Due April/May 2016

@ Sons, that is good news that baby is healthy and what a cute little face! I went for my scan today and baby is 34cm and 1.2kg at 27w3d so a medium to big baby

I spoke to my Gynae this morning and he is all for natural, no pain med birth so happy and it made me relax a bit. But you ladies got me thinking that I am not sure what Louis Leipoldt Medi in Cpt regulations are for no pain relief birth. My sister had a epidural so was on her back but I do want to move around if I want to birth on all fours so be it. And would love a shower, hmm going to give them a call and find out when I can do the tour of the hospital.

hello ladies!

Feeling much better today after being very depressed yesterday

@Sonsbaby, I am glad to hear that the Mediclinic you are using said you can do what is comfortable for you, I never thought about asking the Mediclinic hospital where we are going, that sounds very promising, the only thing will be that there will be no bath to sit in to help ease the pain, but if I feel comfortable that they will respect the fact that I do not want any pain meds, and that I can choose a position that is comfortable instead of lying on the bed, that already makes me feel much better. Maybe I should call my gynae's office and check with them.

To everybody that gave input regarding my delayed increase, I was going to be required to do some design projects from home if needed anyway, which I was fine with, so I thought about it last night, and had a long chat with my manager today, there are some other things I do at work that I could do from home as well, not a lot, but small digital tasks like design newsletters and make website changes, I would have had to train my colleagues to do this, but I suggested that I would be prepared to do these things from home to help them, if they would reconsider delaying my increase, she sounded very positive and will talk to the board and let me know, it won't be something that will keep me busy for hours everyday, it might be some days and maybe only 30minutes to an hour or so, which I am prepared to do, I could even do some of it at night when hubby is there to take care of the baby. So hopefully, I can help them, and then I can still get my increase, so I am quite excited I will keep you posted

Hallo Ladies!!

I have not been online for a few days have been hectically busy! I had to catch up on allot here lol!

I went for the 4D scan last Friday and it was a very nice experience so glad I went for it. I went to Dr Fatima Gani in Mondeor. Have attached a few pics from the scan. Baby is growing very well and weighed in at 1,2kg at 29 weeks.

I am quite nervous at meeting the new gynea and what her opinions are about birthing options. I heard good things about her so I am hoping she will go along with my choice! I am going to discuss with her the option of natural birth with no meds and the idea of hypnobirth.

As far as maternity leave goes my company gives 6 months maternity leave of which the first 4 months is at 72% of my salary and the remaining 2 months is full pay. I must say they are excellent when it comes to maternity leave. Two of my colleagues will be standing in for me as they do similar work as I do and that way no temp is needed.

@Blou - I get your concern about the hospital and them perhaps forcing you to lie flat. Maybe discuss this with your dr as well as with the nursing staff at the hospital? Especially the sisters who will most likely be with you in the delivery room. I asked all these things when I went for my hospital visit at our mediclinic and they actually told me its up to you. If you want to walk around then do so...and the birthing position will be what is more comfortable for you. I know its stressful thinking about the difference between a birthing clinic and a hospital.. Myself I wanted to go to Genesis clinic but allas our medical aid wont cover it all either and with my hubby being retrenched there is no way we could cover the costs! It took me a while to get over the disappointment of not being able to go to Genesis but now I am all into the planning of the hospital birth, arming myself with a plan of what I want like immediate skin contact and delayed cord cutting. Also I am compiling a list of relaxing music to listen to as well as reading material and and and lol!! Can I ask when your maternity leave starts? Personally I think you should get your increase on the month it normally gets allocated regardless if you are on maternity leave or not. It just does not sound right that they would delay it! Did they give you valid reasons why they are delaying the increase?

Hello Moomies

@Ninies and Blou my goodness is it 32weeks already indeed time flies...I told myself when I reach 30 weeks I am gonna start with the count down...

@Blou wow you are so lucky 4 months paid maternity leave. My boss has agreed to fully pay my maternity leave but I have to work from home from the second month. I just told myself that as long I will be able to pay for my debit orders and cover my expense its fine. I understand because you didn't know about the increase structure you are uncomfortable with it. Maybe you should talk to your boss about how you feel.


As I have mentioned before that I will be giving birth at a government hospital and there are no pain medication there, when the day arrives that I go in labour I will be thinking about you ladies who are doing it naturally with no meds. It gives me strength and courage to know that I wont be alone.

@Blou - you are very fortunate to get 4 months fully paid maternity leave. I think it is fair that your increase only kicks in when you return, but I also think that your manager could have made a plan to have it kick in when it is suppose to do so.
Me on the other hand, I am also getting 4 months maternity leave at 60% of my salary! If I take 3 months it will be at 70% of my salary and the rest must come from UIF.
Clearly UIF wont cover my shortfall so I managed to arrange that my company pays me my full net pay and the difference between the 60% and the net salary will be treated as a staff loan which I will pay once I get my UIF money. That way I atleast know that all debit orders are covered etc.

You must also remember that while you are on maternity leave, your company might have another expense to get someone in your place (if they need to) or other colleagues might have to work in extra hours. I will still be doing some work from home and insisted that they dont hire a temp for the time I am gone. It will just add too much to their already high overheads.
But I do appreciate a compnay that is willing to pay for your maternity leave - it is such a blessing and by law they dont need to do it.

Maybe talk to them about it?

@ninies, the birth unit I was looking at, is at Femina hospital, but I suppose I can just go to Femina and not use the midwives as well, that could be an option. I will think about it.

I am slightly disappointed at the moment, any ladies have any advice for me?
I am very fortunate that my employer has agreed to give me 4 months fully paid maternity leave, so that is amazing. However, they just informed me, that I will not receive my annual increase until I am back from maternity leave, normally we get increases at the end of March, but now I will only receive mine at the end of August, I already budgeted on this increase, and they did not inform me about this when my maternity leave was discussed in the beginning, is that fair? Can they do that? Aren't they discriminating because I am pregnant? All our accounts have increased for the year, and we have a new baby on the way, I just feel very depressed now, there is always a catch

HI ladies,

@Blou - what about femina? I have never been there but I know from friends they are also very pro natural.

Ladies, I must admit that I am so glad I dont have to decide on a birthing method. It is just adding more stress to arrange and think of everything. I am having another c-section at Wilgers hospital. So one less thing for me to worry about. But I will be in alot more pain afterwards.
For the ladies doing hypnobirthing and natural without any pain meds - I take my hat off to you and I think you are awesome.

The time has really gone by so quickly. Our cycling friends are having a doek and dop party for us (more for Hubby) on Saturday. It is a surprise for him and I think they are going to make it really special for him by dressing him up and having fun with them. I am so glad it is his turn now - with our son I had to have it all and it felt so akward.