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!

[autumnkate]

I’m a teacher - 39 weeks but the last week was half term.

[ExclamationPerfume]

Went at 37 weeks due to illness. I was supposed to go at 38 weeks. Baby arrived 24 hours later so I had no time to myself at all. The plan originally was that I was going back but I didn't in the end. I wish I had gone at 36 weeks looking back.

[Hardbackwriter]

Went at 38, wished I'd gone at 37 but I think that was just because a massive heat wave hit then so overnight it became much harder. Desk job with an hour each way driving commute three days a week. DS came at 39+1 and I was already quite bored by then so I would have liked maybe an extra week but no longer! I was also only taking six months so didn't want to waste much before he came.

[sarahc336]

38 weeks last time but I felt the last week was very hard and I was very tired, I work in mental health so sat down in my job but emotionally hard, this time I'm going at 37 weeks and may take a couple of extra days leave earlier, you get so tired at the end even walking up stairs can feel like a chore . Plus you need some quiet time before the baby to relax and enjoy some you time before it goes manic

[Strokethefurrywall]

Up until I was in labor with both pregnancies.

Live in a hot country but home, work and hospital were within a couple square miles of each other.

We only get 12 weeks mat leave here though so wanted to save time. Most people work up until a week or so before due dates, unless medically indicated that bed rest is necessary etc.

I obviously would have finished earlier if I was on feet all day or had a long train commute though but both my boys came 37-38 weeks so wouldn't have had much rest.

[whirlwindwallaby]

37 weeks. Ideally I would have worked three days a week from 35 to 39 weeks then finished then. I worked a physical job where I was on my feet all day so full time was a bit much but it was boring waiting to go into labour for three weeks (due date baby).

[StandardPoodle]

39 weeks with DS1 but he was 12 days late.
DS2 was 4 days early and I went into labour at work, went home at lunchtime and had him in the evening.
If you are feeling well (although an older mum, I carried small and was fit), I would work as close as possible to your due date.

[LemonDrizzles]

Both times my mat leave started two weeks before my due date. I had/have a sedentary role. Also, I took a few walking breaks during the day.

[LemonDrizzles]

And yes I was happy with it. Both times kids came a week early so only a week off

[Waxonwaxoff0]

Officially I started 3 weeks before my due date but I had annual leave to use so it ended up being nearly 5 weeks.

[FinnyStory]

With DS1 I finished 6 weeks before he was due which I must have thought was too early because with DS2, I worked until 3 weeks before his due date and he was born the next day!

[FishyMcFishyfingersFace]

39 weeks here with ds1, would have been at 40 weeks but he was born 5 days before due date so finished then. But I'd had a really easy pregnancy and worked two days a week in a church office with great people around me, no stress and a lot of understanding.

Didn't go back to work until after ds4 was a few years old so no more maternity leaves, but when pregnant with ds3 number 1 was in full time school and number 2 was in part time nursery so I was helping out 4 afternoons a week at school up until 39 weeks. This was the last week before half term and ds3 was born on the Saturday at the end of half term (one day before due date), so just finished at the beginning of the holidays. Turned up to show ds3 off to the teachers on the Monday, they were happy to meet him as had practically known him for the preceeding 9 months anyway!

It is up to you when you finish, it depends how your pregnancy goes and how well\tired you feel. Why not aim for a certain time and tell your clients, but with the caveat that it can change to earlier at short notice depending on circumstances (meaning health\how pregnancy goes). So if you think you can carry on working until 36 weeks for example let them know you will work until that date, but saying it could change depending on circumstances.

[aureliacecilia]

I was off work from 33 weeks due to PGP, which I was mortified about at the time (I felt so feeble) but when my baby arrived two weeks later (for unrelated reasons) it truly was a blessing to have had some time at home to prepare! I'm pregnant with DC#2 and wondering what to do this time.

[EnglishRain]

I went at 37.5 weeks. I took a week of annual leave before that, and had been signed off sick before that! And had been wfh due to covid for ages. I was having an elective section at 39w though so I also knew I wouldn't have to wait too long

[PatchworkElmer]

38 weeks- office job, 50-60 hour weeks so found it quite tiring. Went into labour at work on my last day, DS was born in the early hours of the next morning. Not recommended! 😂

[forevercurious]

I worked in a preschool, so very busy constantly on my feet and I finished at 38+2 DS arrived 4 days later. Next time I’m planning on slightly earlier as I only had one official day of maternity leave before he arrived.

[Aurora791]

38 weeks and that was early enough given that bubba was late so I still had almost 4 weeks of mat leave before she arrived. Was so bored by the end (although long for uninterrupted sofa time now ). That said I have a sedentary office job and was still getting pretty tired by the time I finished!

[Snaleandthewhail]

With all of mine I started maternity leave on my due date but took a week or two annual leave before then. But I drive to a sedentary job. Also this leaves no space for baby coming early (mine were born +6, +2, +1).

If your tutoring is sitting down and not doing much, I’d leave it as late as possible with the proviso you might have to cancel the last one or two...

[StoneColdBitch]

With baby #1, I was meant to be working until 38 weeks, but my waters broke at 37 weeks so I had to start maternity leave effective immediately! With baby #2 I duly finished at 35 weeks expecting a repeat performance, and was then bored when she stayed put until her Caesarean at 39 weeks! As a first-time mum I'd suggest you pick a date as late as possible (38 weeks seems sensible) but warn people it may be subject to change.