy. I'm laughing about your last paragraph because DH & I have had similar conversations. We (somewhat) jokingly ask each other what if the 2nd one isn't as "good" as the first. A is very cute and bright and outgoing, and I can see it being hard to be her little sis.

 

[Kay]

PRINCESS ~ yay for the 2nd trimester! Glad you are here with us, woot!

DREAMER ~ awesome about your scan; aren't they the coolest thing. it is amazing what technology can see and do! Sounds like you are not having twins. Yay for your healthy lo!!!

CATLUVER ~ oh my gosh, you are almost there!!! How are you feeling; sooooo exciting!!! fingers crossed on the baby coming soon!!

KAY ~ aw that is sweet of your coworker but I usually go with my gut on stuff like that. I have never been to a double shower; it sounds like it could be fun though. I wish I had better advice. YAY for your BGD bday/anni/xmas gift! Is it the dbty? I am so excited to see it!!!! I will be on the look out in SMTB, woohoo!

BASIL ~ yay for hearing the heartbeat and being able to see the baby and gender in March!!! I think I felt light movement at 17 weeks and then really felt stuff for sure at 19 or 20 weeks. I am sorry you couldn't take off longer but I am glad you came up with a compromise about going part time, hugs.

DEELIGHT ~ Munchkins put some symptoms in here and then soon after the baby came; [URL='https://www.pricescope.com/community/threads/engaging-lightening-3rd-tri-possibly-tmi.155210/']https://www.pricescope.com/community/threads/engaging-lightening-3rd-tri-possibly-tmi.155210/[/URL] It was interesting to read what happened to her. That is a great question; I am interested in what others say too!!! Yay for just about 37 weeks; woot for being full term!!!

TUCKINS ~ hi, how are you?
------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------


Well I was curious if others have soreness in the rib area? Not sure if my chest is expanding? Any thoughts are appreciated. TIA

Today a sweet neighbor of mine called to tell me she wants a list of meals I like so when the babies come along she make make us a meal every once in awhile; this neighbor is always so thoughtful. I thought that was so sweet of my neighbor to be looking out for us!!! hehe

Oh and on a fun note my hubby got to feel the boys playing soccer in my tummy and he couldn't believe how strong their kick was!? haha

Just curious but how much stronger do the kicks get further along?

Have a great day Beautiful Preggos!!!

It is the DBTY. I decided to go with the 3 0.18 stones. The BGD quote was so much lower than T&Co so I told DH he got a bargain.

You have a really sweet neighbor there. With my first, I did not fell A kick until almost the 3rd tri, but her kicks those last couple of months were a lot stronger than the movements I am feeling at 22 weeks this time. You may be feeling more with 2 boys jockeying for position in there. Late in pregnancy, I could see A moving in there. I'd feel her, then look down and could actually see movement across my tummy. We would try to guess whether it was a foot or arm or butt that we saw poking out.

 

[basil]

Kay - sounds like a beautiful necklace! I hope you post some pictures of it.

Skippy - you have kind neighbors!

Dreamer - glad that your scan went so well! Weird how they won't tell you the gender. Why is that?

Deelight - I didn't know you were in Australia! How did I miss that?

Anyway, more details on the job...in order to give me incentive to start in July, they are offering 12-14 weeks paid maternity leave (100% compensation). Additionally, I get 6 weeks vacation. If I want, I can use this vacation to create a part time schedule up to another 12 weeks (i.e. if I worked 3 days a week for 12 weeks, I'd use up 24 days of vacation in that time period). So obviously that would be 100% compensation as well. Then between February and June I'd only have 6 days of vacation left...but I've had jobs where I only had 3 weeks vacation for the whole year so I don't think that would be that bad. And then next July I'd have 6 weeks more of vacation again. Plus we would then be able to stay on my health insurance plan, which is cheaper and better than my husband's. This is about as good as it may get in my field, I'm pretty sure - friends who work elsewhere have been offered only 4 weeks leave, etc.

My husband really wants to take this offer since it's a lot of money, but I am not so sure...what are you guys doing for maternity leave?

 

[random_thought]

Kay - sounds like a beautiful necklace! I hope you post some pictures of it.

Skippy - you have kind neighbors!

Dreamer - glad that your scan went so well! Weird how they won't tell you the gender. Why is that?

Deelight - I didn't know you were in Australia! How did I miss that?

Anyway, more details on the job...in order to give me incentive to start in July, they are offering 12-14 weeks paid maternity leave (100% compensation). Additionally, I get 6 weeks vacation. If I want, I can use this vacation to create a part time schedule up to another 12 weeks (i.e. if I worked 3 days a week for 12 weeks, I'd use up 24 days of vacation in that time period). So obviously that would be 100% compensation as well. Then between February and June I'd only have 6 days of vacation left...but I've had jobs where I only had 3 weeks vacation for the whole year so I don't think that would be that bad. And then next July I'd have 6 weeks more of vacation again. Plus we would then be able to stay on my health insurance plan, which is cheaper and better than my husband's. This is about as good as it may get in my field, I'm pretty sure - friends who work elsewhere have been offered only 4 weeks leave, etc.

My husband really wants to take this offer since it's a lot of money, but I am not so sure...what are you guys doing for maternity leave?

That sounds pretty amazing to me basil! I'm stuck with unpaid leave and I am planning on taking 6 weeks (mainly because none of the daycares around here will accept babies until they are 6 weeks old at the least). I'll be doing freelance graphic designing to help supplement dh's income during that time and my parents will probably help us a little bit as well since it is for such a short time.

 

[Deelight]

Dreamer Congrats on the great scan - your post made me laugh "nice brain and the ugly duckling" hehehehe - is there a reason why they don't tell you the gender at the scan - just curious - I admire your patience in waiting to find out .

Skippy Is it constant soreness - are one of the twinkies kicking you there or lodged up near there - I have heard of rib soreness but I never got it - hope it passes soon . Thanks for the linkie .

As for the kicks they do get stronger - sometimes it has felt like a scene from aliens (NOT in a bad way) it does not hurt kinda freaky but cute at the same time but I swear she tried to jailbreak out of my belly one time - this happened at around 27 wks turns out at my next appointment she moved head down so they can be pretty intense you can feel little lumps sticking out later and makes you wonder what they are. They do get pretty strong - further along it dies down and turns more into rolls - you can see the belly move - again cute and makes you giggle

Kay That sounds beautiful I would love to see pics when it arrives

basil Yup I am down under - so my understanding of maternity leave in the states is mostly what I know from here and other forums - to me (and this is based solely on what I have read) that seems like a really good deal.

In Australia not everyone gets paid mat leave however you can generally take a year off unpaid in most cases - however the gov't has introduced an incentive of paid parental leave (PPL) as of 1st Jan this year instead of the baby bonus ( which is tax free) you can elect to take 18 wks paid at $570 a week before tax if you earn under 150k a year.

For me I am one of the lucky ones I get paid mat leave at work so I will be taking my 12 weeks mat leave at half pay over 24wks and then all my annual leave at half pay (this takes me up to September this year) and the I will take the PPL after that all together it works out at about 46-48 weeks of something and I will be off until March next year however if I elect to stay off longer without pay I can up to 2 years and then they have to allow me to go part time until she is in school should I elect to take it.

For me it feels like a win for the working families - Australia has lots of benefits however if you work it seems like you can never take advantage of them

Have a think about it Basil but to me it sounds pretty good, I would definitely be tempted also being able to ease back into work part time would be a great big incentive for me as well

 

[Skippy123]

KAY, can't wait to see pics of your necklace, I bet it is gorgeous! The ladies lunch at your house sounds nice, awesome about the new kitchen!! Thanks for the info on the kicking! lol, about wondering if it is a butt, arm, or leg. Oh, before I forget. I spent a big part of last night looking at the HUGE Baby stuff thread and thought I better dive into it now. I saw lots of awesome info you posted. I still need to pick up the baby bargains book. Which infant car seat did you get and did you love it? Are you loving your Maclaren? TIA!

BASIL, not sure what I would do. I am just sending good thoughts for a great decision for you and your hubby.

DEELIGHT, oh I bet you are right about the ribs; it is just one side but it happens mostly at night. haha It feels better by morning so that helps. thanks for the info on the kicks; very interesting! I am glad you get so much time off to be with your beautiful baby girl!!
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22 weeks today like Kay. Today my mom wants me to go with her to check out places for a possible shower so that will be a fun girls thing to do today with my sweet momma. I started thinking of baby registery and can't believe all the stuff out there. I need to buy that baby bargains book and I am reading through our Baby Stuff thread on PS. The stuff I am not sure about right now is car seats and strollers (stroller can wait till babies are here). hehe Is everyone ready or started daydreaming about cute baby nursery's?

HAPPY THURSDAY; hope you have a wonderful day!!!

 

[Cupcake*Muffin]

Anyway, more details on the job...in order to give me incentive to start in July, they are offering 12-14 weeks paid maternity leave (100% compensation). Additionally, I get 6 weeks vacation. If I want, I can use this vacation to create a part time schedule up to another 12 weeks (i.e. if I worked 3 days a week for 12 weeks, I'd use up 24 days of vacation in that time period). So obviously that would be 100% compensation as well. Then between February and June I'd only have 6 days of vacation left...but I've had jobs where I only had 3 weeks vacation for the whole year so I don't think that would be that bad. And then next July I'd have 6 weeks more of vacation again. Plus we would then be able to stay on my health insurance plan, which is cheaper and better than my husband's. This is about as good as it may get in my field, I'm pretty sure - friends who work elsewhere have been offered only 4 weeks leave, etc.

My husband really wants to take this offer since it's a lot of money, but I am not so sure...what are you guys doing for maternity leave?

Basil--I'm stuck with 12 weeks unpaid, so your deal sounds really good. I am trying to work up the nerve to talk to my boss about my leave but so far, timing hasn't been great. I am waiting for a day when he's not about to have an aneurysm but that day has yet to come so I might just have to talk to him when he's having a bad day. Ideally, I would like to try and take about 8 weeks, but that all depends on if they are willing to work with me. I would love to take the full 12 weeks but maybe work from home for the last 4 weeks. If possible, I would even take 4 weeks off and work from home for the rest. My company was really good about letting me work from home when DH had his back surgery but then they kind of stopped letting people work from home, like when we had the Snowmaggedon here in Chicago. My hope is that we can do the 4 weeks using my vacation and sick leave and then work from home for the remainder. Like RT said, most day care services won't take a baby less than 6 weeks old. Unfortunately, we don't have any family in the area so we will need to make arrangements for day care. If I can hold out and stay at home until July, DH will be home for the rest of summer so he can watch Lorelei while I return to work. I still think it's quite silly that the US totes itself as one of the greatest countries but our FMLA laws, health care, and such is really not up to par with other countries.

 

[random_thought]

Anyway, more details on the job...in order to give me incentive to start in July, they are offering 12-14 weeks paid maternity leave (100% compensation). Additionally, I get 6 weeks vacation. If I want, I can use this vacation to create a part time schedule up to another 12 weeks (i.e. if I worked 3 days a week for 12 weeks, I'd use up 24 days of vacation in that time period). So obviously that would be 100% compensation as well. Then between February and June I'd only have 6 days of vacation left...but I've had jobs where I only had 3 weeks vacation for the whole year so I don't think that would be that bad. And then next July I'd have 6 weeks more of vacation again. Plus we would then be able to stay on my health insurance plan, which is cheaper and better than my husband's. This is about as good as it may get in my field, I'm pretty sure - friends who work elsewhere have been offered only 4 weeks leave, etc.

My husband really wants to take this offer since it's a lot of money, but I am not so sure...what are you guys doing for maternity leave?

Basil--II am trying to work up the nerve to talk to my boss about my leave but so far, timing hasn't been great. I am waiting for a day when he's not about to have an aneurysm but that day has yet to come so I might just have to talk to him when he's having a bad day. quote]

Bahaha, I am in the exact same situation. I figure the day of I will butter him up with compliments and lots of witty computer humor

On an entirely unrelated note- I discovered that my work has free hot chocolate in the kitchen and I've had 2 glasses so far. It seemed like a good idea at first, but now that I have some sort of body part stuck in my pelvis and another stuck in my ribs, I am not so sure lol

 

[Kay]

Thanks everyone for your lovely comments on Claudia. We think she is precious, although not always that peaceful and angelic unfortunately! I think it was DD who said somewhere that they wake up around 2-4 weeks. Ain't that the truth! Am typing with one hand as she is finally asleep in the sling against my chest and I dare not move her. She does have quite a head of dark hair which surprised us a little as DH and I were both blonde as babies. Will be interesting to see whether it stays that way.

>

I would love to see more pictures of your precious Claudia. I remember the one-handed typing while holding a sleeping or nursing baby. We were surprised to see A's full head of blonde hair because DH and I both have darker hair.

 

[Kay]

Kay - sounds like a beautiful necklace! I hope you post some pictures of it.


Anyway, more details on the job...in order to give me incentive to start in July, they are offering 12-14 weeks paid maternity leave (100% compensation). Additionally, I get 6 weeks vacation. If I want, I can use this vacation to create a part time schedule up to another 12 weeks (i.e. if I worked 3 days a week for 12 weeks, I'd use up 24 days of vacation in that time period). So obviously that would be 100% compensation as well. Then between February and June I'd only have 6 days of vacation left...but I've had jobs where I only had 3 weeks vacation for the whole year so I don't think that would be that bad. And then next July I'd have 6 weeks more of vacation again. Plus we would then be able to stay on my health insurance plan, which is cheaper and better than my husband's. This is about as good as it may get in my field, I'm pretty sure - friends who work elsewhere have been offered only 4 weeks leave, etc.

My husband really wants to take this offer since it's a lot of money, but I am not so sure...what are you guys doing for maternity leave?

Don't worry, I will post pics when I get my hot little hands on it.

The leave package they are offering you sounds pretty good to me. I get 12 weeks paid leave, period. My job doesn't have vacation days. I have to bill a certain number of hours per year, so whether I get any vacation depends upon how quickly and efficiently I bill those hours. When are you due? Would you actually have to start working in July, or is that just when your contract period starts, but you can take mat leave after that date?

 

[Kay]

KAY, can't wait to see pics of your necklace, I bet it is gorgeous! The ladies lunch at your house sounds nice, awesome about the new kitchen!! Thanks for the info on the kicking! lol, about wondering if it is a butt, arm, or leg. Oh, before I forget. I spent a big part of last night looking at the HUGE Baby stuff thread and thought I better dive into it now. I saw lots of awesome info you posted. I still need to pick up the baby bargains book. Which infant car seat did you get and did you love it? Are you loving your Maclaren? TIA!

My favorite purchase was the Uppa Baby Vista stroller. It is the only stroller we bought, and DH and I both agree it steers beautifully, and has a nice bit of storage in the canvas basket under the seat. I often skipped a cart on quick grocery and Target runs because it holds a lot of stuff.

I love the Nature's Purest organic cotton jersey knit crib sheets. Other sheets we tried shrunk and then did not fit the crib mattress properly. The NP are a generous size, very soft, and a nice, neutral cream color.

We went with the Graco SnugRide Infant Car Seat in Sterling (light blue and silvery gray). I loved the color and it worked well until she outgrew it. Then we moved up to the Britax Boulevard, which also works well, but is huge (nice and comfy for her, but too big for travel). We also have the lightweight Cosco car seat which is relatively easy to tote through airports when we travel and is small enough to fit in the backseat of my convertible.

I also highly recommend the Halo Sleep Sacks. A didn't care for swaddling, but she stayed warm in the sleep sacks for her first year.

 

[Dreamer_D]

Anyway, more details on the job...in order to give me incentive to start in July, they are offering 12-14 weeks paid maternity leave (100% compensation). Additionally, I get 6 weeks vacation. If I want, I can use this vacation to create a part time schedule up to another 12 weeks (i.e. if I worked 3 days a week for 12 weeks, I'd use up 24 days of vacation in that time period). So obviously that would be 100% compensation as well. Then between February and June I'd only have 6 days of vacation left...but I've had jobs where I only had 3 weeks vacation for the whole year so I don't think that would be that bad. And then next July I'd have 6 weeks more of vacation again. Plus we would then be able to stay on my health insurance plan, which is cheaper and better than my husband's. This is about as good as it may get in my field, I'm pretty sure - friends who work elsewhere have been offered only 4 weeks leave, etc.

My husband really wants to take this offer since it's a lot of money, but I am not so sure...what are you guys doing for maternity leave?

basil I actually think that offer sounds really great. You would then get 18 weeks of 100% paid mat leave if you just used the vacation concurrently, making baby over 4 months old. Do you think you can do better at another employer? And they won't tell us gender for some reason that I don't really know. The anatomy scan is paid for by our gove't health programme, and that is just not information they are willing to pay to find out I guess. They prefer to do the anatomy scan at 18 weeks anyways because it is easier to visualize the whole baby at that size, and gender is hard to find at that age, so it would take a lot of time to look for it and the gov't won't pay for that. If we wanted to know we could spend $75 and have a private scan but we don't want to.

Kay I meant to tell you a while back regarding your question about what to do with A when baby comes... I think I would start cultivating a babysitter now so that the sitter knows A's schedule and ways, and then pay her a retainer of sorts to be available when labour beings. That is what we were thinking of doing, except now it looks like my mom will be able to be available anytime so we won't need the back up.

skippy I had rib pain and it was from the uterus and baby basically pushing up and out under the front of the rib cage. I hate to say it does not really go away The thing that worked best was trying to sit up straight and arch my backa little and relaxthe stomach muscles as much as possible to make more room for baby up front rather than inside the abdomen. And as for kicks, as there gets to be less room you don't feel it so much as kicks but more like just really really strong pushes as the baby stretches. I imagine with twins once they get much bigger at all they won't be able to wind up and kick at all, but they will be able to push pretty darn hard when they want to.

Re: Mat leave. I will get 8 months at 95% salary and then after that I have the option of another 4 months where I only get gov't benefits, which is only about 40% of my take home pay. I am thinking of taking 10 months total, but I am not sure we can make the ends meet with the reduced government pay, so I am not sure what will happen at the end. Even if I opt to return to work earlier, say in April, I would not teach until September, so would not have to be here full time at all. That's one of the perks of being a professor I guess No one checks up on you and I can be "working from home" as much as I want. That is what might end up happening, as it makes better financial sense for me to be working even factoring in the extra $1000 we would be spending for daycare for the new baby. Feels like a waste to pay for daycare we won't use full time, but might be worth it to get my full income back. If I went back earlier I would likely just drop baby off at daycare for about 3-4 hours a day. I would still be nursing and hate pumping, so any longer and it becomes a hassel.