So last night at 10w4d we decided that we were starting to feel safe enough to begin thinking about money when I'm on maternity leave. I wish I hadn't as I've now been awake since 5am worrying about how we're going to manage!
In the UK we are fairly lucky, if my limited knowledge of maternity leave elsewhere is correct that is) I am entitled to a full 52 weeks leave, as well as being eligible for statutory maternity pay my employer also has a generous maternity benefit scheme on top. There are two different ways I can receive payment during ML;
1) 8 weeks at 100% salary and then 16 weeks half pay + SMP on top followed by 15 weeks SMP and finished off with 13 weeks unpaid.
2) 16 weeks at 50% salary with SMP on top, 23 weeks SMP then 13 weeks unpaid.
My current salary is around £460 a week, not a huge amount but it's comfortable to live on. Statutory maternity pay is £138.18 a week...that gives us over a £300 short fall PER WEEK when I'm off work with the little one. Cue panic mood. Martin earns roughly the same, we're not by any means rich but we make ends meet and manage to have a little left over every month for some luxuries like meals out, new clothes etc...but with over a 10,000 cut in my salary next year I don't know how we're going to manage. I've already resigned myself to the fact that I can't afford to take a whole year off with baby Briggs and will have to return to work earlier than I'd hopes to get some money coming back in. The lovely UK government have deemed Martin and I to be earning too much money to be eligible for any extra benefits what so ever, so no help there. We're saving what we can now so we have a little pot of money to help, but I don't know how people do it??? We will struggle a lot with this cut in wages but my company salary pay is an added extra, some woman only get SMP. How do they do it? They must be super heros or something.
So my questions to you, mummies around the world, how did you make ends meet when little one arrived? Did you save before hand, suck it up and just 'cope' or do you know some secret tips to keep me with some money in 7 months time??
In other news - we met with the midwife last Thursday. She was nice...but I wouldn't go to her for a reassuring hug if I needed it. I told her I was worried because I didn't 'feel' pregnant really, and although she said that was common and she wouldn't worry, that we should also keep a little in reserve to prepare for bad news as she can't guarantee everything will be ok. I know she can't give false hope, but that didn't help. I filled in lots of paper work and had my blood drawn and that was about it. I was hoping I'd get to hear babies heart beat at least but nada. We should have the appointment date through for our 'dating' scan this week, all we know is it's between 11-14 weeks and we're 11 weeks on Thursday so shouldn't be too much waiting.
She finished the appointment by giving us our medical exemption form for free prescriptions and dental treatment during pregnancy - but followed this up with "send it off after your first scan when you know everything's OK". This also didn't help to settle my worries.
My sore boobs are easing up but I'm trying not to worry as I know this can be common after 9-10 weeks when the placenta begins forming. Sickness is still on and off if I've not eaten and for the past few days I've just felt generally crappy.
This morning I've woken up with a sore throat and a cough as well as my usual head ache and nausea, aren't I a lucky lady. I've had to admit defeat and take a sick day at work - I hate taking sick days!
10 days until 12 weeks and I'll feel much better.
How is the first trimester over already?!
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