When are you going on maternity leave

[MoonlightMojitos]

So I've got a few weeks left until I need to confirm to my employer the date I want to go on leave. This is my first so I have no idea how I will feel later on and I realise everyone is different but just looking for some advice. I also know alot of people go overdue with their first and I think I'll go mad after too long at home but at the same time I'll be struggling with sleep, being uncomfortable etc by that point so don't know what to do!

It's an office job so not strenuous and sat down alot but I am assistant manager of a quite large team and it's very busy, stressful and mentally draining at times. My commute is literally 5 mins each way so that's not an issue. 36 weeks? Is this a good starting point? 38? Thanks in advance!

[Marley45]

I'm finishing at 37 weeks. Also got an office job which is busy and high pressure. I'm 32 weeks now and it's starting to become a bit too much.

[GinIsIn]

I am finishing very soon now at 36 weeks- I have a 2hr commute each way and was fine up until Christmas, but at 35 weeks, it's killing me!

[MrsBellefleur]

I'm finishing at 39 weeks this time but I'm in an fairly easy office job and work job share so only 2 1/2 days. This is my second though.

With my first my maternity started at 38 weeks and but I used a weeks holiday prior to that so finished work at 37 weeks. That was when I worked full time but still in an easy office job. Dd was nearly two weeks late so I felt like I had a lot of time off that I would have preferred to have had after dd was born.

[uptown8617]

I'm only 21 weeks so I'm possibly being optimistic and know it might get harder later on but I'm planning on working all the way up 39 weeks (2 working days before my due date). I'm planning on managing it by taking annual leave in the weeks running up to it to shorten my week rather than in a big chunk. I'm office based so sat down most of the day.

[UsuallyJustLurk]

I literally couldn't fit behind my steering wheel so stopped at 36 weeks with my first. Aiming for the same with my second! DD1 was 11 days late and I did get a bit fed up, but it was nice to lounge around and nap during the day when a full night's sleep was impossible Good luck, whatever you decide!

[carrotcakecupcake]

With DC1 I was planning on finishing at about 37 weeks, but that was partly because it fell around the Christmas hols (I was due mid Jan). I then realised I'd calculated my leave wrong and had some extra days to take so finished at 36 weeks. Thank goodness I did...my last day was a Thursday and DS arrived the following Monday morning!! Not all first babies are overdue
Following this thread now as not sure when to finish with current pregnancy (am 30 wks). Am thinking of finishing at 38wks but perhaps working my last week from home, but part of me wants to finish ASAP!!

[ellesbellesxxx]

I am leaving at 29 weeks (teacher so at Easter so will be paid up until 31 weeks)
Expecting twins though so already pretty tired!!!!

[MoonlightMojitos]

uptown I was thinking of doing the same to shorten my weeks near the end too. With the bank holidays end of April and beginning of May that'll make 3 x 4 days weeks anyway so was thinking a few extra odd days to make the rest of my last few weeks 3/4 days too.

[Kelsey28]

Im finishing at 35 weeks which seems ridiculously early. I teacher year 2 and sitting on their tiny chairs is really hurting my back . How Easter falls means that I can either finished at 35 weeks or 37 weeks and I think 37 weeks would be pushing it!

[Kelsey28]

So many grammar mistakes! Baby brain!

[MoonlightMojitos]

carrot have you not had to tell your work yet? I thought you had to confirm before 25 weeks? Maybe my work are just being extra strict to the rules! Nice to hear of someone not going 2 weeks over due with their first!

[SquedgieBeckenheim]

With my first I went straight from work to the hospital at 34 weeks.
This time I aim to go on annual leave at 34 weeks, then start mat leave 2 weeks later. I may have to go earlier than that due to the PGP I have though. Really struggled today and I'm only 29 weeks

[user1481490957]

I was originally planning to leave as close to my due date as possible however as this is my first child ive decided to leave at 34 weeks, I want to be able to potter around at my own pace, take nanna naps and enjoy some time to myself as lets face it, this wont happen again for a very long time.

[superram]

Kelsey why does Easter make a difference to you? Make sure you get paid for the Easter hols-even if your first day of maternity is the first week back.

[ConvincingLiar]

I planned to finish at 38 weeks and then have a month pissing about. Instead my baby arrived on day 3 of maternity leave. This time I'll probably finish at 35-6 weeks.

[Sparrowlegs248]

With my first I had my first day of maternity leave at 38+2 and had him.by elcs at 38+6. However, I had been signed off sick for 4 weeks from 32-36 weeks, which helped a lot.

This time, I am 36 tomorrow and bloody knackered. But Ds is still only 17 months and gets up obscenely early. Finishing end of next week if I make it that far.....

[Naschkatze]

I'm planning on finishing at 38. Like Kelsey also a y2 teacher and at 32 weeks now I'm just starting to find it hard but 38 gets me to the end of this term so it felt like a natural point to stop.
I think it's quite a personal decision but nice to know what others are doing - I decided based on the fact that I'd had a relatively easy start to pregnancy, wasn't too tired, felt fairly fit etc. It's getting tough now but hopefully I'll make it!

[TerriB84]

I originally planned to start maternity leave at 38 weeks however I had annual leave remaining so actually finished work at 37 weeks. Glad I did as my last week really was a struggle. I'd had a pretty easy pregnancy up till that point so assumed 38 weeks would be fine. Still waiting for baby to make an appearance (due date is this Friday) and already getting a bit bored and fed up.

[poghogger]

I'm 22 weeks and really tempted to go off at 29 weeks, dd1 is 14m and not sleeping, my commute is an hour and a bit and I'm fully knackered. Plus I'd like to spend some more time with dd1 before the new baby comes. I went off at 37 weeks last time and went 2 weeks over! God thinking about that lovely chill time makes me green with envy for my former self!

I never got bored but then I am very good at relaxing.

[TheNewMrsGerardButler]

I'm finishing next week; I'll be a little under 35 weeks. I woke in care so have to be in for 7am and can be strenuous at times. I'm exhausted and fed up. It also works for us as we are literally waiting to complete on a house and move so it'll be nice to clean and settle in a bit before baby arrives. I'm also going to use the time to cook meals for the freezer, read, etc. It's our first baby.

[Cwtchythings]

I'm finishing at 38 weeks, I can work from home though so will be at home for the last few weeks which should make it easier. Would love to finish now though at 29 weeks, I need some time for naps in my life!

[GreenGoblin0]

this is my second baby. first baby I finished at 36 weeks (2 weeks annual leave then started mat leave at 38 weeks) primarily because both my DSis babies were born around this time. except I was two weeks overdue and had to be induced so had 6 weeks off with no baby - too long and would've preferred this time after baby born as then meant I went back to work when she was 8 months.

this time around am working till 38 weeks, taking two weeks annual leave then officially starting mat leave at 40 weeks.

[LemonyFresh]

I left at 32 weeks but taking 4 weeks annual leave first, so my actual maternity leave starts at 36 weeks. (I'm 35 weeks now)

I wanted to work longer but my role involved long, anti social hours, being on my feet all day and unsympathetic managers. I had chronic back pain which has eased so much since being on mat leave.

[MrsGsnow18]

I'm currently wondering about this too! Interesting seeing people'a responses. My contract says I must stop work at least 2 weeks before due date! I do want to have most of my maternity time after so I think I will aim for 38 weeks. I have no idea how I will feel, but was under the impression it can be brought forward if need be?

[uptown8617]

Moonlight, that's exactly what I'm doing. Using Easter to start reducing to 4 days but I'd forgotten about the early May bank holiday so that's another easy one! That means I might use some annual leave to do 3 days right at the end.

I've got a big project on at work so I want to work as long as possible and am talking to work about getting paid for my remaining holiday at the end of the year which will be a welcome boost for Christmas.