September / October / November mommys 2012

Hi ladies
Hope everyone is well and keeping warm!!
I had quite a nice relaxing weekend - exactly what I needed!!!

Belaine - I can take up to a year mat leave but there are 3 different structures of pay for
how long you want to take off
I'm taking 9 months mat leave, plus 1.5 months paid annual leave which is due to me
(plus I accummulate leave whilst on mat leave)
The 9 months mat leave is paid at 65% (plus the 1st 4 months are supplemented with UIF)
and the other 1.5 months are full pay
I'm going to use an agency again - they really make life easier!!
With D I used Tums2Mums, but I see they are no longer operating. I got a pamphlet from my
gynae for another agency called MomsLink (www.momslink.co.za) They charge R400 once off
and send you all the forms you need and tell you exactly what you need to do and by when
and they ensure the UIF is paid into your bank acc every month.
What a PLEASURE, no queues, hassles etc!!!!

M is moving alot now - always seems to be tap dancing on my bladder!!
24wk scan is on 20 June

Hi ladies

Hope you all well and rested after the weekend.

We went for our 24 week scan this morning and all is well with our baba. She has doubled in size since 20 weeks - crazy - could not believe it. 690g now!! But moving and everything is looking good and well.

I have had excruciating pain in my lower tummy and upper inner thighs over the weekend but gynea checked it all out and said that it is just round ligament pain and stretching and have to take things easy and not be soooo busy! so I have to start limiting the tthings i do on weekends and try and schedule in some couch relaxing time. he he

Other than that - all is well. My boss is arriving on Thursday from Australia - so i am planning on chatting to him while he is here for my maternity leave and pay.... not a nice converstation to have but one that has to happen.

We also booked our c section today - for 7 Sept - so I will more than likely take 4 months leave from sep to Jan - and I will push to see if i can take some annual leave either before or after for a bit.

but we will see what happens with maternity pay..... If i don't get paid I might have to come back to work a lot sooner than anticipated. but will chat to my boss while he is here in SA so I can get clarity on it all.

Hope everyone else is good and well and babas are well.

Hpe you all have a good week.

Thanks 1st Timer. It's definitely going to be handy for me.

Belaine, just one more day to go and then its scan day for you. I'm sure you excited.

How was everyones weekend.
Mine was rather relaxing, but did lots of washing etc as well.

1st Timer, thanks, those are useful lists. We're trying to work out the baby essentials at the moment. If you listen to the shop people they try to convince you that a million things are completely necessary even though you've never heard of half of them. Nice to have an experienced list.

Regarding maternity leave Í get 4 months fully paid. Some of it paid by UIF and some paid by my company but there are a stack of forms and queues etc associated with it. Still I'm not complaining. Was thinking of taking it from Mid Aug to Mid Dec, using my annual leave through Christmas and then going back to work in Jan for reduced hours. If I can twist my boss' arm I'll try to be able to work at home some days when I'm back.

Hi there

1st timer big thanks for those list!! great reading material most def giving me things to add to my to do list etc.

Having a relaxing weekend slept in but i did a lot of washing bedding, towels and clothes!!

Hope you all have a wonderful weekend!! Got something for my friends lb her storktea is next saturday!!

Take care

Hi all,

I hope you're having a good weekend! I am uploading some of those docs I promised.

1) list of things i bought/wanted for baby
2) my birth plan (I had an elective caesar)
3) a diary of my elective caesar (lots of tmi)

Re maternity lead - my advise would be to take as much, full time leave as financially possible. 3/4 months sounds like an eternity but it arrives in a minute and you look at your still tiny helpless baby and are just astounded by how little you want to leave them with anyone! You can absolutely add your annual leave on to your maternity leave. Be smart about how you structure is as maternity leave is 4 months (including weekends) where as annual leave is actual working days. i.e. don't waste maternity leave over Christmas!

Hi there

JB thanks ja im so puzzled with everything and not to sure what to expect i wont be coming in that 3 months i will be working at home but not like full time. Because im getting paid which i hear is a great advantage so i feel like i do want to help them out.
im thinking of starting my mat leave at 15 Aug till 15 Dec but i work then from home the aug still and then maybe coming in that 1st 2weeks of dec in the morning and taking my annual leave the rest of dec so i will be starting 07 jan.

Zoe my app is Tuesday 15:30

Hi to everyone else may you have a wonderful weekend