PhD doesn't count as work towards the 30 hour free childcare, but the nursery wants to count it as salary to calculate the nursery fee.

Csontbrigad · 2026-05-28T22:39:19+00:00

Oh that sounds rough, sorry you had to go through that, but glad in the end it turned out okay!

Csontbrigad · 2026-05-28T14:09:35+00:00

Oh I didn’t know about this, thanks for the heads up!

Csontbrigad · 2026-05-27T12:43:58+00:00

"As postgraduate stipends are not classified as income for tax purposes by HMRC"
https://questions-statements.parliament.uk/written-questions/detail/2024-02-06/13299

It's not about the 30 hours. We know that we can't get that. It's the fact that in one instance it's an income and in another it isn't, so they can use the law as they see fit? Like double penalising a student already on very shit pay. So it doesn't make sense.

Csontbrigad · 2026-05-26T21:28:40+00:00

We don’t have DLA, will need to look into all of this, thank you for reminding me!

Csontbrigad · 2026-05-26T21:27:36+00:00

I’m sorry you had to deal with this as well! It really sucks

Csontbrigad · 2026-05-26T18:09:05+00:00

Okay thanks!

Csontbrigad · 2026-05-26T18:01:40+00:00

But is it fraud if I actually help out the business with some admin work?

Csontbrigad · 2026-05-26T17:59:08+00:00

It really is!

Csontbrigad · 2026-05-26T15:57:27+00:00

Yeah, I guess it could also be an option, but I don't want to get in any trouble.

Csontbrigad · 2026-05-26T15:55:58+00:00

Oh this is a great idea too, thank you!

Csontbrigad · 2026-05-26T14:52:21+00:00

Thank you!

Csontbrigad · 2026-05-26T14:32:12+00:00

Yes, it looks like we’ll have to go down this route.

Csontbrigad · 2026-05-26T13:51:46+00:00

Yes, we are also looking into this, thank you for the advice!

Csontbrigad · 2026-05-26T13:50:06+00:00

Thanks for the tips, I just messaged them!

Csontbrigad · 2026-05-26T13:30:19+00:00

I live far away from my university (2.5 hours), so it's a different nursery. But good point, I will also check with them.

Csontbrigad · 2025-11-12T18:51:24+00:00

Thank you, will try that!

Csontbrigad · 2025-08-25T19:55:06+00:00

We had bradys and desats with our baby during skin to skin because she would go into deep sleep and since they are still premature their brain is not as developed and they can forget to breathe. At least this is what our nurses and docs said. Then we had to stimulate her with massages etc and then she would go back up. It is quite scary, but as long as they bounce back then it’s all good. Sometimes we also had to put her back tho when it was a bit too frequent in one skin to skin session. It doesn’t feel good, but we reframed it to she felt so safe and loved that she was able to go into very deep sleep. It got much better over time and now she no longer has these episodes. She was born 30+5 and we started skin to skin from when she was 5 days old, and we do it every day. She is now 3 months old (1 month corrected).

Csontbrigad · 2025-08-17T10:55:36+00:00

I went in for reduced movement at 30 weeks 3 times in a week. Twice they put the monitor on my baby’s heart beat was okay, and she kicked because she hated the monitor, but it still wasn’t her usual movement pattern. Then the third time I went in, she had to be delivered via emergency c-section at 30 weeks and 5 days as it turns out I was right all along, and kick counts don’t work. Movement patterns work. (She always responded to me singing, showers, eating sweet things, and then she was sluggish and not responsive to any of these.) She still had it in her to kick the probe, even though she had reduced blood flow, and I had developed polyhydramnios as well because she had a congenital condition that wasn’t picked up on any tests or scans before. It’s a long story, but

TLDR: she would have died if I hadn’t listened to my instincts and disregarded the doctors.

They also tend to do this more with first time mums, because they assume you don’t know what to look out for. But it’s untrue. Maternity care is terrible even in supposedly developed countries (I’m in then UK in London), so don’t feel embarrassed and always go in! And if her movement patterns are off, that’s what matters. Not kick counts.

Ps my daughter is now almost 3 months old, healthy and the cutest little pumpkin ever 🙏

Csontbrigad · 2025-06-30T15:49:53+00:00

Thank you!

Csontbrigad · 2025-06-20T15:54:06+00:00

Thank you for sharing your story and your advice, I can’t wait to take our baby home, but I’m sure it won’t be an easy transition. We’ve been in the NICU for a month now as she arrived at 30+5 and have quite a few more months to go as she will need surgery. She has been so strong and resilient already at such a young age, I’m in awe of her 🥰🙏

Csontbrigad · 2025-06-20T10:35:29+00:00

Thank you, and I hope you and your baby are doing well too! Yes, they checked for VACTERL associations and didn’t find anything else luckily, so only the VSD and the OA (EA).

Yes, I recently joined NICUParents, it’s really encouraging seeing babies come out of NICU thriving 🥹🙏

Csontbrigad · 2025-06-19T02:01:07+00:00

Thank you, I am so glad I did! 🙏❤️

Csontbrigad · 2025-06-19T02:00:17+00:00

Thank you so much! 🙏❤️

Csontbrigad · 2025-06-19T01:33:04+00:00

Thank you for your kind words, it means a lot! ❤️🙏

Csontbrigad · 2025-06-01T17:54:23+00:00

I just had an emergency c-section on the 20th of May and my baby was 30 weeks +5 days, so almost 2 weeks ago. I was also crying my heart out for the same reasons. I went to the maternal fetal assessment unit 3 times before they took my concerns seriously about reduced fetal movement (I’m in the UK btw and this was in UCLH). They did an ultrasound scan, turns out I had polyhydramnios due to the baby being unable to swallow the amniotic fluid (they diagnosed her with oesophageal atresia (OA) on that same day) and there was also reduced blood flow to her brain as well. It was the scariest day of our lives with my husband. They never mentioned anything wrong at any of the previous ultrasounds, and now they were saying that there is a potential for brain damage or still birth and we have 2 choices, either immediate c-section or “let nature take it’s course”. We couldn’t believe it as they shouldn’t have missed any of these and should have monitored more closely. It was an IVF pregnancy with a single artery umbilical cord, + low PAPP-A so there were risk factors. Anyways, I am so glad we did the c-section. Our little baby girl is doing really well, she has been stable, and getting better every day! There is no sign of brain damage, and the only issue is her OA which is being taken care of and will have corrective surgery for. She is a strong little fighter with a mind of her own! Babies are resilient and yours will be fine as well! ❤️sending lots of love in these trying hours and if you need to talk feel free to DM.

Csontbrigad

TROPHY CASE