[Eriksgirl19]

Maternity leave is definitely stressful & complicated! I'm hoping to work through October 3 and then not go back until January 5. But it is so confusing how all the leave coverage works....Ugh, I wish the U.S. would just have standard "maternity/paternity" leave. That sure would make our lives a bit simplier.

So, who has the next baby shower? My first one isn't until August 23, so I still have a while. I'm so excited to hear about all of yours!

[Tabitha]

Funny how we are all starting to think about maternity leave at the same time. For me, it is because I am starting to get quite uncomfortable at work. I was thinking that I would work pretty much until I go into labor, now I am not so sure. I was having lunch with a friend yesterday who is also due in October with her second. She told me that with her first she worked up until her due date, but by the end she was so uncomfortable and her concentration level was really low. I can take 3 months, so I am hoping to be able to wait until the baby is born, and then go back to work after the first of the year.

My baby shower is August 2, and I am flying home for it. I will be flying at the end of my 30th week, luckily it is a short flight.

[blaze6333]

Good morning ladies. I started getting congested last night and of course, whala! A cold this morning. Sore throat and drainage and stopped up, the whole nine yards. I don't know anyone with a cold, so it is strange that I got one.

I am having probably four showers but I don't have dates for any of them yet. My In-Laws are having me one (they have a huge family), My bf is having me one with all of our friends, work is having me one, and my MIL and FIL have a supper club and they always give a shower for the first baby so I should get all I need. (I hope) As much money as we have had to put out to get the nursery ready it will be nice to get all we need from the showers. I just have to get up the energy to go register. I still haven't done that. Maybe this Saturday. We'll see.

Hope yall have a great day!

[norcal]

Tabitha - my family shower is the day after your's - Aug 3rd!


Christie - you can start a lot of registries online and then add to it in the store if you want to get started that way. That's what I did.


Maternity leave - for those that have the option to work from home, I've started to do it about once a week now so that both myself and those that I work with can start to see how it's going to work, what obsticales come up that I can work out now, ect.

[ara79]

tabitha, i also have a shower august 2nd! i can't wait, only about 2 more weeks! my 2nd one is august 16th and then one on sept 13th. things are getting exciting!

i am planning on working as long as i can and then heading back when the 2nd semester starts (jan. 5th)if lily comes around her due date, that will give me 10 weeks. i really don't want to go back at all, but at least i can tell myself that it's only until june and then i will have a couple of months off w/ her.

[Eriksgirl19]

I am jealous that you are all having your showers early! Mine are August 23, September 7, September 12 (work) & September 20. But I'm so excited for all of them!

When my boss was pregnant with her first 2 years ago she worked until 2 weeks before her due date without any problems. So it seems she expects the same for all of us who are now pregnant. I have a job that absolutely would allow me to work from home a day or two a week, but I don't know if she'll allow me to. I think I'm going to bring it up next month & see what she has to say. I'm hoping for the best!

Have a great day...it's almost Friday!

[fossie]

My family shower is this weekend - woohoo! I was reading the dates of when all of yours are and thinking you guys were nutso for having them so late and then I remembered that I am really due in October even though doc says no later than mid-September!!! The family shower should be great, one because I get to see everyone and two because these are the people that have asked me what I really need and are going to get stuff that isn't exciting like mattresses, sheets, etc. but that I really need!

Maternity leave should be standardized. FMLA is sort of standardization but it doesn't apply if you work in a small company, and there are all sorts of loopholes. I work in a 3 person office so obviously they don't have to do anything like the "laws" demand but luckily they do adhere to FMLA policies - it is unpaid 12 weeks but still. I am having a real hard time getting comfortable at work and am definitely having concentration issues - I told my dh that I would probably work more from home because I would feel guilty not being here but he told me I probably shouldn't tell my boss that :-). I am starting to get stuff together to take home so that if at my dr. appt. next week he sends me to bedrest I can just have dh pick up some stuff that I can start working on ASAP.

[Eriksgirl19]

Shellie - Even with my due date in October I feel crazy that my showers are so late! But, our summer calendar is insane & those are the only dates that will work....so I'm just praying that it all works out. If I had my way, I would definitely have them earlier.

That's great that your shower this weekend will bring you your necessities. I can't believe how expensive crib mattresses are! I saw one yesterday for almost $300!

So, speaking of crib mattresses - I have yet to register for one. What make/model have you all decided upon?

[flamingpajamas]

Funny, my showers are Aug 24th and sept 7th (and one for work which hasn't been scheduled yet...)

Just stopping in to say hi! everything is great with me - just crazy. DP and I are getting married next week (yay!) and then going on vacation and then having a reception the week after. And work has been INSANE!!!!

Sounds like everyone is doing well (except for the sleeping part of course). So far I am not having any trouble in that department. Of course I am not counting on that for long....

[norcal]

Claudia - CONGRATS!!!!!! You'll have to post a link to pictures! We want to see!!!


Laura - good luck with talking to your boss. I worry how much I'll get done from home once the baby is here but I can honestly say I've been very productive on the days I work from home now.



What do hiccups feel like? I've had some weird feelings that are different from kicks that I've just been assuming are from him kicking some organ that's in the way, but then I started wondering if they were hiccups.

[mum2abbylily]

Hi Ladies!

Claudia - Congratulations to you and DP!! Can't wait to hear about it!

That's so exciting all your showers are coming up! Enjoy them!

Amy - glad to see you back on here, and thank-you for arranging the gift!

Had an appt this morning..... all looks good and normal. I've started gaining a little weight again which is good, my BP, and Annabelle's HR are both great, passed all the GD and anemia tests......and I'm measuring exactly 29 weeks! Apparently I'm textbook, but I suppose that's a good thing.

Sorry some of you are having a hard time sleeping..... not me! I sleep like a log!! Apart from a few nights where I've woken with really bad leg cramps. My doc said to eat more salt, which is a catch 22 because I've been avoiding salt, otherwise I get too much fluid retention! Other than that I cannot complain though!

As for the maternity leave - being British I am shocked at how terrible it is in the States. Don't even get me started! In the UK women are entitled to 3 months full-pay, then up to another 9 months on a decreasing payscale. Your employer is required to keep your job open for you for a year. I am in the fortunate position where I am self-employed, part-time, with a flexible schedule (I'm a musician/private music teacher) so I pick my work and hours. I plan on working until Annabelle arrives, then apart from a couple of good gigs I have taken on during the fall, I won't teach or do much playing again until the New Year. And even then I'll still be part-time. But I guess everyone does what they have to, and somehow it'll work out!

Take Care everyone!

[Tabitha]

Congratulations Claudia!! Hope you will be vacationing somewhere cool. I was just wondering where you had been lately.

Yay! It's Friday!

[CatIz1]

Congratulations Claudia. I'm so exicted for you and DP. You definately need to post pictures.

Christie - hope your feeling better.

As for my showers, the main one is going to be August 30th and then there's going to be one at work in September. I'm jealous of everyone's showers being so soon. I can't wait to hear about them all.

Well gotta get back to work. Happy Friday everyone.

[Eriksgirl19]

Claudia - CONGRATULATIONS!!! Please be sure to post pictures!

[flamingpajamas]

I will definitely post pics. We are very excited.

My maternity benefits are so confusing I go to a 2 hr class in August to learn about them. I am planning to work until sept 26th (weeks prior to due date) though if I feel great I will work longer. Who knows. When will I go back? I have no idea. I will take as long as I can...I have a whole life to work (urgh!) and only a few months to be at home with Natasha. I wish I had a work from home option!

Crib mattresses - we are getting an organic mattress for the cosleeper we bought. There are some studies out there that associate the chemicals they use (formaldehyde etc) in mattresses with SIDS. So to be on the safe side we are thinking that is the way to go.