How much mat leave did you take

[Babydust00]

Not yet TTC but planning ahead thinking of finances and the likes

We aren’t huge earners, household combined income is just under 4k a month

I was wondering how much maternity leave people usually take? I’ve seen to take the maximum time possible. I know I have some time to decide yet but obviously it’s most people’s ideal to take the whole year. I can’t see how we could afford the 3 months unpaid- on paper we could, but it would feel like a huge drop. On the other hand maybe keeping in touch days and universal credit might balance it all out.

12 months but I was mentally done by 9.

I converted holiday accrued into money for the last 3 though. It worked out about the same as statutory mat pay.

Six weeks maternity leave but I took holiday to make it up to two months. It was standard in 1997 and overseas.

I took a year. No enhanced maternity just statutory but we managed the 3 months unpaid as we wanted me to spend that time with DD.

I was annoyed though, the company I was with had done enhanced maternity, full pay for 9 months, but the woman who had it before me quit and they had a right job getting the money back from her so they decided not to offer enhanced maternity again

DD1, a year, then used my accrued leave to work PT (until DD2 was born!). DD2, I'm taking a year, then my accrued leave so she'll be 14 months by the time I go back.

Personally I would have hated to go back earlier than 12 months. It was one of my deal breakers when DH and I were discussing marriage, that I'd be off for at least 12 months with any child.

I would take as long as you can. Sounds like you have a good package. Im
currently on Mat leave. I’ll be off nearly 14 months then using accrued annual
leave for a phased return.

tbh I’d consider the child care situation more than the year off. I’m unconvinced the new proposed hours will come into force!

@fullbloom87 You know that they aren’t a baby for 18years right? Like I said if I could have a year off now to be with my son it would be a different story. He can talk, walk, climb, make jokes, play with me.

I get 6 weeks full pay, 18 half plus stat (which is less than my usual wage), 3 months stat only. If we really needed to I could afford the unpaid part - however, I’ve gone back at (just before) 7 & 8 months each time - using annual leave accrued to return part time and/or condensing hours. It’s worked for me. Currently pregnant and hoping to take 8.5 months this time - but purely to cover the eldest starting school/half day mania that exists in reception.

For me, I’m a better parent when I don’t have to do it full time. I love my work and find it stressful but fulfilling. We use a local childminder who is awesome with baby’s. Getting back to work part-time feels like a luxury and I enjoy getting to be ‘in control’ for parts of my day. The worst part by far was the judgement from other moms. I love my kids but don’t find the baby stage easy or particularly enjoyable. Doing as I’ve done has meant I’ve continued to build my career after having kids, and now have flexibility I couldn’t have dreamed of having four years ago (eg no longer have to work weekends as standard). So I really don’t think there is a one sized fits all answer.

Me too. Cried tears of sweet relief the day I went back and am a much better mum for it.

12 weeks

With my first child I took 8.5 months but I also had 5 months off work with full pay before the birth due to covid rules at the time.

This time I'll take around 9-10 months probably, I get 6 months full pay, I'll take 7 weeks annual leave and then 9 weeks parents leave which will only be paid at €250 a week. I don't really want to take unpaid leave but we'll see I guess. I'm going to take 6 weeks sick leave before starting my maternity leave too.

7 years for me . my wages would of just about covered child care so it wasnt worth it .

6 months plus 1 month of A/L. It was right for me and the time and also in retrospect (I'm 10 years on now). Appreciate am in the minority going by this thread though.

Financial reasons were only a factor in why I went back at that point. What is best for one person might not be best for another.
A kid is for life, not just for mat leave!

Your husband had one and he doesn’t look after them.

Six months. That was the maximum allowed when I had my DC and was completely standard. That was six weeks on 90% of my pay, and the rest of the time was, I think, £50 a week.

My advice would be - plan for the year, but don't make your mind up until you are on maternity leave.

The idea of maternity leave is often very different to the reality.

I took a year but was ready to go back at 8 months. I feel I will be a better, more balanced parent when working.

Currently pregnant with my second and will be taking 5 months leave this fine (my husband will take the next 4 months as SPL).

So it’s fine to put them in at 2 years 9 months but not a minute before? Do you have a husband/ wife/ partner who funded you to have this long off? Why did they have children if their life was mainly going to be about career anyway?

Why not Not everyone likes being off work for months on end. My daughter lasted 4.5 months then went back. P/t for a fortnight then back full time. When I had my eldest I believe ML was 16 weeks anyway so was the norm

Check your work policy. We had enhanced mat pay, so I get the statutory pay topped up to 65% of my pay until the 9 month mark. Then it goes to nothing.

I went back to work when my first was 8 months old, but did a passed return working up from 3 days a week to 5 over a couple of months.

With my second I will be going back when he is 10 months old. I've stuck all my accrued holiday onto the end of the mat leave so my last month off will technically be annual leave.

We couldn't afford for me to be off with no pay.

6 months. At the time our combined on full was me £1600 & partner £1400 so it was a real struggle. We couldn’t afford for me to even go statutory. I went back part time, which coincided with a huge promotion for partner a few weeks later so in hindsight I could have had longer off but as a ftm, I struggled going from busy management to being at home all day.
he’s had another promotion since and is looking to get a third, hopefully if we have a second I still don’t think I’d take the whole year off

To follow up on my comment -
my work did 6 months full
3 months statutory
3 months unpaid

we couldn’t even afford for me to go statutory. Im very thankful they do that scheme - I have been there for 10 years and it is done through length of service (altho I think you’ve only got to be there about 2 to qualify for maximum)

7 months. Got offered a job opportunity that worked much better for a work life balance than needed me to start at the 7 month mark. Was a good decision. I've left that job and deeply regret it now. Daughter is eight. Left to chase more money and now realise time and job satisfaction is far more important!

@Phos same here! 38 weeks and waters broke at work so left at 5pm to go and have the baby! Was determined not to waste any of my mat leave until baby had arrived!

13 months.
I worked right up until the birth so all of the time was spent with the baby.
I found that the time after the baby was 6 months was more fun as there is more interaction and both were sleeping more. It would have been a shame to go back to work at 6 months.