When did you stop work?

[jazzcat28]

I'm due 22nd Feb with my first DC and am already counting down the weeks until I can finish work!

I'm thinking of stopping 3rd week of Jan, when I'll be around 36 weeks, using my year's annual leave allowance to take me up to 40 weeks.

I commute 90 minutes each way to work in the car but do have a relatively flexible working from home arrangement as and when I need it. It'd be amazing to finish at Christmas but this would mean starting SMP at 38 weeks and we need all the 'normal' pay we can get!

When did you finish? With hindsight, would you have preferred more time off after the birth or before?

[Madratlady]

I'm a nurse so I work long days (3x 12hr shifts a week), on my feet for a lot of the time. I was going to stop at 36 weeks but due to a huge delay starting my new job and financial problems I'm wanting to work to 38 weeks now, although I think I might struggle a bit towards the end. And stopping at 36 weeks would have meant christmas off, if I stay to 38 weeks I'll have to work christmas. Hopefully I'll have some annual leave for 38-40 weeks then I'll claim maternity allowance from 40 weeks.

[rubyanddiamond]

I stopped at 37 weeks both times. 1st time was a bit hard but ok. I was struggling to keep going 2nd time round and was so relieved to finish. I have a fairly relaxed office job. With hindsight I'd say I would have liked less time before birth (is very boring!) but I really needed to rest.

One thing you might consider is using your annual leave to have a shorter week for a few weeks before finishing?

The other thing is that maternity leave automatically kicks in once the baby is born, even if early. So if baby is born at 39 weeks, you should check with work what happens to that week of holiday you had booked. You don't want to lose it! You also accumulate holiday while on leave, which is good for a phased return at the end of leave.

[PattieOfurniture]

First time at 37 weeks and he was born a week after.
Second time at 34 weeks because I wanted Christmas off and to spend time with ds1 before the baby arrived, then I wanted some time to myself when he went back to school but that plan failed because ds2 arrived at 36 weeks

[Mapal]

I am currently trying to decide the same. First baby I finished at 36 weeks, DS was born at 37 weeks! So I didn't get much of the put your feet up time I'd so been looking forward to. This time I'm thinking of finishing a bit earlier. I was going to make it 35 weekss but now thinking maybe even earlier! Because we are moving house, and DS starts school right before this baby is due, so it would be nice for him to get some mummy time first.

[knittingirl]

I'm stopping next Friday, at 36 weeks. The first two weeks I'm taking as holiday, then starting mat leave at 38 weeks.

If it wasn't for the heat, then I don't think I would be having a problem working to that point (the heat is just making it a bit more uncomfortable!).

With starting mat leave at 40 weeks, just bear in mind that if your baby comes early then your mat leave will kick in early - check your company's policy to make sure you won't lose any of your holiday if that happens (ie that they'll tack any unused holiday onto the end of your mat leave).

[jazzcat28]

Thanks for all the replies

knittingirl good point about the unused holiday - according to my company's maternity policy I have to take any accrued annual leave for the annual leave year I'm off before I return to work so I guess if baby arrived early they would make me take the leave at the end.

mapal I should imagine this heatwave is a nightmare in the later stages of pregnancy! I am grateful that all things going well I will be at my largest in the colder months. Hoping no snow though as that might make getting around tricky!

I guess it's a little early to say for definite (am only 8+5) as no idea how I'll be feeling in the third trimester. My mum had pre-eclampsia (sp?) with me and had me 6 weeks early by CS so who knows.

[HazleNutt]

On my due date, but I had a very short commute and was feeling fine. Worked from home for a week after that, as was overdue. No regrets - was already bored when working from home, no idea what I would have done if I had taken several weeks off before birth.

[vkinski]

With my first I finished at 37 weeks, with a plan to have a couple of weeks 'me time' just pottering about but DD had other ideas and arrived 2 days after I finished work! This time round I'm again hoping to work to 36/37 weeks, I prefer to keep my mat leave for after baby is here - although it is hard work when you are big and uncomfortable!

[Monka]

Finished work at 36 weeks had intended to work until 38 weeks but needed to get the house sorted and properly cleaned and didn't have the energy to do it with the day job. First week has flown by there really is so much to do. It's nice to potter round the house watch telly and have a clean house. I have a list of chores that I have to do each day which helps.

[quackojuliet]

i'm planning to stop at 35 weeks as i'm a teacher and on my feet a lot...it will be towards the end of a long term. i find the job quite stressful so thought it would be better to stop early rather than late and regret my decision. doesn't affect how much time i'll get with baby as i know my date of return as it works around the school holidays.
i'm unlikely to be one of these getting bored at home! it's the last child-free time i'll have and a chance to see friends, swim, clean and organise house, and do some craft projects etc in preparation for baby. sods law he/she'll be overdue if you leave early and come early if you work til the end!
though you have to do what you feel is right - only you can judge!

[AlmondFrangipani]

I had 1 weeks annual leave during week 35 and started mat leave officially week 36. It was definitely the right thing for me to do. I completely echo what quackojuliet says. In my view this is the last time I will ever get this time to myself again and feel mentally prepared for the baby now (I am week 37+2) as I have had time to do the house stuff, see my friends and have some me time. I however know that I am not going to be overdue due to a pre-existing medical condition so for me the max time off I knew I would have off was going to be 5 weeks. I think 3-4 weeks would be ideal!!

[maja00]

First about 32 weeks, will probably do the same (or maybe earlier) this time.

I like a bit of time to myself beforehand!

[Lovemyprincess4eva]

I am finishing at 31 weeks. But I am on a temp contract and I am just going to stop working when the contract ends rather than trying to find new employment so far gone. Xx

[maggiethemagpie]

I finished at 25 weeks - work relocated my job and I've agreed not to start it until after I return. I wasn't going to relocate to a new city at 25 weeks pregnant with health problems, so agreed with them that I'd take sick leave (as I'm struggling due to t1 diabetes) then holiday then officially start mat leave at 36 weeks as they can force you to start it then if you're off with a pregnancy related illness.
Its been really good timing with this weather - i'd much rather be off when it's hot than not - and gives me some time with my son before he's not the only one anymore.
As i'm still being paid due to paid sick leave I couldn't be happier!

[workingonitagain]

38+6 before my first dc but I worked in an office so wasn't physically demanding. wished I had gone later as I still had to sit around doing nothing for another 3 weeks before I got to see ds1

[Anothermrssmith]

I've been thinking about this over the last few days, due 16th jan and was thinking of finishing on the last working day of November. I'm diabetic so will be induced at 38 weeks so that gives me about 4 weeks at home. Seems really early but then I'm the first person that's ever needed maternity leave at my work (one of 4 women in a company that's been going less than 5 years) so they've nothing to compare me to!

[MortifiedAdams]

I finished two weeks before.my EDD with DD. ONe week AL and the other ML. Ive recently foubd out I am.pg and will be due the second week in March. I get five weeks annual leave plus eight bank hokidays, so seven weeks total and going to take them plus one week ML ths time round. So finishing 10th Jan.

Purely because I can, and because if I take the same amount of time off as dd, I will be going back 1st dec so only a month left to the end of the holiday year.

PLus, shift work woth a toddler is hard so I will.need the rest.

[Xmasbaby11]

I finished at 36 weeks and couldn't have gone another day! Even though I had 6 weeks until DD was born, I was absolutely shattered by then and not concentrating on work at all. It didn't have any impact on how long I had on ML, because I was always going to go back at the start of the academic year regardless.

I will probably do the same this time.