When to start maternity leave?

[MrsGiraffe12]

So I'm only 12 weeks pregnant but as I work in a cafe and am on my feet and lifting etc for 6 hour periods at a time I'm thinking maternity leave around 33 weeks sounds reasonable.

Especially as it will be hot (hopefully) as it will be around 20th July by then. And will correspond well with DS going on school holidays etc so no child care to pay plus quality time to spend with my son before I get too uncomfortable too.

I'm having an elective c section (medical need to not really "elective" as I'd rather push) between 38-39 weeks so will be 5 - 6 weeks before baby #2 arrives.

When are you / did you take maternity leave from x

[mrsmugoo]

Tomorrow is my last day at work 37+4 but I have been working from home for the last 3 weeks and it is an office job.

See how you feel really.

[Pixielady83]

hi mrsg

I took mat leave from 34 weeks this time, I just couldn't cope with the commute anymore due to tiredness and spd. I'm now into my 6th week of mat leave and am getting a bit twitchy now, I really expected to have had the baby by now due to DD arriving before her due date last time. However I don't regret it as I've got to do loads of nesting and resting, which I didn't get to do last time- finished work at 38wks and had DD less than a week later. I am very fortunate to have a generous holiday entitlement which I used for the first 5 weeks, so only started actual paid mat leave as of last Monday. Basically I would really recommend it if you are in a position to do so and particularly if you're on your feet a lot at work.

[MrsGiraffe12]

Thanks for the replies so far

I should prob add that DS was 2 months early due to PET and they've said I could go early again.

Urgh was soo much easier last time as I was a (mature) student at uni and didn't need to make this descision x

[Mintymoomoo]

I'm the same, I also work in a cafe but my shifts are 9 hours and I close up and cash up alone (only work two days a week) so like you on my feet and come summer it will be manic as we are based on the river so get really busy!

I was planning to work up to 39 weeks (due end if sept) as I would rather have the time off after baby arrives, but have been thinking a lot about maybe taking few weeks off earlier to spend with my 2 DC's during school hols plus this wl cut down child care costs!

I think I might play it by ear and see how tough I find it working in the heat, on my feet all day

[Tea1Sugar]

I'm a teacher so on the go non-stop from 7-6. I've got one more week at work so will be 34weeks when ml starts. Elcs at 38 weeks so I'll have four weeks with my three year old.

[Inglori0us]

See how you go.
I happily worked til 37+4 with my first, and went into labour the evening I stopped so I had no rest time at all.
I'm 32+4 and I'm needing to slow down now (very big baby) and there's no way I could do a job on my feet all day right now.

[dizhin79]

I've got my last day today and am currently 38+4, I work from home and its mainly computer based, I've had an easy pregnancy really. I would realistically have lived to have finished about a week or 2 ago, it's a real hard slog doing it this way and that's without a physically demanding job!

[x0gawjus0x]

I worked in a high dependency dementia nursing home and was fine to work up to 36 weeks, I stopped 12 hour shifts at 28 weeks and for the final 8 weeks did 6 hour shifts. I was fine but everyone's different I suppose!

[Winglet]

I'm finishing up at 32 weeks. I have a generous maternity allowance in my job and have just decided that I want to have some time to myself before the baby is here.

It's a personal choice and I know I won't get bored, I'll just enjoy being able to nap and not have the rush of getting to work every morning to think about. I work in an office, but I'm just a bit fed up now and want the next part to start.

[Trinpy]

I took mat leave from 32 weeks but ended up taking sick leave from 30 weeks because I just couldn't cope anymore. I work on a busy hospital ward, had spd and there was a lot of pressure to keep going.

There were a few funny comments about me finishing early and I thought I would feel really guilty about it but I actually just felt relieved. My bp has gone down and I'm a lot happier now.

I think in your situation, your plan sounds like a good one.