Benefits for Fathers during Pregnancy
There is as yet no statutory requirement on employers to offer paternity leave, although European Union regulations mean that the situation is changing and some employers do already offer a few days’ leave. Most give time off for you to be at the birth, but you may be expected to take a holiday to cover the period when the baby comes home.
It is, however, important that you are there for as long as possible. If your partner is in hospital for a few days, try to work then so that you can be at home when mother and baby come out.
As well as the practical support that you can give, changing nappies, bathing, spending time with the baby while your partner rests, Maternity leave does not count as time off’, so that pension rights, holiday entitlement and company car are unaffected by this break.
If you have worked for your employer for two years by the 12th week before your baby is due and your employer has more than five employees, you are entitled to additional maternity leave to your 14 weeks, until the end of the 29th week after your baby is born. This extra leave is usually unpaid, but many companies do pay something so it is worth inquiring.
To qualify you must notify your employer 21 days before you leave that it is your intention to return; you must also notify your employer at least 21 days before you intend to return to work. Your employer is entitled to write to you at any time after 11 weeks from the start of your leave, asking if you intend to return, and you must answer within 14 days. If you are not sure at this stage, follow the procedure until the final stage (21 days before your return).
Having a Baby at Home
Consider the following questions:
Can you have a domino delivery? This means that the community midwife comes to your home and stays with you until she thinks it is time to go to hospital. She then takes you to hospital, delivers the baby and takes you home a few hours after the birth. She will continue to visit you at home. Will you have the chance to meet the midwives who are likely to deliver the baby? Most hospitals operate a team midwifery system for antenatal, delivery and postnatal care. This means that the same midwives look after you before, during and after the birth.
- If you prefer a woman doctor, will it always be possible to see one?
- Can your birth companion be with you at all times if that is what you want?
- Can you talk over your birth choices and have a record of them put in your notes?
- Will you be able to move around in labor and is there a variety of equipment so that you can give birth in the position that you find comfortable? Can you use a water pool during labor if that is what you would like?
- Do you have a choice in the way your baby is monitored?
- HOW long might you be expected to stay in hospital after the birth (you can discharge yourself whenever you wish, but it may help to know the average length of stay)?
- Is there good breastfeeding support?
- What are the visiting hours?
- Will there be a chance to talk about the birth afterwards with the midwife who delivered your baby and ask any questions about the birth?
You can arrange for a home birth through your GP, or via your local community midwives. Many GPs are reluctant to support first-time mothers in having a home birth, because there is no way of telling how difficult a birth is going to be (your experience the first time gives some indication of the ease with which you will give birth subsequently). However, if you have young children at home already and do not wish to disrupt them, or feel that the birth will be more relaxed at home, you may decide that this is for you. You have the right to a home birth if that is what you want.
Your GP may be able to offer you antenatal care. If not, contact your local FHSA for the address of a GP who has an interest in childbirth_ And contact your local supervisor of midwives who still arrange your antenatal care, delivery and postnatal care.
You will see the community midwife for all your antenatal checks, and she is the one to call when you think your labor has started. She will stay with you through labor and, perhaps with another midwife, deliver the baby. She will call a doctor or ambulance if you need to get to hospital in an emergency.
StriaFade ; Stretchmarks – Mom’s Badge of Honor
Although stretch marks really look awful, these are considered honorable badge of being a mommy. But if 
there is a way to do away with it; moms might as well give it a try, right? Just recently, I found StriaFade on the net and their tag line goes “It makes your stretch marks thing of the past.” I am very curious to know it that is true and I am sure you are too.
I read a bit more on their site and according to them what makes StriaFade work is it’s StriaFade ingredients which include natural and extra ordinary ingredients combined to make this amazing stretchmark solution. I have not personally tested the product, but I am definitely considering of trying it out because I am starting to see teenie weenie lines on my tummy.
Now the question is where to buy Striafade?
Where we live, there are no big malls and department stores so I would just have to make use more of online shopping and it’s great that you could easily order StriaFade wherever you are, just visit the site and click the green button that says ORDER NOW.
I have always been a pro active person so I am preparing in case more stretch marks will come out as the much awaited day comes nearer and nearer. I would love to see myself back to its look before I got pregnant. But nothing beats the excitement of seeing my baby come out of this world.
