Maternity leave

[liquidgold5]

Sorry posting for traffic 🙈

I'm a domiciliary carer, 27 weeks pregnant. My work have asked me when I'm going to go off on maternity but I have no idea! My bump is getting bigger and it's getting more tiring.

I'm due the 5th July so I was thinking maybe 3rd June? It's a Sunday and a month before I'm due, but I think it's a bit early.

My next option is the 15th as it's the pay cut off point and only 2 weeks prior but I worry I'm not going to be able to manage?

Advice please? X

Do you have any annual leave you need to take? You could start your maternity leave on the 15th but still leave on the 5th and use the AL instead.

I finish work 8th June and I'm not due until 18th July! My maternity leave starts on due date (as late as it can - obvs will start earlier if she comes early) but the 6 weeks before that is my entire year's annual leave allowance - because I go back in a new financial year so will have a new AL allowance and don't want to lose any.

Wait and see? You only have to give a couple of weeks’ notice of commencing ML (if I recall correctly) so they are asking for their own convenience right now.

As a former HCP my experience was that most women were ready to go by 34 weeks but that’s not always possible and it depends on whether your duties can be amended at all. Check you actual obligations to them and then politely say you haven’t yet reached a decision.

I went at 36 weeks with my first and she was a week late. I was bored rigid. I went at 38 weeks with my second and it was great having 2 weeks to myself, I felt heavy and knackered though.

I’m due on 25 June and planning to go on ML on 14 June. However, my job is sedentary: the most physically stenuous bit is the commute. I’m guessing that your job may be more physical. Do you have to do any lifting etc? If so, you’ll likely be feeling tired by the beginning of June. With DD1 I worked until the day before she was born, but it really depends on the nature of your job and just how tired you are feeling. In truth, I won’t leave it that late this time. I had less paid ML last time and wanted to keep as much time as possible with DD. Best of luck!

I worked (in an office job) until the week before my due date as i wanted longer off after the birth. Your job sounds more physical and you my be very tired at the end as I was so

I have my maternity leave set to start a week before due date but I work in an office, I'm so tired now though that I wish I'd set it up for 2 weeks beforehand.

Your job sounds like one that will be much harder to do the closer you get to your due date so I think a month is good.

I think you have up until 28 days before you want to start maternity leave to make the decision? That's what I read and went with at least.

I finished 8 weeks before my due date but that was because I was desperate to stop work as I don't like my job! However, my DC's were both three weeks early so I was very thankful of that extra time.
Will your agency be adapting your role towards the end to accommodate your bump and your increased fatigue? As a career there will be tasks that I would envisage to to be quite tricky by the 35-36week point.

Is it your first baby or do you have others?

With my first 2 weeks before due date was enough, any more and I would have been bored waiting.

With my second I went at 36 weeks and I have needed the 'break'. (Not really a break with a toddler and heavily pregnant, but it gave me a chance to sort out the house and buy baby bits)