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Pregnancy

Starting maternity leave at 40 weeks?

59 replies

Pandora2016 · 26/07/2016 19:38

It's an easy office job which I enjoy.

I have SPD but the commute is 15 min on a bus and I manage with a walking stick so far (28 weeks). I don't think this baby is going to be small.

Am I mad? Should I bring it forward a bit?

First baby so know nowt.

OP posts:

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Luckystar1 · 26/07/2016 19:41

Bring it forward. Honestly. You don't realise (and won't really appreciate) it now but those will be your last days of 'freedom'. To do what you like, sleep, leave the house etc.

I'd say go at 38 weeks latest, chill for 2 weeks, get your shit in order and relax.

I'm 40 weeks with #2... I would KILL for maternity leave with my 1st again! You will never get it again...!

Jenijena · 26/07/2016 19:43

I did, both times, starting maternity leave on due date. However I took a few days annual leave before hand.

It does freak people out when you point out technically you're full term, but I'd rather have had the time off once the baby was born.

Babies came, according to due dates (which were slightly different tob'my' dates) at 40+6 and 40+2 so they got the post it note...

Acunningruse · 26/07/2016 19:43

32 weeks with DC2 and if I could I would go on maternity leave tomorrow. You would be insane to leave it til 40 weeks. Not least baby may come before then meaning you would be leaving work unfinished.

SmallBee · 26/07/2016 19:44

I don't think there is any technical reason why not, however never in my wildest dreams would I do it unless it was a financial choice. What are your reasons?

I found that once the third trimester hit my energy levels dissappeared. As the baby grows so does your spd pain and lack of mobility.
In addition it means you'll get little to no resting time before the baby arrives and you don't really want to be worn out before labour starts.

My work ask that I use up all my annual leave for the year if possible before taking maternity, so I started my 'holiday ' at 36 weeks but I don't actually start mat leave until 40 weeks, is there any way you can do something similar?

Solasum · 26/07/2016 19:44

I had my baby on day 2 of my maternity leave, which I started at 38 weeks...

kimlo · 26/07/2016 19:44

By my due date dd1 was 2 weeks old and dd2 was a week and a half old.

I would go for 38 weeks at the latest.

didireallysaythat · 26/07/2016 19:45

I went on mat leave at 41 weeks and still had a week at home going stir crazy. Similar office job, 30 minute commute by car. I don't think you should plan too much - just see how it goes ? (DS2 I went on mat leave at 39 as I was having a cs at 39.4 - time to get my hair cut before everything).

Iloveowls2 · 26/07/2016 19:46

I had spd with office job. 20 min commute. By 35 weeks I was really really struggling to move and sitting at desk was v painful/could barely reach the keyboard. If I was you I'd plan for at least a couple of weeks before the birth to have some time to yourself. It will be a long time before you get it again, recharge the batteries. Plus if your baby was a little early would you leave a load of loose ends?how much flexibility does the company have to move the date ? Much will depend on your individual circumstances but even those people I know who didn't seem to realise they were pregnant felt exhausted by 37 weeks good luck

emsyj · 26/07/2016 19:47

I finished on a Thursday at 36+4 and had DD1 the following Monday at 37+1, having enjoyed the grand total of one day of relaxing mat leave . Don't leave it til 40 weeks, have some time to relax! Also if you have SPD you may find you are much more uncomfortable by the end.

Effic · 26/07/2016 19:49

I also started maternity leave on my due date. At the time I thought it seemed a bit of a waste to start any earlier as I thought I wanted maximum time with baby. Was back at work in 3 months as the boredom of being a stay at home mum nearly killed me - so much for that plan!!
My DS also got the post it note and arrived a couple of days afterwards BUT I had a very easy pregnancy and breezed through it - not sure if you are on walking sticks etc??
Do you have to make a decision.....how flexible are work? Can you stick with the date but if you have to go earlier .... You have to go?!

eatsleephockeyrepeat · 26/07/2016 19:52

Well I planned to start mine at 38 weeks but baby had other ideas and came at 37. I didn't tie up any loose ends: it must've been a nightmare for my cover.

Even before 37 weeks my boss had told me to work from home more; bump was huge and I think they all thought I should be resting or nesting or whatever. I did have to agree when the size of bump meant driving got, well, difficult.

I'll say you can plan to do whatever you like... But don't necessarily expect things to go to plan!

Whatthefreakinwhatnow · 26/07/2016 19:55

I had to work until my due date exactly with DD1 to make sure id been in post 52 weeks and so was entitled to enhanced mat pay. It was fine and I felt physically OK, baby came at 42 weeks.

With DC2 though I was buggered by SPD, could barely walk by 30 weeks, went to half days and limped through to 37 weeks when I conceded defeat lol!

Farfromtheusual · 26/07/2016 20:00

Don't do it!! Bring it forward..

I planned to do mine right up until 38 weeks and ended up bringing it forward by 4 weeks - and even then I had cut my shift's down to 4 hours and still went home sick 3 days early - and even though that was because I developed a DVT, I would of still struggled to make it to the end.

Farfromtheusual · 26/07/2016 20:01

I also only work in a call centre/office environment.

DesignedForLife · 26/07/2016 20:17

Bring it forward, you'll appreciate the time to rest and get a few things straightened out!

2nds · 26/07/2016 20:21

Definitely bring it forward by 2-3 weeks. Not every first time mother goes over their due date, I have 2 kids and I didn't make it to my due date with either of them.

DowntonDiva · 26/07/2016 20:25

Have some time to yourself. I went on Mat leave at 38+6, went into labour 39+4. I was gutted, first babyI was convinced I'd be 2 weeks over and was sure I had weeks left.

Lovelyname · 26/07/2016 20:25

With my first i went up to 39 weeks and dd was 2 weeks late so i still had two weeks off before she arrived. I felt fine, i think if you feel okay thrn its fine, and you get more time off with baby!

OublietteBravo · 26/07/2016 20:30

I worked until the last possible day (I finished on the Friday - my EDD was the Monday). DD was 12 days late - I don't think I've ever been so bored in my life. No way would I have wanted to finish any earlier.

With DS I finished 6.5 weeks before his EDD and really enjoyed the time with DD (DS was 11 days late, so I got 2 months with her).

Just5minswithDacre · 26/07/2016 20:32

I'd be tempted to try for it under certain circumstances (if it was the only way I could be sure of affording a whole year ML, for example) but accept that i might not make it that far, esp with SPD.

Most first babies will arrive after term anyway, so that tilts the odds in your favour.

If there were no financial, work or other pressures, I'd aim for 37 weeks.

Groovee · 26/07/2016 20:36

I had dd at 37 weeks with only a weeks leave in the days when you got 14 weeks. If I had been working with ds I would have left earlier than 36 weeks.

DailyFailAteMyFish · 26/07/2016 20:37

Is it a first baby?
I worked until after my due date in a dull office job, I used annual leave to go down to 3 days a week in the last couple of weeks. In the end I was 2 weeks overdue.
I did weep as I had no clothes that fit though!

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Gizlotsmum · 26/07/2016 20:37

I planned to start maternity leave the Monday before my Daughter was due on the wed. I had her the wed before and made a frantic call to work to arrange someone else to get to site for me! With my son my contract finished a month before he was due so I took may leave then.. He arrived 2 weeks early!

MrsJoeyMaynard · 26/07/2016 20:38

With DS1, I went off at 33 weeks - I'd saved up a lot of annual leave, so had tagged that on the front of the maternity leave (I think that was due to kick in around 37 weeks).

My waters only went and broke the night after my last day at work. And then DS1 was born the week after, at 34+1. So just as well I had gone off work early, in the end.

DoinItFine · 26/07/2016 20:38

I might give yourself a week to get your shit together, so maybe 39 weeks rather than 40.

It's hard to plan anything at all once you know you are past your due date. Everything feels (and is) provisional.

I wouldn't have wanted any more of my maternity leave to have been when I was too big and uncomfortable to do anything.

Time crawls lnce you don't have something to keep you distracted.

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