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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

When did you start mat leave?

31 replies

OutCuteBaby567 · 10/07/2024 11:48

I'm due to start mat leave at 38 weeks, C section planned at week 39. But...I'm 32 weeks and absolutely knackered. My job is physically easy, wfh as much as I like (although I hate WFH!!) but mentally very taxing, I'm a solicitor so lots of filings, deadlines, small daily shit that if I miss, I get my clients in trouble for, lots of admin, and my brain just.does.not.work.

I'm British but live abroad atm, I only get 20 weeks mat leave. I really really wanted to work until week 38 but I can't hack it. AIBU? Suck it up somehow? How?

I sleep an average of 2-3 hours per night between itching from cholestatis, pain from PGP, and bathroom trips. The second bathroom trip of the night really wakes me up. Writing this down I don't know how I'm still going.

OP posts:
TimeGoesBySoSlowlyForThoseWhoWait · 10/07/2024 11:58

OP, can you talk to work and say you think you’re going to start making mistakes and that you would be happy to reduce your hours to keep working rather than go off now. They might prefer half of you than none, if it’s at all possible and won’t affect your maternity pay of you can take the hit now

TimeGoesBySoSlowlyForThoseWhoWait · 10/07/2024 11:57

@JC89 not sure depending on the country but here if you go on sick leave for any reason past a certain point it automatically triggers your maternity leave starting.

CocoPlum · 10/07/2024 11:56

Started with 2 weeks of A/L at 35 weeks with mat leave officially from 37 weeks. As soon as I left I was napping every afternoon, I remember one day meeting NCT group for lunch and by the time it was over just being ready to drop. I'm so glad i was able to finish when I did.

JC89 · 10/07/2024 11:55

If you're finding work difficult for medical reasons (e.g. the PGP) can you take some sick leave? I would delay mat leave as long as you can do you get longer with baby!

DeedlessIndeed · 10/07/2024 11:53

I stopped at 36 weeks as I just mentally couldn't keep up and I just wanted to be at home. I found a lot of my responsibilities stressful towards the end and was conscious that I couldn't perform up to standard.

I was also finding work was taking all my energy / mental capacity so I was struggling to get prepared for baby - basically failing at everything.

I also wanted to have time for just me and husband, time to relax and go for relaxing lunches, time to enjoy the last few days of child-freeness.

MummyDummyNow · 10/07/2024 11:52

It's up to you as only you know how you feel but if you can carry on for a bit longer I'd really try. I worked until the week before I gave birth, and I was on my feet (no idea how I did it) but time with your child is so precious I'm sure you'll want more time off when they're here.