Maternity leave - can I ask when you started/plan to start?

[Surf25]

The title says it all really. Just 16 weeks with twins but trying to plan ahead. Clear caveat that I am talking about an ideal and that I am aware things could change! Would be really helpful to know folks thoughts about starting maternity leave - when they did it/would they advise someone else the same or different/expectant mums of multiples when are you planning to stop work?

[mellysam]

I finished at 33 weeks.
For my job I commute approx 30mins by car and work shifts, two early mornings, two afternoons, two nights. The job is not an office job but it does entail sitting at a screen, then breaks where I could put my feet up and read a book.
I was concerned that I was finishing too early but by the time it came around I was so happy to go (it was only two weeks ago!) the morning shifts for me were the worst because of lack of sleep from babies wriggling/generally uncomfortable/three toilet trips every night without fail. Afternoons were fine but by the end of the evening I did ache under my bump. The car journey was no problem. I was very slow walking and took the lift in my work building.
It probably depends what your job is, mine was not that physically demanding but I was happy to be finishing, now I'm spending most of my days either playing xbox, knitting or doing puzzles waiting for these babies to arrive!
Best of luck!

[Cakescakescakes]

I finished at 34 weeks. Everyone said it was too early but I loved it. I had time for relaxing, getting house ready and cleaned, cooking for the freezer, meeting friends for lunch, enjoying a coffee and book by myself. It was great. Especially with twins you're likely to need to finish early.

[LemonDr1zzle]

I finished at 28 weeks - office job but a 1.5 commute into London. I was enormous though and had SPD for the last few months, so walking / moving was almost impossible. It was great.

[neversleepagain]

30 weeks, long hours, physical job. Babies born 4 weeks later.

[Iwantagoonthetrampoline]

30 weeks, but started winding down using leave & flexitime for the last three. I was definitely ready to finish but mainly had planned to stop then as was convinced they would come early. Ended up being induced at 38 weeks.

[April241]

I work as a theatre nurse, 10 hour shifts mostly on my feet with 30/40 minutes travelling each way and various shift patterns. I planned on working till 30 weeks then using up 3 weeks annual leave and starting maternity at 33 weeks. I ended up being signed off work at 25 weeks (I'm now 28+1) with pelvic/hip and upper back pain and am seeing a physio. I'm gutted I can't get to work as I really wanted to finish up at 30 weeks however things are getting really difficult now so I suppose it was for the best.

Good luck whatever you choose!

[BossWitch]

38 weeks. Teacher, about 50 minute commute each way (driving). Luckily was working in a really nice school with lovely kids so pretty much taught sitting down for the final two weeks, and had the 2 week easter holiday before that which gave me a bit of a break. Was 100% done by my last day though. DD born two weeks later. It was do-able, but I think next time I'll go for 37 weeks instead of 38, just to have a bit more time for sleeping & nesting before it all kicks off!

[SortItAhhht]

36 weeks, although with twins you might need to start earlier than that!

[BossWitch]

What I found really interesting was talking to the older women at work who all had to (by law I think) start their mat leave at 7 months. They felt really sorry for us young ones waddling through to near enough full term! But I can't imagine how bored I would have been if I'd been at home so early - let alone how broke we would have been!

[April241]

Oh also, forgot to add. I was totally fine other than a bit achy up until 24 weeks but one of my twins decided to flip and ended up transverse while the other one stayed cephalic. The transverse baby put too much pressure on my diaphragm which the consultant thought in turn was squeezing nerves and causing the upper back pain. It's gone now as baby is more breech than transverse so their positioning can change things quickly. Lovely .

[Surf25]

Thanks everyone! It is a help to hear what others have done. My consultant has told us that the twins will be born at 36 weeks all being well, so am thinking about perhaps 32/33 weeks or so. Although I might have some annual leave to use up too. Work in the NHS, but not as much on my feet as you are, April! Definitely worth bearing in mind that there are probably more variables that can change with twins such as needing more monitoring/changing of position etc!

[LemonDr1zzle]

Surf why are you only aiming for 36 weeks? Has the advice changed so much in recent years (my twins are now teens)?

With my twins, I was in tears with the consultant begging for a section at 36 weeks - they wanted to wait for as long as possible, at least until 38 weeks.

But my waters broke at 37 weeks, so the decision was out of our hands.

[TheEagle]

I finished at 30 weeks and I was really struggling by then.

I'm a teacher and at the time had about a 40 minute commute each way.

I had a 17 month old at home and he was bringing lots of bugs from nursery and I couldn't fight them off.

My twins were born at 35+6 after I went into labour spontaneously.

I wasn't at all bored (had a toddler at home!) but was relieved to be finished.

[TheEagle]

Just to say that my consultant would have signed me off anytime from 24ish weeks.

[Snowberry86]

I'm 28 weeks and plan to go on mat leave from 38 weeks. I teach in a tough secondary 30 miles from home so I think I may be crazy but I want as much time off as possible with baby.

Luckily I've got the 6 week summer holiday off so getting a proper break at the minute. It's going to be really tough going back in September for 5 weeks!

[Potplant]

30 weeks. I was So exhausted just getting to work. i would come in from work at 6.30, have a sandwich and go to bed. And it was a hot summer as well with no ac in the car. I couldn't have managed another day of it. (Or fit behind the wheel of the car either )

I was told that I would be having a section at 38 weeks, but to be prepared for 36 weeks just in case. They came at 34 weeks.

[April241]

Lemon my consultant is also aiming for 36/37 weeks and won't let me go by 37 weeks he says. I believe the NICE guidelines say now that anything over 37 weeks puts babies at risk of placenta failure etc although don't quote me on it I, I haven't read them yet :)

[LemonDr1zzle]

Thanks April

[Surf25]

Yes Lemon sounds like things have changed! For MCDA twins they aim for 36-37 weeks and that for us falls right at Christmas week so likely to be induced or planned section closer to the 36 than the 37 mark depending on lie of babies. For DCDA they aim for 37 weeks now. Increased risk of complications such as placental failure as April said. Suits me fine! Am really interested that people don't regret going earlier. I have three other dc - 6,5 and 1, so it wouldn't be putting my feet up anyway!!! Lots to think about.

[Lules]

Only one baby - I went at 37 weeks (technically 38 weeks but with a week's annual leave). I ended up going 12 days over and was so bored I wished I'd stayed another week, although I'm not sure I could have had another week spending my commute vomiting in the train toilet (was sick the entire pregnancy).

[Surf25]

The other thing for me is that with three under two years old and another two older, I won't be going straight back to work although am unsure if I'll take a career break or hand my notice in... So I don't need to factor in the needing to remain at work so that I have as much time off as possible afterwards iykwim. And boredom won't be a factor, it never is around here!!! Thank you for all of your help and insight into your thoughts and plans! Really appreciate it!

[ElodieS]

I stopped working at 34 weeks, and they arrived at 36 weeks. Technically my maternity leave started the day before they were born and the time prior to that was annual leave, but that's just because I needed to use it up really.

From about 30 weeks I started to drop cases (lawyer) and worked more and more from home, handed stuff over and started working more reasonable hours I'd say. My employers were very understanding, and a little scared I think... I was massive.

[ElodieS]

I stopped working at 34 weeks, and they arrived at 36 weeks. Technically my maternity leave started the day before they were born and the time prior to that was annual leave, but that's just because I needed to use it up really.

From about 30 weeks I started to drop cases (lawyer) and worked more and more from home, handed stuff over and started working more reasonable hours I'd say. My employers were very understanding, and a little scared I think... I was massive.

[Potplant]

Well if you've got 3 other little ones at home you're probably better off staying at work as long as you can .

[Degustibusnonestdisputandem]

I finished at 34 weeks (but was booked in for ELCS at 36 weeks) - I was pretty much ready to start mat leave though.