When did you start maternity leave?

[user6776]

I have an office job where I can WFH but starting to think about when I want to go on maternity. I'm due beginning of March. I don't want to start it too early, but then I also want at least a couple of weeks to relax and have time to get everything ready. I'm thinking end of January/first week of Feb?

This is my second baby so aware things may be different this time around. Last time I was pregnant, I was on sick before maternity leave so I was was off from about 31 weeks. It was good but I got pretty bored towards the end!

When did you start your leave?

I had mine early so my mat leave started on the day they were born each time.

@Blipeuy How many weeks were you?

39 weeks then went two weeks overdue. Wish I'd gone to my due date at work, but I had a pretty chilled WFH job.

I think I started mine at 37 weeks. I was signed off by the doctor. It was also Christmas time so work was quiet so I didn't feel bad about it. I had a lot of pain in pregnancy and needed the rest.

I worked until 39 weeks assuming I’d go over and could chill out for a couple of weeks, but went into labour 39+4 😂

I'm wondering if I should try to work for as long as possible before due date if I can work from home I suppose it would be more manageable. However saying that, I've no idea how I'll feel then..

I’m WFH and finishing at 38 weeks (as it falls basically Xmas anyway).

I’m now 36 weeks and honestly so done with work. I feel physically fine but my motivation is just not there and I’m just procrastinating and feeling guilty. So think about the mental side if you do decide to work right to the end. (Although you may love your job and not have that issue!).

39+2 with number 1 (ELLSCS at 39+6)
This time hoping for VBAC but think I'll go to 39 then 1 week annual leave.

Dc1 finished at 38 weeks had dc at 40 weeks. Exactly 2 weeks which felt too long. I would have liked to go on longer but was a physical job with lots of driving.
With Dt was put on bed rest at 25 weeks was transferred to maternity leave from sick leave at 36 weeks.
I always say book for the latest date you'd want to go off you can always go off sooner if that's not doable.

I feel like that now and I'm only 26 weeks 😂

1st - just after 38 weeks and up to 40w was supposed to be leave, but he came at 39+2 and that's when mat started.

2nd - 36w+3 with leave up to 40 weeks, but he came at 37+4 and that's when mat started.

Both spontaneous.

#1 finished work at 37 weeks with 3 weeks annual leave before ML but he came at 38+6 so started ML and took that AL before going back to work.
#2 finished work at the start of my 34th week, I think. 3 weeks AL before ML again but he came at 34+6 so again carried the AL over and took it before I went back again.
Both times my pelvis was very painful and I'm on my feet a fair bit at work carrying a bag of stuff with me. I was looking forward to a few weeks of 'rest' before my kids were born but I'm still waiting....

The latest one was 38+3

The longer you work the more time off you get with the baby

I went at 37 weeks knowing I was having a c section at 39, and I should have gone earlier. I was physically struggling due to PSD, and also mentally I just wasn't with it at all. Ideally I think I'd have gone at 32 weeks, maybe more realistically 35.

But it's impossible to know until you get there.

37w, baby born at 40+6. I was bored!
36+3, born at 36+6 (elcs)
37+6, born at 38+1 (elcs)

Ideally I would have had a couple of weeks before each birth to relax and organise things.

34 weeks with first but I was getting married and had loads of holiday to take. This time I’m going to 37 and using two weeks annual leave over Xmas and starting mat leave at 39 weeks

40 weeks and had baby 2 weeks later
40 weeks and had baby the next day

I was like a weeble

I planned to work to 39 weeks with my first pregnancy. I went into labour at 37 weeks so maternity leave automatically started early. I'd suggest you arrange to finish work on the latest vaguely sensible date; you can always go off early if you go into labour! But my priority was maximising time at home with the baby, as I only got 6 months on full pay, so I only tool 6 months off.

I think it was technically the day I had my son (ELCS), but I had two weeks of annual leave to use beforehand. I was working from home and only three days a week anyway so it was fine cutting it close.

Similarly i started maternity leave at 38 weeks. Left work on the Friday and DS1 came 2 weeks early and was born on the Tuesday. So i had the weekend off essentially.

I wfh but had a difficult pregnancy and was struggling.

I took annual leave from 34 weeks. ML started at 37 weeks when baby was born.

I took annual leave at 37 weeks both times.
first time went overdue to 42 and second time had a c section at 39.
37 was the time to stop for me.

I don’t work from home. Work in healthcare. First baby came before 37 weeks, which meant I started Mat. Leave early. Second I took Mat leave at 38 weeks (baby born after a few days of labour at 39). This baby I plan to work till 1 Feb, C Section Scheduled on the 5th. BUT I have horrendous early pregnancies with sickness and actually tend to feel ok towards the end. I like my job, can “scale” it back a little bit in terms of activities, and staying working gives me more time with baby as I’ve 6 months funded/semi funded leave.

I don’t think there is one answer. Depends on the job, your health and what you want/need to do.