*** April 2018 Mummies ***

[Loula]

I work on the NHS bank so work as and when I want which I'm fortunate to do. I only do 1-2 shifts a week. My uniform is getting tight but I will be waiting until after 12 weeks to tell them. I'm just asking for help doing heavy lifting etc.

 

[cossie13]

That's very fortunate. I work at an after school kids club that does holiday club too so I'm put down for shifts. I tend to do between 2 or 3 half days each week. I'm off today and Friday this week but we have some very challenging children and some very heavy equipment to move around. And also it can be very physical which I'm struggling with because of the nausea. I'm thinking I don't have to tell everyone, just my manager or supervisor. Our uniform is polo shirts and mine are already baggy so I don't think I'll be needing any new ones!

 

[Melly41]

I work in nhs too but dont have to wear a uniform which is good . Im sure my jeans are starting to feel tight. This might be due to stuffing myself with pizzas and ice cream for 3 weeks in italy this summer! My hubby says we shouldnt tell work till after 20 wk scan. I think it should be after 12 weeks and screening. I dont have any issues relating to work which would reqire me to tell them earlier thankfully.

 

[cossie13]

My jeans are getting tighter too but that could just be bloat at this stage! I 'popped' at around 16 weeks last time around and apparently it's earlier with your second so lord knows when it's going to be this time! X

 

[Loula]

I had to buy a bigger size pair of jeans and they were so uncomfortable the other night so I will be buying maternity on asap after 12 weeks. I definitely gave some kind of blob going on.
Midwife called back and she's trying to sort my bloods out before we go away next week and is doing my booking In visit at home when we get back. X

 

[cossie13]

Maybe have a look now Loula. H&M have got a great sale on their maternity wear, I think I saw a pair of jeans for about £8? Unfortunately they didn't have my size but they might have yours!

Ooo yay! That's really good! I tried calling again this morning and still no answer. The answerphone says that number is manned between 8&4 but there is never any answer! X

 

[Loula]

Yeah I'll keep an eye out thanks x
Maybe go to your gp and get them to refer you might be quicker. It may be they have changed the number x

 

[cossie13]

It was my GP that gave me the number as they said they don't see newly expectant mothers anymore - it's a self referral now apparently. And last time I had to call the maternity unit several times to get a booking appointments sorted and that took 3 weeks. I'll be patient now and maybe call again next week towards the end of the week. If I don't hear back by something like the 25th I'll go to my GP.

I think the only reason I'm bothered at all is because it feels much more real when you start getting your maternity appointments and scans etc. and I'm probably the most impatient person on the planet!

 

[Melly41]

I definately showed earlier with 2nd. H & Ms is a good tip. Im wearing lose dresses when whether permits. My tighness is defo due to weight put on whilst on holiday. We werent ttc and i was drinking every night. GP said it would be fine as it happens to loads of women and not to worry! Can you imagine shock when i was late and did the test! Dont think i can get away with hiding a bump until 20wk scan. Think DH being unrealistic. I understand why tho with increased risk.

 

[Melly41]

It was my GP that gave me the number as they said they don't see newly expectant mothers anymore - it's a self referral now apparently. And last time I had to call the maternity unit several times to get a booking appointments sorted and that took 3 weeks. I'll be patient now and maybe call again next week towards the end of the week. If I don't hear back by something like the 25th I'll go to my GP.

I think the only reason I'm bothered at all is because it feels much more real when you start getting your maternity appointments and scans etc. and I'm probably the most impatient person on the planet!

That was the same for me. I had to self refer but was lucky to get straight through. Fingers crossed youll get through today or i would agree get GP to refer x

 

[cossie13]

I definately showed earlier with 2nd. H & Ms is a good tip. Im wearing lose dresses when whether permits. My tighness is defo due to weight put on whilst on holiday. We werent ttc and i was drinking every night. GP said it would be fine as it happens to loads of women and not to worry! Can you imagine shock when i was late and did the test! Dont think i can get away with hiding a bump until 20wk scan. Think DH being unrealistic. I understand why tho with increased risk.

I think I'm going to tell my manager tomorrow when I go in. I'm struggling with nausea today and am not coping very well - luckily DS is at nursery this afternoon. Ah, yes, if you start showing early it might not be so easy to hide! It might be after 12 week scan that you have to tell work!

Do you think I should wait until next week to call drs Melly? Or call sooner? You would think I'd know what to do since I've been through it all once but this all seems new for some reason!

 

[Loula]

That's crazy that they don't answer the phone. Last time I didn't register with a midwife til 10 weeks but what if someone doesn't find out til later one and they miss the vitals scans and tests etc. You'd think there would be an answerphone service.
I'm struggling to hide this already. Everything is so uncomfortable. I'm hoping once it's all out there I can just put my bump on show x

 

[Melly41]

I definately showed earlier with 2nd. H & Ms is a good tip. Im wearing lose dresses when whether permits. My tighness is defo due to weight put on whilst on holiday. We werent ttc and i was drinking every night. GP said it would be fine as it happens to loads of women and not to worry! Can you imagine shock when i was late and did the test! Dont think i can get away with hiding a bump until 20wk scan. Think DH being unrealistic. I understand why tho with increased risk.

I think I'm going to tell my manager tomorrow when I go in. I'm struggling with nausea today and am not coping very well - luckily DS is at nursery this afternoon. Ah, yes, if you start showing early it might not be so easy to hide! It might be after 12 week scan that you have to tell work!

Do you think I should wait until next week to call drs Melly? Or call sooner? You would think I'd know what to do since I've been through it all once but this all seems new for some reason!

Id ring them today and try and get appt. It cant hurt. Keep trying number in the meantime. Failing that.....do you know where the mat unit is based? If easy enough for you why dont you pop down...might be quicker that waiting for a GP appt! Good luck. Let us know how you get on. My mat unit said they were getting really busy so you want to make sure you are still within recommended time x

 

[Melly41]

That's crazy that they don't answer the phone. Last time I didn't register with a midwife til 10 weeks but what if someone doesn't find out til later one and they miss the vitals scans and tests etc. You'd think there would be an answerphone service.
I'm struggling to hide this already. Everything is so uncomfortable. I'm hoping once it's all out there I can just put my bump on show x

It will be a relief once you are able to. All this hiding stuff is hard work! Ive been drinking non alcoholic red wine so my mum doesnt suspect.....its not nice to drink!

 

[cossie13]

Oh Loula that can't be nice being uncomfortable already hopefully it'll get easier for you lovely. There is an out of hours answerphone service in which they state all messages will be dealt with the next working day but I'm not sure I believe that! It can't take too long to get a booking appointment sorted surely?

I'll call GP this afternoon and see what they say. I know where the maternity unit is but it's all under lock and key and no one gets in without an appointment (it's really weird - they were going to close shrewsbury maternity unit but changed their minds and have kept it open ) I'll be keeping on bugging them as I don't want to be forgotten about!

 

[Melly41]

Keep my fingers crossed you get an appt sorted today hun x

 

[cossie13]

Can't get in to see a dr til end of August I swear my Drs surgery has gone so rubbish since they built an old people's home right next door. I know that sounds mean but don't you find old people go to the Drs for every tiny thing possibly because they're lonely?

 

[Melly41]

Thats annoying. Did you book one? No luck with mat unit yet? Maybe because its summer hols?

 

[Loula]

I'd keep trying the unit to see if they answer too.

 

[Lander]

Um, so I just tested with some 15mui cheap tests (yes at 2pm) and got lines and decided to use the Clear Blue normal one which is 25mui same as the digis and got a line on that too... So I did a digi as well ('cos I just bought two more to hopefully check progression over the next fortnight etc) and only went and got a 'Pregnant 1-2'

So.... Here I am

On another note, you should tell work as soon as possible if you do anything involving heavy lifting or use of drugs or chemicals as your employer should be doing risk assessments to ensure you and baby are safe whilst in the workplace.
Forgive me but I used to work for a facilities management company in a large NHS hospital. They need to know for a reason. They can't use your pregnancy against you though. They're legally in trouble of they do. I nearly got my manager sacked by pointing out to our director that she'd avoided sending me on a training course that everyone else was doing just because I was going on maternity leave.

Lxx