How many weeks before due date did you finish work?

[Jellybabie3]

I am due 23rd September. I was thinking of finishing at the end of August, which will allow me time off (with annual leave) until 1st October 2018 but i am not sure 3 weeks is enough before? I have no idea obviously how i am going to feel - i am currently approaching 21 weeks. I am just aware i will need to let work know soonish

[Friolero]

I finished at 36 weeks with my first (going back a while now!) and then he was a week late so I had 5 weeks off before he was born. It seems a lot now, but was struggling with the commute (long train and tube journey) so I was definitely ready to stop work.

[MissBax]

I am pregnant now with my first, and due to my schedule I'm going to try and work up to 39 weeks as it would make sense (finish a project at that time), however work have said if I am struggling I can go earlier and to just play it by ear. I was initially going to leave 4 weeks before but I worry I'll be sat around for a month twiddling my thumbs and that would mean 4 weeks less with baby

[traceysn3]

i worked 2 weeks before due date with all 3 of mine, hardest being with my 3rd as i was working with 2 other children and found it so hard! few times i wished i just finished earlier but once had baby i was glad i had that little bit of xtra time with them b4 going back to work! but i think it all depends on what type of job you do aswel

[Lemondrop09]

I'm leaving as early as possible! I've specifically stashed and rolled over annual leave for this so I have around 30 days A/L to take. I'm also due in late September and I'm hoping to leave work in early or mid August. Partly because I don't want the commute, but because my job has been a nightmare for the last year or so and I can't wait to get out!

What I can't decide is whether to trigger my Mat leave on my due date or slightly earlier. If I go into labour early, I know it gets triggered automatically then, but as there's a good chance I'll be redundant, I'm not sure what will happen to any A/L that gets superceeded by early Mat leave. Not sure if that makes sense.

In summary, as soon as humanly possible! I'd rather be bored at home than stuck at my current job

[Lenny1980]

Enough for what? Three weeks is a long time to be sat around waiting for baby to arrive. If you have health concerns, or will struggle to do your job at that time that's fair enough. I finished 10 days before due date, would have gone later probably but it was a bank holiday and month end so seemed a natural break. I didn't want loads of time sat at home thinking about what I was about to go through.

[BringMeTea123]

I finished at 32 weeks, only as I took all my holiday which was about 3 weeks before my mat pay kicked in. However I was more than ready to finish, I work in retail so was on my feet for long hours at a time through the summer months

[Catlover1812]

I say if you can afford it, take a few weeks off before and enjoy doing nothing. I planned to have just under 4 weeks off before due date (finish work this Friday) but I have just found out I need to be induced for medical reasons at 37 weeks, which only gives me a few days of mat leave! I'm so ready to finish now! X

[user1471546359]

I finished at 38 weeks both times, office job and easy commute so it was fine but I was pleased to finish!! Then got very bored with my first as she was 10 days overdue. Glad I hadn't finished earlier as well, don't know what I would have done!!

[TestingTestingWonTooFree]

38 weeks first time, 36 weeks 2nd time. How physical is your job and how difficult is your commute?

[Icklepickle101]

I left at 36 weeks and had him at 37 so didn't get much me time before hand (waters broke half way through batch cooking!) obviously you could go 2 weeks over though which could impact how much time you have with baby?

[Ilovewillow]

39 weeks with my first, she was 6 days late and I wished I worked longer I was so bored. 38 weeks with my second as it was school hols and I had my first to look after too. Second was a week early so in hindsight it was a good thing!

[Squeezed]

You can plan for that but you never know how you might feel. Last pregnancy I planned to work until 37 weeks and take holiday but was signed off at 30. I should have listened to medical advice and stopped sooner. Just listen to your body and medical advice.

[WhatwouldRuthdo]

I'll be finishing at 35-36 weeks this time. I have SPD and am already struggling with the long train/tube commute at 24 weeks. 2 weeks of this will be annual leave though and I have a 3 year old DS and grand batch cooking plans, so don't think I'll be bored.

[Jellybabie3]

Ok thank you. Looks like 3 weeks is plenty providing i am medically OK. I have a desk based job (although i do get out and about i am expecting this to happen less as time goes on) and only a 35 min commute by car

[StripySocks1]

I'm on maternity leave now, I planned to work right up to my due date and I was even going to work beyond it if my baby hadn't arrived right on time, but I went into labour in my due date. I want to spend as much time as possible with my baby before I have to return to work.

I do think it depends on your job though, I was just sitting in an office so it wasn't a job where I had to use a lot of energy.

[lilyborderterrier]

I'm pregnant with my 2nd and have just been planning my maternity leave, I am a self employed childminder so I'm trying to work up until the 21st July when schools finish so that'll be good for my mindees parents who are teachers. I'll be 35 weeks and I have my own 4.5 year old so it's not like I'll be relaxing or nesting. The joys of my job does mean I can sit down and rest. 🤔
Finishing then would mean I get the summer holidays with my daughter before she starts school in September but It could all change as I am consultant led and may need a planned caesarean but I've got to make some sort of plan.

But actually after a rubbish night not being able to sleep, and stroppy fighting 3 years olds I might just finish tomorrow 😡

[Emma2803]

With my first I finished at 35+5 I had an hr and 15 min drive to and from work and was on my feet all day and was exhausted. Was a long time to wait though.
I'm currently six weeks with no 2 and as I've changed jobs im hoping to work to 37+3 as I'm only 30 min drive away now and have a desk job.

[minipie]

34 weeks, when my waters broke.

[EdgarAllenPoe]

36 and a bit weeks but I was measuring huge and swollen, and tired from crap sleep despite only having a desk job, so more than ready by that point. Plus I developed a hideous itchy rash at 37 weeks, so couldn't have worked after that anyway (no sleep and couldn't stand most clothes!) so you never know. I didn't have him until 41 weeks, but I needed a few work and DIY free weeks to relax (I had a very busy pregnancy).

This time round I'm hoping to be able to stop by 36 weeks again. I will use as much leave as possible to avoid starting maternity any earlier than 38 weeks.

[MrsH128]

i'm finishing two weeks before my due date with a/l then mat leave starts on my due date giving me a full 9months off :)

[Topsyloulou]

I took a week's holiday & then two weeks Mat leave before my due date. DS was 2 weeks late so I had 5 weeks at home before he arrived & it was far too much for me. My job is office based with a couple of days travel & a 35 minute commute. This time I'm likely to have an elcs so will have a better idea of when baby will arrive. Will probably leave 2 -3 weeks before elcs date using holiday up first & then starting Mat leave.

[Glitterbaby17]

I'm expecting my first on the 22nd and finished at 36.5 weeks. Tough commute and a job with lots of meetings - I also had low blood pressure and was getting very uncomfortable sitting in a chair all day.

For me was right time to stop (though I will be very bored if she is late) as stress was becoming a bit much for me - I run a big team and is a bit non-stop!

[haveacupoftea]

I think it's quite easy early in pregnancy to assume you'll want to work on up to your due date. A lot of people in my ante natal group have struggled with work post 30 weeks including myself. The first trimester you can feel tired and sicky but the third trimester can be a whole other ball game with severe aches and pains, braxton hicks, sleeping for an hour or two a night then exhaustion through the day, anxiety, mood swings, high blood pressure, swollen hands and feet and that's just off the top of my head - there's more!

My advice is give yourself a few weeks rest because for every person cheerfully working up to their due date there are many more struggling to cope, especially in the warm weather.

[10storeylovesong]

I finished at 27 weeks with my first as went into labour!

I'm currently due again on 2 oct. I'm hoping to start maternity at 38 weeks but have specifically saved all my leave so hoping to finish around 21st August to enjoy a couple of weeks of the summer holidays with my ds before he starts school. It would also mean I'll be there for drop off and pick up for the first few weeks for him. I plan on spending my days in between being very bored - reading, watching crappy TVs and managing to make it to some of those coffee dates my friends have while I'm working 10 hour days in a manic job with an hour commute each way!

[Oysterbabe]

I planned to start at 37 weeks. Baby arrived at 35+5.
I'm pregnant again and planning on working until 38 weeks. We'll see