How pregnant were you when you started your maternity leave, and were you happy with it?

[MrsBromeliad]

I'm a self-employed private tutor and trying to work out when I should start my maternity leave. Because I work for myself, I'll only get paid state maternity allowance which isn't very much at all, so I don't want to start too early if I can avoid it. I can claim it from 26 weeks pregnant, which isn't far away for me at all, but have no idea when people normally start their maternity leave.

As a tutor, all my work is sitting down, and not physically tiring, and I don't work long hours, so I was hoping to keep working for quite a lot longer than 26 weeks! But I'll need to give my clients some notice, so don't just want to see when I don't feel able to work any more.

Anyone want to recommend me their maternity leave starting date?

Thanks in advance!

[MrsBromeliad]

Thank you so much, everybody, for your experiences!!

As you can probably tell, I'm a first-time mum so no idea what to expect, and wasn't sure if there was something about pregnancy I hadn't anticipated that would floor me from 26 weeks onwards! I'm healthy with no family history of anything worrying in terms of pregnancy, so it certainly sounds like I can keep working until much much nearer the time which is a relief!

36/37 weeks is sounding quite common and popular, which might be what I aim for based on what people are saying so far!

[GrumpyHoonMain]

Took leave at 38 weeks and Mat leave officially from 40 weeks.

[uglyface]

Primary teacher (Year 3 so not little ones) - planned to work until 39 weeks and was doing absolutely fine....until my waters went at 37 weeks and I had to be induced.

I genuinely think I would have still been ok at 39 weeks, but I’m used to the long hours, and most of it can be done at home late into the evening.

[DinosApple]

30 weeks, after I passed out driving in a traffic jam. Pregnancy gives me know blood pressure.

I had 11 weeks leave before baby arrived 😂, it was great!

[strawberriesunited]

Work as a retail manager and worked up until 38 weeks, found it hard not going to lie. Probably shouldve done 36-37 weeks!

[CallieCat19]

My mat leave officially started on my due date but I took 2 weeks annual leave beforehand. My baby was 2 weeks late, I wish I’d worked up until my due date and saved my annual leave for end of my mat leave

[Inchstonesbeatmilestones]

38 with first, 36 with second (he must have been in a rush as contractions started that evening and he arrived just before midnight)

[jessstan2]

38 weeks, was very happy with that. My baby was five days early so I nearly had him at work :-).

[Wolfgirrl]

35 weeks. DD was born at 36! I expected to br induced at 38 weeks so thought I would have a few weeks to get stuff together. Didnt end up that way!

[kersh33]

I'm 36+3 and finishing at the end of this week and so glad I am! We are going through a heatwave here (35+ degrees) and I haven't slept well for weeks with awful night sweats.

Can't wait to be able to disconnect from work and nap in the afternoons as constantly exhausted. Currently WFH in a desk job, but quite full on with lots to do and a fair bit of pressure so really could do with the down time before the baby gets here!

[chocolateoranges33]

I had an office job with a 45 minute commute in my car. Mentally taxing but not physically. I chose to go at 37 weeks (baby was arriving via c section at 39 week). Don't regret it at all, enjoyed lazying around for 2 weeks and had longer at home with the baby afterwards. It all depends on how stressful/tiring being at work is in my opinion.

[Nowisthemonthofmaying]

I'm also a self-employed private tutor, and FTM. I'm currently 36 weeks and this is my first week of leave. What I decided to do was stop working now but not start claiming MA until the baby's due date. I only really did this though because I wanted to still be 'officially' working when I apply for the second SEISS grant, otherwise I probably would have just started claiming MA earlier.

I will say that even though I WFH and teach online, I was really ready to stop working by 36 weeks. I really feel like I need this time to just rest and chill out a bit before the baby comes, and do all the sorting out of baby clothes etc. I feel fine and have had a good pregnancy health-wise, but it's just a relief not to have to think about lesson planning etc - I find it can take up a lot of headspace!

[notacooldad]

Ds1 I started mat leave on a friday and he was born 7 days later
I hadnt started mat leave with Ds1. I still had a week before I was due to finish.

[Inchstonesbeatmilestones]

@Inchstonesbeatmilestones

38 with first, 36 with second (he must have been in a rush as contractions started that evening and he arrived just before midnight)

Brain fart, should have said 34 weeks with 2nd (he was 6 weeks early). Sorry, been a long day 😂

[EventRider1]

I had annual leave to use up so went at 36 weeks planning for my mat leave to start on the babies due date which was just under 4 weeks away. Baby decided to rock up 10 days early so I didn't get as much 'me' time as I had hoped but glad that I went off when I did!

[April1990]

Office job! Finished at 36 weeks and have taken 4 weeks annual leave until due date.

No regrets!

[ifoundafoxcaughtbydogs]

The day before my due date. But - I have an office job, a very easy pregnancy and very relaxed / supportive employers so were happy for me to decide last minute to go sooner.

The health visitor told me off on the pre-birth call though. I phoned and asked for someone different who was lovely.

[ifoundafoxcaughtbydogs]

Oh and yes - I'd leave it that late again.

[Rover83]

I'm a nurse the first 2 I finished at 36 weeks, the third I ended up on medical leave from 32/33 weeks, induced at 36 as she was unwell. This time I have to go on medical leave from 28 weeks as the current covid guidelines from the society of gynaecologists and obstetricians are to be at least 1 metre away from others at all times from 28 weeks which obviously isnt possible in health care and I dont have any office work. I wont start maternity leave until the baby is born as the medical leave covers me until then

[Catawaul]

I worked until 39 weeks and after finishing work I was just clock watching anxiously. I wouldn't have enjoyed having a longer time off before baby was born, but I know some do.

[Beautiful3]

I broke up 4 weeks before the baby was due because of the long commute to work. I felt happy with this.

[FelicityPike]

I was no longer pregnant when mine started.
I had my DD at 31 weeks, so started my mat leave at 31 +1.

[Everhopefulhev]

34 weeks but that was because of placenta previa. Without that condition I was initially planning to reach 37

[nedtherobbot]

38 weeks and 4 days, 3 days before elective C section. I worked in a private day nursery at the time with the oldest group. Physical care activities were left to other members of staff, I went on walks, sat and read, sang and played, did bits of paper work for other staff. Worked out really well for all involved as it fell at the end of a half term holiday and allowed me to transition the last intake to preschool at the prep. The three days I spent at home were more than enough for me personally!

[BadTattoosAndSmellLikeBooze]

With my first, I took 2 weeks annual leave at 36 weeks and started maternity leave straight afterwards at 38 weeks. I was a SAHM when I had my second child but I think I would have maybe finished a bit sooner as I had a more difficult pregnancy. It depends how you’re feeling.