Mat leave advice

[user1480264544]

Hi all im just looking for advice on when to go on maternity leave? With my first I left work on the Friday and had her in my arms the following Tuesday! .. yep I worked the full 40 weeks! This time o certainly don't want to do that so how long would you say is enough? Considering I have a toddler who will be 2 when I go on leave! I work in retail at the moment so on my feet most of the day! I'm due on the 29th of july so not long left!! Any advice will be appreciated x

[DinosaurFanGirl]

I'm due 27th July and begin mat leave on 19th June, I fancied a good five weeks off as the commute is already a struggle for me. I'm taking 6 months off so shall be back at work when the rest of the office returns from xmas holidays! X

[Lemondrop09]

It's very personal, most mums I know have gone on mat leave at least 3 weeks before their expected due date.

I can't wait to stop! I've been hording my annual leave specifically so I can finish a good six weeks early (mostly A/L) before my mat leave even kicks in . Do you have any leave left?

[Mamabear468]

When I had my dd she was due at the end of July, ended up turning up first week of August. I finished work at the end of June but used a weeks holiday and had 3 weeks mat leave before my due date. It was mostly due to how warm it was that year and lack of sleep making it difficult to get up and face work. I think it also depends how your workplace is going to be about sitting down breaks etc if it gets​ more difficult to do your job before your mat leave. It's pretty much down to what to use are comfortable with really

[FanaticalFox]

36 weeks was the limit for me definitely.

[toomuchtimereadingthreads2016]

I'm due on the 28th June and early in pregnancy planned on working the 40 weeks because with DD1 I finished my degree and had a miserable eight weeks waiting for her to be born and go two weeks overdue! Once all the nice nesting was done I was just aware of how slowly time was passing and felt lonely at home most of the day, despite trying to keep busy.

Have been having a rethink though, I can't complain about any aspect of this pregnancy, but I do think I need to rest and recentre myself before DD2 birth rather than rushing and commuting every day... also have toddler DD1 this time so surely won't be bored or lonely! Am provisionally planning to work up to and including the 2nd June (work in accounting, thats our closing date for May), and the 5th is a no work day anyway so would start on the 6th... Have massive guilt over leaving my colleagues with extra work but am so tired in the afternoons now that I could very happily not come back in tomorrow!

[user1480264544]

Thanks all this is really helpful x
I've got about 3 weeks holiday left.. I was think originally going on may leave on the 30th of June but that was most definitely provisional as I'm up and down on my feet for 4 hours Monday to Friday and then chair my toddler about for the rest of the day and as much as my work are trying to accommodate me .. the hours I do dictate my job role so they don't really appreciate why I can't bend down to the bottom shelf or help customers look at suitcases that are located on high shelfs lol! I'm massive already so I know when the heat kicks in I'm
Not going to cope very well! Maybe I'll take my holiday in early June and then start my mat leave when I was going to.. I also want to spend some quality time with my daughter before DD2 comes along x

[Hollyhop17]

I'm due July 19 and going on mat leave mid June. I will be 35 weeks but using two weeks annual leave so mat leave starting at 37 weeks. If I could afford it I would go sooner!

[Daisies123]

I was worried about not getting my annual leave used up before DD came as we aren't allowed to carry it over to the end of maternity leave. So I started mat. leave at 36 weeks and took 4.5 weeks annual leave before that, finishing work at 31.5 weeks.

Best decision I ever made! I ended up with gestational diabetes just after finishing work so was induced at 38 weeks. That 6.5 weeks at home relaxing and enjoying my freedom was utterly brilliant and made me feel better about a long tough maternity leave (took a year but didn't enjoy it and was very happy to be going back to work).

[Justmadeperfectflapjacks]

Make sure the time with toddler isn't too long or she is going to protest more to having to share you!!

[toomuchtimereadingthreads2016]

I live abroad and mat leave is 16 weeks, so am adding my years holidays and BF allowance to the end of that to make up to six months. So the time I take off before birth will have to be a doctors note. I thought this would be a problem but investigating properly the government recommended finish date for my type of work is 37 weeks, especially with the amount of driving I do each day. Really hope I don't get miserable and time doesn't stand still like last time though, at least I am busy in work!

[TestingTestingWonTooFree]

Responsible office job.

Baby 1 finished at 38w, found last week terrible, had baby at 38w+3 days ish, EMCS due to pre-eclampsia. Resented not swanning around and relaxing in 38-42 weeks as expected.

Baby 2, planning on ELCS at 39 weeks, baby 1 now 2.5 year old toddler. Finished at 36 weeks. Pretty tired for last week. Toddler stays in normal childcare, but with earlier collections on grandparent days. Now at 38 weeks, v glad not to be in work. Finding it much harder to do baby prep due to toddler.

In retail I wouldn't dream of working beyond 36 weeks but you may have more stamina than me.

[user1480264544]

Yeah in my last pregnancy I worked in insurance and was made redundant at 27 weeks moving into a new house so every penny was needed .. plus I could sit down all day and eat cake so I was fine! lol it's settled I'm going to speak to my work tomo and arrange it! Most likely the begging of June! Eek how exciting x

[DeliciouslyHella]

Teacher here.

DC1 - went on summer holidays at 30 weeks, did a day at work when I was 36 weeks, officially started maternity leave then. DD was born at 38+6.

DC2 - Due 21st July. Am starting maternity leave on 3rd June as I'm not returning after maternity and am already finding the commute a struggle.

[GaladrielsRing]

I'm 33 weeks and officially started mine yesterday, although have been off since 29 weeks on A/L. I have a very manual physical job and just couldn't cope.

With my first I was supposed to finish at 39 weeks but had dd at 38 weeks, with my second I left at 38 weeks and had ds at 39 weeks.

[sailorcherries]

Teacher.

Finished work on 31st March for Easter break at 32+6 but didn't officially start mat leave until today at 35+3. Having an elcs 4 weeks today and struggling with sciatica, spd and insomnia. I couldn't keep working even if I wanted to.