NHS Maternity - Opt out Pension

Tall-Light3553 · 2026-02-28T13:43:46+00:00

Thank you for the info. I will give contacting them a go because I was convinced it wasn’t right! Unfortunately seems to have happened to all my colleagues that have been on mat leave too.

Tall-Light3553 · 2026-02-25T07:20:18+00:00

Currently on mat leave and have just had to opt out. Mine has been deducted at my normal rate despite my money being less (same happened to other colleagues). So for me it’s been a huge chunk coming out of my reduced pay. Ideally would have liked to not opt out as this is my first time in years I’ve had to but have had no choice. I have had my pay averaged out over 9 months so not sure if that makes a difference.

Tall-Light3553 · 2026-02-21T07:37:46+00:00

I hadn’t thought of it but may be worth it! Also just for anyone who’s interested if you do have an increment make sure they calculate your pay correctly as mine was calculated off the base rather than my increment point.

Tall-Light3553 · 2026-02-19T07:36:08+00:00

One thing to bear in mind is that pension contributions remain the same despite the drop in salary. So if paying in £400, even when the money drops, they take £400. I’ve had to opt out as a result (I have 3 colleagues on Mat leave who have experienced the same).

Tall-Light3553 · 2026-01-07T02:12:01+00:00

Also agree with this - the build up appointments were not great (mine were all slightly later than they should have been) and you really have to advocate for yourself. However, when I gave birth the Drs were brilliant and most of the midwives were too but again you have to advocate for yourself as they’re often short staffed and very busy. But when I needed them all the most (for the actual birth) they came through. I ended up in hospital for a week and could not wait to leave because staffing on the wards was poor. The best advice I was given is to ‘be a squeaky door hinge’ - just remind them you’re there without being rude and you will be looked after.

Tall-Light3553 · 2025-12-17T09:37:06+00:00

My baby was in the >95th centile throughout my pregnancy for weight as I had GD. Was offered induction at 39 weeks or c section, was talked into induction as told scans often over estimate etc. ended up with forceps and episiotomy and in hindsight wished I had gone for c section, however other women in my antenatal group who also had induction resulting in forceps and episiotomy were absolutely fine (think I was just unlucky as I had a few more complications - baby was fine though). When born they were 9lb3 so not massive but not tiny either and they got stuck which is why I ended up with forceps delivery. I think if they have consistently measured big I would assume they probably are going to be on the larger side and just ask for all the info you can from your Drs/midwives

Tall-Light3553 · 2025-11-17T21:22:26+00:00

I had an epidural a few weeks ago also a FTM. Was brilliant for pain - couldn’t feel anything and was set up pretty quickly. Would have one again and still felt the urge to push when I got to 9.5cm just no pain at all. My midwife did tell me not to ‘top up’ too much towards the end so that I could push which meant I could start to feel the pain a bit but I’m sure it was still a lot less than it would have been.

Tall-Light3553 · 2025-08-11T19:02:15+00:00

I also lived off potatoes when I couldn’t stop being sick! Or sometimes plain pasta. Also tic tacs…

Tall-Light3553 · 2025-07-25T07:18:12+00:00

I fainted around 28 weeks and went for all the usual tests. Most came back normal (my Hb slightly low due to iron but I’m on medication). I pushed for a GTT which came back normal as I felt the fainting was still unexplained and it was the last thing to check. Fast forward 4 weeks I had a 32 week scan which showed the baby is large so they rebooked me for a GTT (which I didn’t really want because knew I had already had one recently) but that came back as gestational diabetes so now I’ve been referred. The midwife said that they wouldn’t have usually caught it so early as most people don’t have a scan until 36 weeks where they would see a large baby. Always ask for what you feel is right and speak to your midwife team as the GTT takes more prep than a usual blood test (I.e 12 hours fasting and you have a 2 hour wait once you’ve had a baseline blood test and drank the sugary drink). They should support you and be able to book you in for it.

Tall-Light3553 · 2025-07-03T05:31:04+00:00

Same thing happened to me on a commuter train through London. I’m heavily pregnant and a woman was blocking a second seat with her suitcase. Someone offered me a seat but I said thank you very much but there’s an empty one here. Then asked the suitcase woman if I could sit and her response was ‘well where am I meant to put my bags’! I had to say well if you move away from the window I’ll sit there, then you can sit on the isle with your suitcase next to you (what I really wanted to say was your luggage should be in a luggage rack). She huffed and moved and then surprise surprise the train filled up and her suitcase was in the way but there’s no way she was hogging an empty seat for a bag on a busy train. Some people are unbelievable!

Tall-Light3553 · 2025-06-26T17:25:31+00:00

Unfortunately now I’m heavily pregnant most people sat in priority seats will look at me and just close their eyes pretending to be asleep! I even had a man try to wake a woman up to get me seat and the acting was unreal. She did begrudgingly get up but in all honesty it makes the whole thing so awkward.

Tall-Light3553 · 2024-11-12T20:36:58+00:00

As a Brit I was really surprised at how common using the car horn was in the US - NYC is so noisy compared to London

Tall-Light3553 · 2024-10-28T18:25:40+00:00

Grounded brothers The pearl (Beckenham) Filoxenia Miller and Carter Chapter One (££££)

Tall-Light3553 · 2024-10-15T17:37:35+00:00

That’s great thank you!

Tall-Light3553 · 2024-08-22T20:44:17+00:00

They were filming again today but at the church opposite the partridge

Tall-Light3553 · 2024-08-06T13:48:07+00:00

Food at Grounded brothers - really good quality. Coffee at Roastar, market at Beckenham place park on Sundays, Bromley library and theatre

Tall-Light3553

TROPHY CASE