Maternity leave decisions !

[Abbyd222]

Wondering if anyone can please help with maternity and annual leave.

I work for the nhs (part some) and I am due my baby April 13th 2020 so im currently 21 weeks pregnant.
I have been trying to decide when to start maternity pay and was originally thinking trying to go as far to the end as I can even though I am struggling already !
I think that I still accure my annual leave whilst I'm off on maternity leave that can be added on to the end ?
I have currently booked all this year's holiday using it to reduce my 12 hour shifts which takes me to the middle of January and I am 29 weeks in the last week of January which is when I can first start maternity leave from. Like I said above I was going to try and push myself until March but I am now thinking if i do that then I will loose out on alot of annual leave when I return in march 2021? As I would only have a month to use my holiday up. I'm sorry if this doesn't make sense hoping someone can gather what I'm trying to ask which is would I be better going on mat leave at end of January 2020 (29 weeks) and ending it in January 2021 then adding holiday on the end? Then I would go back the end of March? Is this correct ? Really hope this makes sense
Thank you to anyone who responds

Whatever works for you, but I get what you're saying. I did the same and took mine at 30 weeks as was misreable at work. Tagging some holidays onto the end and go back to work same time as someone who worked right up to (close to mine) due date. If you can make it work for you it's worth the relaxing and extra sleep before baby comes along! You don't want to give up time at the end though probably so if you can figure out a way to balance it, I found going early so worth it. But everyone is different and some people get bored

Hey thanks for tge reply I'm thinking I would be loosing out on holiday if I go any later than the end on Jan. I'm struggling now tbh I'm on a busy ward and as much as I'm only part time I have two other little ones at home which adds to the pregnancy tiredness and defo won't be getting bord going early with two others to look after. Just don't want to look weak either but alot of people keep saying you don't get any thanks for pushing yourself. Hoping someone knows I can defo add holiday on to the end of 12 months mat leave

Not quite got the full sense of your post, but just wanted to clarify that yes, you do still accrue holiday whilst on mat leave. And I would do which ever arrangement means you get maximum time with baby

Sorry if I’ve missed but how many hours / shifts do you do currently? If it is 3 shifts per week, can you take some leave in Feb so it is only 2 shifts? You won’t actually lose any leave, however you take it but the sooner you start the less time you will actually have with the baby.
Having said that, I finished at 36 weeks for dc2, planning to have some time with dc1 and went into labour on day 1 of my maternity leave. I’m convinced if I’d stayed at work another week, I wouldn’t have gone into labour for another week.

You could ask your employer if you would be bound by the same annual leave year rules when returning from maternity leave. If you’re worried that you wouldn’t have time to use it all when you get back, I don’t think you can lose it in these circumstances.

Thanks for replys.
I've already uses all my holiday for this work year so haven't got any left to use.
Thanks Cflaming Smith for the reply. If I defo get all my holiday while off then I would only get a few weeks extra with baby by going longer so youve anwered my quwstion. Sorry for the long question didn't know how to word it.
Thanks taswama I do 24 hours a week atm but like I said above have already used holiday for this work year (April-April) and oh wow did you I was early too with both my other children (for being two active I reckon) so thinking I need to slow down towards the end this time lol.
Blue ladybird I know I can't loose it just thinking they would prefer me to use it all before going back and then start a fresh year with normal holiday entitlement.

Thanks for replys Sorry if it didn't make sense but thanks to those who tried to understand lol. Will ask boss to add my 7 weeks holiday to the end of 12 months maternity leave and hope I've made the right choice lol.