Pregnancy after LT TTC #18

kass: i don't have the flat belly problem. lol. wait til you're having your 3rd or 4th pregnancy then you wont be flat.. i'm telling myself that so i feel better. lol. ha ha. it is just a normal beginners one to start off with. they do do preg ones but lady said this was better to begin with then maybe after the 5 weeks has finished i can look at another one. i started it cause i having back probs already as i have lazy spine and i'm slouching. if i don't do something now then i'll get real pain later on.
just do it. i didn't look preggers til i was about 25 weeks with baby number one and did all the classes, the ladies used to stir me saying i wa'sn't preggers. lol. but i did start to show and actually look pregnant at about 34 weeks and my DS 1 was born at 37 weeks, so i looked pregnant for only about 3 or 4 weeks. lol. ha ha. after all that he was still 8 pounds.
wow what a reply to you. a marathon effort.

afm: nothing new to report since yesterday. ha ha ha. i am stalking again.

chat soon to all

still freaking here! tomorrow is 41 weeks! gggrrrr seeing doc tomorrow and getting anoterh stretch and sweep and probably get a time/date for induction. .... which i am hoping won't be til next week sometime to give bub every chance to get here on its own.

hope you are all faring well!!! ox

Aw grub you poor thing. Congrats though on having (an apparently) very comfortable uterus!! At this rate our bubbas will be born on the same day!

Well less than a week for me thank god. Looking forward to meeting my little bubba but not looking forward to spending 5 days away from DH and DS. Getting in lots of special cuddles with DS this week in preparation.

JBM - Good for you with the pilates! I have been so inactive this preg due to my back and pelvis, and I am soo looking forward to doing some exercise soon.

Aimee - I second what Grub said, side is best but I do get some scrabbling sometimes and wonder if the poor thing is getting squished.

Kaybee - you must have finished work now? Yay for that!!

Hi Kass, Trishy, Lori, Mindhugs, Possums, Oneday and anyone else!

Gooooo Grub!!!

Oh grub. At least one of you is clearly very comfortable! Hope things happen on their own very soon.
Bug'smum - I didn't realise you were so close as well!
JBM - thanks :) Sounds like you held out well with no.1! Some days I'm happy that I still look the same, but mostly I'd kind of like the belly! Will definitely start some classes soon.
Hello everyone I've missed!

grub- good luck seeing the dr today...cmon out baby!!! mummy is sooo ready to meet you

bugsmum- wow!! so close, very exciting

jbm- classes sound good, glad all is going well

hello trishy, aimee, kaybee, MH, kass and all the other lovely pregnant ladies! sorry bit tired today :rolleyes:

afm- all going well, but a bit concerned about differing opinions on when I should stop clexane and when/if I should be induced. getting me a bit stressed /anxious to be honest, the drs at the clinic say one thing, private Ob I am seeing as well as the clinic, says another, yet I don't feelanyone is fully considering my full medical history etc. Some say stop clexane totally a few weeks before due date, others say to switch to heparin by 36 weeks, then be induced at 38-39 weeks (to avoid risks of being on blood thinner in labour, I can stop before being induced). Others say if I go into a labour earlier on clexane/heparin it would be risky and an emergency c-section would be likely, and I would have to be totally asleep as an epidural would be dangerous for me (not a scenario I feel happy with at all); while others say it wouldn't be too risky! Anyway, going to talk to the private Ob about all this in more detail when I see him next. Ideally I would like a natural labour if possible.

possums: wow what a dilemma, sorry i can't help. good luck with your decisions though.

grub: all i can do is send you a hug, a big one. x x 0 0

afm: i am feeling a bit yukky today, only ate half lunch, eek. feel like being sick and i'm at work til 3. ???????!!!!!!!!!!!
i am so glad i am not working tomorrow !!!!!!!!!!!!!

hi all chat soon

i fogot to say i love my preg ticker !!!

eek just lost my post aswell

JBM - sorry you're not feeling well, yuk! but yay for not working tomorrow. Love your new ticker too!

Grub - oh no! hope baby manages to find their way out asap

Possums - oh dear that must be a bit worrying, hope you work out a plan that you feel comfortable with. I tend to err on the side of caution, make sure you take care of yourself hun! Hope the ob is helpful.

Trishy - oh good was a bit worried I had sounded negative/rude. I think my friends are ok now, not too sure about what was going on, maybe she had personal stuff to deal with? Hope you are well!

Bug's mum - woo so close now! How exciting. I can understand you missing DH and DS, but at least there are no meals to prepare or mess to clean up in hospital! I just can't wait to be in that hospital after op is finished and nursing bub with my family!

Kass - its good to be a bit small, hopefully it will mean you're more comfortable by the end, but I can understand you wanting a belly too. I was desperate for mine to pop out and was guilty of poking it out a few times, lol

Hi to everyone else, hope to hear how you're going soon!

Hi everyone
Sorry for being so quiet bur work has
Been crazy and I very tired... Prob not helped by the 3 or 11/2 hrs of driving to work I do... Depending on which office I go to! Plus ds got a cold and then ended up with asthma that was out of control... So now he is on a preventer even though he is not yet 2. Oh well I knew it would happen given our family history. Anyway now I have the cold and feel crap esp as dh has been away fir work and is then away again this weekend...the perfect storm!

So all of that equals not energy for bb-sorry everyone cause I see I've misses scans and lots of good stuff.

Had the 12 wk scan on wed and everything is going along fine and downs risk is 1/5000 so pretty happy. Was a nice relief to get to see bub again and know that everything is ok.

Grub- hope that bubs is not far away!

I'll have to catch up with all the other news over the next little while but hope that all is well.
Fg

Hey ladies sorry its been a while since i posted just been flat out with work and havn't had a moment to my self! But today is my birthday and iv taken the day off to relax and go out for lunch with my mum and sister, so that should be nice :)

So much to catch up on, its very busy in here! Grubs not long now, all the best for a quick and easy labour xxxx

Everyone else i have read your comments but too many to reply too lol, im glad your all doing well and your bellies are getting bigger :)

I have really popped out now, everyone stares at the shops and im feeling bub move all the time now through out the day and night, i love it!

Well im off to enjoy my birthday as best as possible (it is the best bday ever!) last year i had a miscariage the day before my birthday so it was the worst bday spent most of the day in bed crying but this one so makes up for it. Take care everyone!

JBM yes its good that I am down to single figures. But despite being sick and all kinda sad now as I know no more babies for me. I should have done something like pilates. I've been slack this time around. I hate it when your at work and feel blah. Hope your feeling better.

Kass enjoy the flat belly being a first time mum, as JBM next time you might pop.

Grub I've been slack popping on and I was hoping when I logged on today that something may have happen. Come on bub, mumma wants to meet you.

Bugs mum not long to go now. wow I missed that.

Possum thats so much to take in, even for me not going through with it. Hope the private ob can give you answers and a plan on what needs to be done.

Hi Aimee hope your going well

Farmgirl hope your son is feeling better. Its hard when the other half is away. Mine travels alot. Goes away again next week.

Oneday happy birthday, Hope you have a lovely day.

Me well I finished work on Wed, so yippy. Not much else happening

trishy: yipee for finishing work. yeah i don't wanna have the back pain i had when having boys so thats why i am doing stuff about it now. good luck to you on the countdown.

oneday: happy birthday !!!!!!!!!!! hope it is a great day !. as for feeling tired, know what you talking about there. i know it'll be the best day. yipee for feeling lots movement too. x

farmgirl: i was starting to worry about ya, even asked eveyone what was happening. so glad you o.k but as for feelin crappy cause of cold, hope you feel better soon. glad scan went well. yipee for that, asthma must be a pain, my dh has it but none of the boys luckily. good luck there too. chat soon and glad to see you o.k. x:-)

aimee: how are you going, how many weeks are you now, hope all is going well with you.

hi to everyone else. i am so bad at remebering everone but when i read your posts i do remember then. lol


afm: i am so glad of days off !!! went for walk with friend, go some fresh air for baby and me ! now just vegging out at home but i think i need some llies and i have none. maybe trip to shop when i get boys from school. yeah ! :-)
all my clothes are too tight !
grrrrr
but feeling good today. yeah..
and i finally have my first antenal app booked, gee they take their time now.2 weeks time and i will be 15 weeks !!! then they told me it takes 4 weeks to get a scan time so i will only just be making it by 19 - 20 week scan time ???

tassie, so slack

.

chat soon

Hey chicks,

Grub - still no baby?! WTF??? Hoping you are too busy pushing to read this anyway. Hope hope hope it happens soon for you

JBM - I don't think I had my first appointment till about 15 weeks and thought they were all a bit relaxed about it, I vuess there's just not that much to do or check before then. Can you book in for your ultrasound anyway?

Trishy - Woohoo - no more work! (me neither) Ahhhhh, how nice does it feel!

Oneday - HAPPY BIRTHDAY! What a gorgeous way to celebrate with your mum, sister and growing bub. Hope you have a perfect day

Farmgirl - congratulations on a great scan. Awesomely low down's risk too, phew

Possums - what a stressful situation. You would think that having 2 different carers nothing would be uncertain, but it seems like nobody really knows what they're talking about and are all just having a guess. Good luck chatting about it with your OB

Kass - I know how you feel about wanting a belly. Women with big round bellies get warm wishes from strangers (not always welcome), seats to sit on and just a bit of recognition for what's happening inside. I have just finished work and have about 5 or 6 weeks to go and no-one thought I was anyway near that close to popping because the last preggo who left was just enormous right from the start. I think people thought I must have been taking 6 months off before I'm due. Anyway, I think you get less aches and pains if it's all compact.

Bug's mum - wow - so close! Good luck good luck good luck xo

Hi everyone else - MH, DR, Aimee...

AFM - Like I said, I finished work yesterday, ahh what a relief. Can't believe I have a whole month (well, who knows) to spend with DS. Will have to try and think of some nice things to do with him and hopefully won't get too cranky with him, as I have been lately from being so tired. I just can't seem to get into a deep sleep at night, so by the afternoon I am a tired, cranky mess. Well, at least DS and DH know what I'll be like after bub is born ;).

Anywya, I think I'd better go and have a nanna nap while DS is still asleep.
Take care xoxo

Hi Girls

I'm sure grub won't mind me letting you know .... her baby has arrived and it is a little

GIRL - IMOGEN GRACE

arrived today weighing in at 10lb 3 oz.

I'm sure once she is up to it Grub will pop in and fill you all in on the details...

Oh yay CONGRATS GRUBS!!!!!!! so exciting, wishing you all the best with your little princess xxxxxxxxx

Thanks for the birthday messages girls, iv had a great day xxxxxx

Congrats Grubs what a beautiful name for a beautiful little girl

Congratulations Grub!!! :happyforyou: Beautiful name :)

Oneday - happy birthday! Glad you've had a good day :)

Kaybee - hooray for no more work! Hope you get some quality relaxation time in. Hopefully you're right about the aches and pains!

JBM - it's so nice to have a day off now and then, sounds like you used it well :)

Trishy - yay for you also for no more work!

Farmgirl - glad everything is going well for you pregnancy wise. Hope your ds is feeling better soon

Aimee - lol at the poking it out!

Possums - hope you get some better answers from your ob. Sorry I have no suggestions.

Hi everyone I've missed - sorry!

GRUb: YIPEE and woohoo. it's finally over and now it begins. lol. i am so so happy for you.

hi everyone,

just popping in to say a quick congratulations to Grub and family on baby Imogen!!!! Enjoy lots of cuddles with your special little one!

Will be back for persies soon

xo

I'm popping in too!

Grub - Yay :leap::leap::leap::leap: HUGE congrats on Imogen Grace. How cute!!! Can't wait to hear all the details.

Take care girls!!!

Congratulations Grub on the long awaited arrival of your little girl.

Lori
DD- 14
bub due 28th Aug

:leap: Congrats to Grub on the birth of a beautiful baby girl :leap:

Yay Grub!! Congrats on the birth of Imogen Grace - what a gorgeous name! I hope you are enjoying every minute of it :)

hooray grub !!!! :D:D

fabulous news on the arrival of Imogen Grace...and I love the name...hope you are all doing well xx so happy for you

:confetti: CONGRATULATIONS GRUB :confetti:
I really hope everything went well on the 'big day' and that you have breastfeeding and everything else sorted. Ooooh, baby cuddles - you lucky thing! I am soooo happy for you. I am sure your little girl will bring you as much joy as your perfect little boy. I'll miss you in here. Can't wait to hear how it's all going. Take care xoxo :babygirl:

The chatter has been a bit quieter in here lately, hope you are all doing well...

FG- great news about the scan results and well done being past 12 weeks ! :-)

kaybee- yay for finishing work, hope you get some more downtime before this little one arrives

JBM- hope you are feeling ok this week

bugsmum- your baby must be arriving any day! what date is it? thinking of you

kass- hope you are doing well...I have had a small tummy throughout (people keep saying anyway, it doesnt feel so small now!)... but sooner or later you definitely look pregnant

MH- how are things with you?

aimee- hope you are well

oneday- love the movement too, hope you had a top birthday...I just had a birthday too, and same for me, being pregnant made it soo good

hi everyone else!

afm...I am in my last week of work, before some annual leave, then a year's maternity leave, yay!
Another scan thursday to check on our boy, and preparing a big list of questions for next clinic and ob appts to sort out my concerns re medication/labour/induction etc. tummy getting bigger all the time! feeling well, just getting more tired

grub hope you are enjoying these special early days

Hi everyone,

Possums, congrats on getting to the stage of soon being off work. How much annual leave are you taking before it officially becomes maternity leave?
How do you think you will go being home with bub for 12 months? I returned to work after my daughter was born after just 5 weeks. It was only 2 shifts a week and I would have liked to have had a bit more time at home but it was either start my new career job then or risk not getting my foot in the door at all.
With this bub I think I'd like to go back to work part-time when it is maybe 4 months old... think I'd go batty being home all the time but there is no way I want to work full-time until it is atleast school age (if I can manage it).

What are other people's plans regarding going back to work?

Lori (still officially looking for a job even though I only have 7 and a half weeks till my due date)
DD - 14
bub due 28th Aug

Possums - hooray for leave! Hope you can sort out all of your concerns, getting close!
Lori - I will be staying away from work for as long as we can afford it! I can stretch my leave out for 2 years (unpaid of course) and I plan on taking at least that much time. We'll just have to be very frugal :)

Kass, I am like you, I want as much time as I can, and can also stretch my leave out to two years...and looks like I will have the option of returning part time which will be great.

DR- I have been looking forward to having a baby and being a mum at home for so long, I have no thoughts of wanting to return to work quickly at this point. I have a couple of weeks annual leave, then officially maternity leave...work's policy is to start leave by 34 weeks too and given it looks like our little one will be here a bit early I am so glad to have some time coming up

Hi Kass and Possums,

It's great you can spread the leave out over 2 years. My concern would then be about making the transition back to fulltime work but it's great Possum if you can have the option of only going back part-time. My own thinking on maternity leave is that rather than make it unpaid for 12 months employers should be encouraged to allow mothers to be able to come back part-time for the first 5 or 6 years after the baby is born. It wouldn't cost them any more (I mean they will still be paying the same salary just spread over 2 workers) and it would allow alot more women to have the energy to spend quality time with their children and not come home exhausted from a 40 hour week when you have an 18 month old or whatever.

I have mostly worked part-time throughout my daughter's life. Started with two 4 hour shifts when she was a baby, and got up to 30 hours a week by the time she was 3 years old. I tried working full-time when she was 3 years old (took up my first primary teaching post) but I would have her in daycare from 7am to 6.30pm each day so I could do some preparation and marking at school and come home exhausted. Have a few hours with her before she'd be asleep and I would have a little bit of chill time on my own before going to bed absolutely exhausted. I only managed it for 10 weeks and quit. It wasn't fair on her or me (and being a single mum we only had each other). My next job was teaching 4 days a week and I would still put her in childcare 5 days a week so I had the 5th day to do my preparation and marking etc and not be so exhausted each night and we would have our weekends free to really spend quality time together.

Ideally I'd like to not have to work more than 3 days a week if I can afford it.

I think it's a pity there are so few "career" type jobs that are part-time. I have 4 qualifications and one of these is as a librarian. The two nearest library networks to where I live both have a policy that they won't allow librarian positions to be part-time so the qualified librarians and library managers have to make the choice after having babies of either going back full-time or coming back into a lower paid library technician position part-time. It really annoys me and I think it is discrimatory but legally so long as they have allowed the person to have some maternity leave they don't need to negoiate for them to be able to return to work part-time after kids and I think the government should do more to facilitate this.

I have job-shared in a couple of previous positions and I think with the right staff it can be a win-win for everyone. The employees win by not being so exhausted from work, their families win by having mum (or dad) have more energy when they are together, the organisation wins because when their employees are at work they are able to put in 100% because they aren't so exhausted, and the clients / customers etc win because the workers are working at a high standard (due again to not being so exhausted). I just wish more bosses realised this.
Both my experiences of job sharing have been really positive with me and the person I was sharing with being able to work well as a team (leaving notes for each other etc) but I know that sometimes it isn't so easy so it does really rely on both staff members (and their manager) being committed to making it work.

Lori
DD - 14
Bub due 28th Aug after 4 years on the trying to concieve merry-go-round.

You're right about part time being difficult. I was looking at going part time this year because I was finding full time work and ivf was becoming too much to maintain. I'm a high school teacher and although work was happy to sign me off as a 0.6 load, the timetable wasn't so flexible (I'm the only teacher for my subject area) and I was looking at going in 5 days a week anyway.

I'm assuming I'll have the same issue going back so my choice will be to stick with full time, change schools (and probably have the same issue), or change career. TBH I think with a young child I'd prefer a job that I can switch off from at the end of the day, and teaching isn't it.

dreamrise: it's so hard the work thing and trying to figure out what you wanna do. i only work 3 days and i work 9 til 3 so i pick the boys up at the bus and they don't have to go into any after school care. i found that by the time i paid for it compared to any extra work i got it was hardly worth it so stopped it recently. i couldn't do full time and havn't done full time much since having kids. i agree with the part time pay for a longer period of time. i think the paid paretal leave thing versus baby bonus is confusing and i don't know what i'll do considering i am self employed ??? good luck to you. x

possums: yeah for finishing up at work. it is amazing to spend that time with baby and i don't know how mums go right back to work anyways. so much happens in first 12 months and you don't wanna have baby in care for 12 hours a day as lori said it is just too hard. not long to go now. how exciting. x x yipee

kass: whats happening with you ? i love the idea of 2 years , not possible for some but would be great if you could afford it. hope all is goiing well with you.

hi to all those who i forgot ?

i usually only do replies to the page that is open as it is just too hard for me and everyone is so busy doing congrats for grub and hardly any personals, so hi if i forgot you anyways. lol

afm: well i had my 2nd pilates, it is so good and i change to wed night this week so i'll do 2 this week. i only signed u for 5 lessons so 3 more to go. it is so good and i feel better already, back pain that is.

i am really starting to look fat at moment and cannot fit into any bottoms and some tops too cause my baby belly has pushed out fat at the top. lol blame the baby for the fat ?!?! lol ha ha
but some ladies i know said i don't look pregnant but them MIL said i really do look pregnant !!!!!!! darn MIL. lol. she's so kind. ha ha

i thought i felt a little flutter yesterday but DH said it was just gas ?! ( he is so so mean ) lol ha ha in a funny way, but i punched him anyways. ha ha that'll teach him. lol

also something exciting as DH is a lot older than me 11 years approx, his daughter is pregnant, she is 23. so he will be a grandad, and me a step granma next year !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
now thats a big suprise. lol

but all is good and we're so excited

i obviously am too young to be a granma. lol. she is is 15 years younger than me.

thats all my gossip

chat soon to all

Hi Kass,

Yeah teaching is definately not a job you can just switch off from at the end of the day. Atleast it's good that you could go 0.6 (even if it's spread over 5 days). Perhaps next year or the year after (whenever you are wanting to go back) you could ask the timetabler if there was anyway they could spread it just over 4 days instead or if over 5 days make sure it is times which will allow you to not have to have bub in care too much (solid chunks of time rather than an hour off here and an hour off there etc). The problem with primary teaching is that it's very rare to find any part-time jobs as they don't like kids to have two classroom teachers. My daughter had 2 female teachers who job-shared as her classroom teachers for grade 5 anda 6 (the same 2 both years). They seemed to work really well together and my daughter really thrived under their care. Obviously it must have taken a bit of work between them to make sure they knew what each had said to the students (what was expected etc) but there never seemd to be any problem or confusion and they set high standards for the kids which my daughter really excelled with.

If I was teaching with a young child again I would definately look at how I could make the most of any time between classes to do as much of the preparation and marking at school so that when you are home you can commit fully to enjoying that time with your child... but of course you still always think about your kids at school and worry about how to best support them.

A job outside of teaching when your kids are little would definately be alot less stressful. Thats part of the reason I haven't worked as a traditional primary teacher for many years. I went back into library work (but in schools) - a lot less stress (but the trade-off was also less money). I then did TAFE teaching which I loved as you can have a completely different relationship with your students (more like co-workers) and as it was 15 hours per week of paid time (so around 25 hours a week work) it was much more managable.

Maybe when you are on maternity leave it will be a good chance to look into what other options for work you have.

Best wishes
Lori
DD - 14
Bub due 28th Aug

:

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You're right about part time being difficult. I was looking at going part time this year because I was finding full time work and ivf was becoming too much to maintain. I'm a high school teacher and although work was happy to sign me off as a 0.6 load, the timetable wasn't so flexible (I'm the only teacher for my subject area) and I was looking at going in 5 days a week anyway.

I'm assuming I'll have the same issue going back so my choice will be to stick with full time, change schools (and probably have the same issue), or change career. TBH I think with a young child I'd prefer a job that I can switch off from at the end of the day, and teaching isn't it.

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Congrats JBM on becoming a step grandma to be.

The baby bonus v's paid parental leave is a hard one to work out. I might have the decision taken out of my hands anyway if I can't get atleast one more days work in the next few weeks (as you have to have no more than an 8 week break between days of work) and even though I am well up on the total number of hours required I have now been off work for a while.
From what I could work out using their online calculator the paid parental leave (after tax) would only be about $800 more than the baby bonus and you can't return to any sort of work at all for atleast 18 weeks. The baby bonus is tax free whereas the parental leave is taxed so that makes a huge difference (even though I'm only on the 20% tax bracket. It is so confusing because I have been told it is taxed but doesn't count as declarable income for centrelink purposes - which doesn't make sense either. And no one from Centrelink seems to be really clear about how it all works for people who would be getting single parenting payment. If they can't work it out what hope do the rest of us have?

Lori
DD - 14
Bub due 28th Aug (kinda hoping she might come a little early because my body is not handling this pregnancy so well).

thanks dreamrise. yeah it is confusing isn't it. and as you said if they can't figure it out what hope do we have. lol

thanks

:

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The baby bonus v's paid parental leave is a hard one to work out. I might have the decision taken out of my hands anyway if I can't get atleast one more days work in the next few weeks (as you have to have no more than an 8 week break between days of work) and even though I am well up on the total number of hours required I have now been off work for a while.
From what I could work out using their online calculator the paid parental leave (after tax) would only be about $800 more than the baby bonus and you can't return to any sort of work at all for atleast 18 weeks. The baby bonus is tax free whereas the parental leave is taxed so that makes a huge difference (even though I'm only on the 20% tax bracket. It is so confusing because I have been told it is taxed but doesn't count as declarable income for centrelink purposes - which doesn't make sense either. And no one from Centrelink seems to be really clear about how it all works for people who would be getting single parenting payment. If they can't work it out what hope do the rest of us have?

Lori
DD - 14
Bub due 28th Aug (kinda hoping she might come a little early because my body is not handling this pregnancy so well).

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Congrats on being a step grandma JBM! My grandad remarried and had a couple of kids who are a year either side of me. His wife didn't want to be a grandma so young and made us call her auntie lol. Sounds like the pilates is going well :)

Dreamrise - hmm, tafe is something to consider. I've been delivering certs I and II so I have a cert IV already. I'll keep that in mind for later :)

I think I'm starting to feel some movement - hope so anyway! When I had the scan I was told the placenta is at the front, so maybe this is cushioning things a bit? Next appointment is Friday, so hopefully everything will be looking like it should be.

Hi ladies, wow your so lucky to be finishing up at begining of 30 weeks, im working up until 38 weeks and will first be using my 9 weeks annual leave and then the mat pay. Im hoping to have 1 yr off but we will have to see how we go financially. Im full time at the moment but im only going back 3 days after mat leave. Thats interesting Dr bacause i was told its and extra $5000 then the baby bonus?? im actually going to ring centrelink tomorrow to find out when forms need to go in and about family assistance etc so i will ask.

Hi Ladies,

Gosh I haven't been in here for a while now. Just lurking in the shadows keeping an eye out for announcements.

OneDay - I was told it's either one or the other, not both. Does anyone know if the $5,000 baby bonus is means tested? I loathe ringing Centrelink and often find you come away none the wiser!!!

Possums - hi there. Great to see you are finishing up work. Yay! Now you can concentrate on relaxing and get nesting ;) Did you find out anymore about the Clexane? I had to start jabbing in the top of my thighs a couple of weeks ago as I can't get a pinch of fat on my belly anymore. My OB is not too concerned about the injections. He said I will stop them 2 days before CS only. And should I go into labor sooner he says it's also ok as there is something they can pump into me to help with the thin blood and still do an emergency CS. I'm interested to hear what your Dr's are saying though.

DR - I hope you are relaxing too in the run up to having your bub. Very important! I feel your concern over income too.

Kass - I got some butterfly type movements very rarely at your stage. By 20 weeks there was well and truly something moving around in there every day. And now, it sometimes hurts when I get an elbow or foot in an inappropriate place!!!

Bugs - have you had your little bundle of joy yet? You're next, anyday or now even!!!

Kaybee - strap yourself in luvvy cause it's you after Bugs!!! How exciting! I love hearing about the arrivals!

AFM - Not too much to tell. Still suffering from sciatica on and off, which means my sleeping is all over the place. I think I'm in training for sleepless nights already!!!. Tummy is getting so tight, but no stretch marks yet (fingers crossed big time!!!). I'm getting excited for my baby shower, which is in a couple of weeks. I have a fellow BB girl coming along too, which makes it extra special. Thank god for the recent sales, it's taken the edge off the cost of ALL the stuff you need to buy for a newborn. I've received a lot of hand me down clothes in good condition for my bub, so have been washing washing washing. Sorting out the sizes etc. It's driving me a little around the twist, but it's good to be organised. Then there's the breast pads, nipple ointment etc etc that you need to pack in your hospital bag. Phew! I had no idea how much was required to be prepared for this. Naive is the word I am looking for ;)

Hi to all the girls I have missed. I hope you all have a wonderful weekend. It's looking like beautiful weather up here and it's DHs birthday so we have a few things on. Just hard to remember to keep resting and taking it easy................

MH- great to hear an update from you, and glad things going along well. I hear you on how much there is to do!

JBM- congrats that is exciting news

hi everyone else! sorry just a quick one from me today...

Had a scan yesterday (having them regularly now to check growth due to me having antiphospholipid syndrome which can cause problems later in pregnancy, even with the daily injections I am on)... amniotic fluid is low (he is so squashed in there without much water to move in!) and our little boy's growth has slowed a bit...he's overall OK at this stage, but they are now saying it's very likely he will have to arrive early...hoping to get to at least 35 weeks. It was a bit to take in yday to be honest...but just need to now get really organised and prepared in case.
last day at work today thank goodness, especially as I might not have much more time, depending how things go

possums: good luck to you, hopefully you make 35 weeks. good luck to you. x x

mindhigs: bummer for te sleeping thing. grrrrr. woohoo for baby shower !! they're so much fun. hope all goes well

oneday: good luck finding the answers from centrelink, they don't know themselves. lol.

kass: yeah i made my step kids call me by my name , lol. but my step daughter now calls me mum and i'm o.k with it now. when i was 25 it was a bit surreal. lol
as for the movement, i also think i have felt some little flutters, it is so exciting. good luck to you. also have next app friday, next fri that is, first antenatal at hospital. yipee for us

kaybee: hi to you, hope all is well

bugsmum: hi to you also, hope you're coping well

farmgirl: hi to you, hope you are well and all is going well with baby. good luck to you

afm: i have my first antenatal hospital next friday, yipee. my pilates is going well. my back is still sore but not as bad. also i will be able to start pregnastics at the hospital, it is exercise classes for pregnant ladies run by the physio dept and they're free. i did them all with the boys and it helps to strenghthen your pelvic floor and relax for labour. they're good.
i have a day off tody and made homemade lasagne, mmmmmmm it took me 1/2 hrs then 1 hr to cook it. but i made enough for 2 nights.
i was starting to feel better but had a bad night last night, feeling sick, it is so draining on my body.

i am 14 weeks today and i still don't think it has really sunk in yet, my tight clothes though maybe reminding me. ha ha ha

chat soon to all

Hi everyone,

Possums - did they say they will induce you early or that he is likely to come out early on his own? Hope you get through the next few weeks without too many worries. You are so close to the end now!

JBM - I LOVE the idea of pregnastics - we have nothing like that here. Your lasagne sounds yummy - it'a shame there's no dish big enough to cook a whole week's worth when it takes so long.

Mindhugs - don't put me next in line - not yet anyway. It might be Possums still! You are sounding very organised, girl. How can you be doing so much on so little sleep?

Oneday - your leave is approaching pretty fast too. How are you going with the public clinic these days?

Kass - how beautiful are those first little flutters. I was never sure if it was actually the baby either. My placenta is at the front, like yours, so it took a while before I was absolutely certain it was baby movements.

Dreamrise - one the working thing... you've got us all going on this one! I'm a primary teacher with a fantastic, flexible principal who encourages class sharing and part time work. After DS, I did one day a week for an AP who was at school, but off class - VERY easy job as she still dealt with any parent issues and was always there to fill me in on anything happening. Then, for the first half of this year, I worked 3 days and shared with another mum who did 2 days. It worked really really well too. It depends on who you are sharing with. We would leave copious notes and chat about the class over the phone - so that took up time. But, it was also good for working out how to best help kids with learning/behaviour problems, because we could put our heads together. The parents were very happy and kids progressed well. I would LOVE to have a job I can switch off from after work, but the pay and conditions are so good AND I would hate to be starting from scratch when my kids go to school.

And, the tiny bit I can offer on the centrelink stuff is that you have to choose either the baby bonus (which now only comes in installments) or the paid parental leave. I don't know anything about the tax side of things though

Hi to everyone else. Sorry have to hurry - DS is going nuts!

AFM - I now have a lovely month to enjoy with DS. I am starting to get things together. DH is finally painting bub's room and cot, etc. I have NO idea what to pack in a hospital bag - it has been so long. Does anyone else have a good list? I feel like I should be preparing for the 'grand opening' day too, but just don't want to think about it!

Gotta go, xoxo