Maternity Leave

[smidge1717]

Hi all!

I am due 26th July and had planned to work until the 11th of July but I am find it increasingly difficult as so tired, emotional and can get waves of sickness still.

I am due to go to Spain for five nights on Sunday which I know will do me the world of good but I am worried after being at work a few days the shocking tiredness will return...I'm getting max four hours sleep at the moment and I'm definitely a solid 8 hours kind of girl!

I was thinking of working until the 13th of June? Taking a weeks hol and then Starting maternity.

Does this sound a bit wimpy and pathetic moving my maternity from 11th of July to the 13th of June??

My return date still will remain the same so I won't lose time with baby.

Just could do with some reassurance. This is my first baby and it's all a bit emotional for me as I constantly feel I am letting work down :-(

Thanks ladies xx

[Fivemoreminutesmummy]

I think it sounds a great idea. It's so easy to be optimistic at 20 weeks and say you'll work up to the birth but you have to listen to your body now.
You never know- baby might come a bit early do you'll want to be rested and prepared.
Definitely speak to work and I'm sure they'll be fine if you're honest.
Good luck

[skitter]

I don't think it's wimpy! I went on maternity leave 4 weeks before my due date with DS and am so, so glad I did. I got to relax and get ready before the onslaught of new parenthood. I was able to meet friends and get our home ready for his arrival without being exhausted. He's nearly 4 and I still think back to that time fondly. I had also mentally checked out of work at around 33 weeks - not intentionally, I just found I could not focus and didn't care as much as I usually do about work - so it was a relief to not have to fake enthusiasm for work projects in the final weeks!

[SouthDerbyshireMamma]

I feel your pain. I opted to work upto a minimum of 38 weeks and now regretting it. My body is telling me to break up early and use some annual leave. Im due 19th July and seriously considering finishing mide June.

Listen to your body

[strawberryjam]

You need to do what is right for you and your body will tell you when to stop. I start annual leave at 33 weeks and maternity leave at 37.5 weeks am due 10th Juky but probably having elective so will be the week before. I have a 3 year old and intend making the most of the time he is in childcare to get organised and rest.

[Jcb77]

I went on annual leave at 32 weeks and mat leave at 38 (one led into the other). I did wonder what the hell is do with myself for 6 weeks but actually it was fine. Great. I was getting very tired at work and starting to struggle with some of the more physical aspects (is a brain and body job) so really don't think I'd have been much use for longer. However, I'd had hyperemesis so reserves possibly not what they could have been. And how on earth anyone does it with another child to look after - beyond me!

[Hobby2014]

I'm due July 31st and taking 7.5 weeks paid holiday leave first, so leaving date is June 8th. Will then start maternity leave on due date.
Well that's the plan, head office are taking their sweet time in sorting this!

[Redling]

I'm going on Annual Leave at 34 weeks and maternity at 36. If full term is 37 weeks I am in no way hanging around until 38 weeks! Due dates are not set in stone, and I've had 3 workmates and friends hang on and ended up having babies before mat leave even started or a couple of days after. Also I'm due mid August and the thought of walking to and from work in July is awful!

[Heatherbell1978]

I'm due 15th Aug and leaving work 10th July (3 weeks hol, 2 weeks mat leave). I know a few people who worked right until the end to 'save hols/mat leave until the end' but there's no way I want to be dragging myself into work in what's a very fast paced and male environment when I'm huge and struggling. I've had an easy pregnancy so far so I may well be able to work beyond 35 weeks but I don't care, it's the last few weeks I'll have by myself and I plan to relish the calm!

[Moonshine1]

I finished work at 34 weeks last time and am doing the same again this time. I was more than ready to finish at that point last time and I'm now counting the days till I finish again. It's different for everyone but I know that I personally couldn't cope working much longer than that. I'm taking 5 weeks annual leave and then starting maternity.

[ohthegoats]

I want to finish at 38 weeks, my boss wants me to finish at 35 (but I'm a teacher, so it would really be finishing at 29). I'm starting to wonder if I can be bothered to fight my corner - I won't know how I feel until the summer holidays, by which point it'll be quite late on to let a possible class down for the beginning of the year etc.

[MrsCouchman]

Do what u need to do, with my first I finished 3 weeks before, and this one, due Christmas, I'm finishing in October as I work in a bar doing eves so I've said I will leave as soon as I can x

[ginmakesitallok]

You won't win any prizes for working longer you know!! It's only a couple of extra weeks, go for it!

[loopylou52]

I finished at 34 weeks, taking almost 6 weeks annual leave and then starting maternity just before my due date. Despite now being overdue I definitely don't regret the decision and would do the same again. My first couple of weeks off I felt great - I've had pgp so was struggling with getting into the office by the end but that improved immediately and I was able to get various jobs done. As time has gone on it's got harder and harder to do things in the house so I've been able to slowly wind down. I've now been off work 6 weeks and haven't got bored yet!

[Suzietwo]

Tough call. I worked until 38 weeks with my first but it fell over christmas. This time around (3rd) I'll be working until night before c section BUT I stopped travelling (i work from home) at 36 weeks. I do still do v long hours but it's not like there's much else I can do so I really don't mind.

At 36 weeks I found the travelling very painful but I was pleased to have done it. I think finishing earlier would have made the wait to d day v long.

With my first two I went to 42 weeks so finishing before 38 weeks would have been an even longer wait.

Long and short of it that I would push on as long as possible. The earlier you quit the more time you spend focusing on pregnancy. Distraction is just about the only way to get through late pregnancy!

[Keepthechangeyoufilthyanimal]

I'm due 8th July and said I'd start mat leave 1st July, simply because I work from home so if I'm sitting around at home I may as well be sitting around at home working & being paid as my hours were cut recently so money is tight.
However im 32 weeks now and a bit fed up, so I've booked the last 2 weeks of June as holiday before my mat leave so I only have 4 more weeks at work
I would just finish early if you are uncomfortable at work

[alwaysblonde]

You can move it forwards. Just have a chat with your boss

[DownstairsMixUp]

Nope,listen to your body! I said the same as you with first pregnancy but did i regret it at 35 weeks! This time I am using up all annual leave at 29 weeks to take me to 34, then from 34 its maternity pay so I'm leaving 13th of June to. Can't come quick enough!!

[Em1503]

I'm also due on 26th July and I'm finishing on 27th June at 36 weeks. I'm already struggling (this week has been horrendous so far due to lack of sleep and I busy job!) so definitely finish earlier if you need to.

[JaneParker]

Depends what you can afford. I worked until I went into labour each time actually and that worked fine.

[weebairn]

I started annual leave at 32 weeks first pregnancy (mat leave started a few weeks later I think) - it was so good for me. Proper rest before complete life change. I did so many lovely, relaxing things, caught up with all my friends before the baby madness took over, and didn't get bored at all, though I was a bit grumpy after 40 weeks. I think it was really helpful to go into labour and newborn craziness with all your energy and strength, mentally and physically.

This time I only work part time so going to have to work much later (aiming for 37 weeks), but hopefully being part time I can pace myself a bit better - its' quite a physical job at times. Have a one and a half year old too. We'll see!

So I say if you can afford it go for it. And don't listen to the martyrs, they can be very annoying! Everyone is different.

[tiredbutstillsmiling]

I'm due beginning of Aug but as a teacher we don't have options of taking holiday and adding it to maternity so my plan was to work up until when we break up on 18th July - I'll be 38+2!

Already regretting it as finding it very difficult. Getting around 4 hours sleep a night and coupled working full time and having a toddler it's very draining. DH works pretty long hours so in pretty much running a home on my own.

Think I'm going to have to take it week by week.

[smidge1717]

Thanks for all your replies ladies; it's nice to know it's not just me feeling this way!

Looked at the sums last night and as I have a very basic mat package with work I think I'm just going to have to stick it out, potentially using my weeks holiday so I can leave a week early.

It's so hard as I just want to focus on work and not be worried about feeling sick and exhausted. I love my job but this has got me so down:-(

[tiredbutstillsmiling]

Regarding sick pay is check your company policy. According to my LEA if I take any time off due to a pg related illness up too 11 weeks before due date then they are entitled to make me start my maternity leave - it's in my contract! Am considering having the odd day here and there but can't make it look suspicious!!

Take care of yourself OP.

[smidge1717]

Thanks.

Yes I checked and think they can start automatically in final four weeks. Ideally I would like to avoid sickness as want to leave work on good terms and make sure everything is handed over correctly. But if I do feel really bad I may have no choice!

Hopefully my week in the sun will re invigorate me!