How do you decide how much MAT leave to take?

[Makemyselfhappy]

Just that really, asking as I've recently found out I'm pregnant.

Depends how much you like your job 😅

I personally don't want to back at all so taking the full 12 month plus any extra holiday saved,so I'll be off for 13/14 month. However I've had to seriously cut back and save to make sure I have month extra for those months we don't get paid.

Also work out nursery, and if you'd be saving much by being off work and not having baby in nursery, if you're much better off working, then take a shorter maternity.

I took 6 months with no1, returning when she was 5 1/2 months full time. I deeply regretted it at the time and still do, it was not enough and the daft thing is we could have afforded for me to have a whole year, but oh (now ex!) didn’t want to pay! She was a terrible sleeper and in combination it was the beginning of the end if my marriage.

With no2, I had 9 months and tied it in with holidays meaning she will be 10 months old when I properly start back. Even with lockdown etc, I have loved it and don’t regret it at all, I’d love to be off for longer!

I saved hard and used my savings. OH earns less than me so wasn’t able to help financially, but has helped with reducing what we spend as a family. I had to give 8 weeks notice if my intention to return, so you can always say you want longer but if you can’t afford it or it’s driving you mad, you can come back sooner.

I took 9 months off for both and it was long enough, I felt being away from work for much longer would make it too hard getting re-established in the workplace. I used my accrued annual leave a day or two a week with my employers agreement to ease myself back in. The other factor for me were that 9 months meant going back in the late autumn when the days were getting shorter and colder and being out and about with the babies wasn't as appealing.