How much maternity leave did you take?

[user8636283901]

Just that really. How long did you take off?

A year for each child.

I had twelve months both times although one was between lockdowns so felt a lot longer!

6 weeks before starting to work from home part time then 2 months later back to work full time.

A year

9 months for DC1 and 12 months for DC2.

I went back briefly at 10 months then handed my notice in to stay at home longer.

A year

About 14 months both times. They both arrived early, when I was on annual leave. I took the full 12 months leave then I tagged on my unused annual leave from before they came. Then I used more annual leave, I took my allowance I was due up to the point of me returning to work, if that makes sense. So I got a few months of pay without having to go back to work.
I work for the NHS, for years, so the annual leave is generous.

Six months for each of my two children, have worked full time ever since (never could afford unpaid parental leave) … had them two decades ago, now I long for retirement!

First time I only took about three months, but I had changed to wfh part time but really wasn’t enough - I used to be sitting at computer breastfeeding sometimes even though I didn’t have to work during the day, but stupidly I went back as didn’t want leave them in the lurch in the busiest period. Next two I took 9 months…

Was off for 12 months - around 10.5 months of mat leave and 6 weeks of A/L. Used remaining accrued leave to work reduced days for my first month back.

I took a year but then got furloughed for an extra 3 months so had 15 months off in total.

1st 6 months
2nd 12 months
Mat Pay was same 12 weeks full pay but in the 4 years between them managed to save more effectively and was dc1 first yesr of school so wanted to be off during it

With my first about 7 months and my husband took the remaining 2 months as paternity leave. It was just after the laws changed which meant it was possible, he was the first man working for that particular UK supermarket to do it.

6 months with my second, I had speculatively sent my CV into a local firm as I had a long commute in the job I had and amazingly they actually had a vacancy. Called me in for an interview and offered it to me there and then. Otherwise I would have taken 9 months.

For those of you who took 6 months, did you feel it was enough?

I'd like to take 12 months off but my husband is pressuring me to go back earlier.

I could have gone back at 9 months in the sense that I felt capable of doing so at that stage (but have no regrets at staying off longer). 6 months would have been very difficult for me as my baby's sleep was terrible from 4-6 months so I felt like it was only by 9 months that I was properly functioning again. A lot depends on yours and your baby's health and sleep as to how you will feel and both are unknown at the moment. And of course what your actual job entails. Long commute? Full time? Something you can safely do if sleep deprivation? One friend planned to take a year off but went back at 6 months as she didn't enjoy mat leave at all. Another who is a surgeon took over a year with her twins as she didn't feel safe operating until she could sleep well. Everyone's different.

9 months with my first and will be 8 months this time - I’m a teacher so it’s made sense to go back for the start of term. I’ll be part time though so it won’t be too full on (I say now!) and tbh I find maternity leave quite dull, although easier!

9 months

I took the whole 12 months. With annual leave I was off Dec 2021 until Feb 2023 and baby was 13 months!

15 months (handily was furloughed straight from maternity leave due to covid) and 13 months.

6 months, that’s all I got when dd was born 19 years ago.

I definitely didn’t feel it was long enough and would have much rather taken a year.

12 months for dc1
dc2 gave up work until aged 2 - enjoyed that time so much had another dc
very part time when dc2 and 3 were in nursery and preschool

Just over 8 months for each child.

I took six months when I had DT’s - normal maternity leave then. Wouldn’t have wanted any longer - DT’s were easy babies and I was getting bored - hated baby groups.