AIBU by wanting to take 2 weeks off before baby arrives?

[MummyBear405]

With my current job I'm not entitled to SMP as I haven't worked there long enough but I can still get MA and my employer offers all employees 2 weeks of 'new parent leave' regardless of length of service so we won't be much worse off than if I qualified for SMP.

I have the option to take the 2 weeks paid or take the money leaving 2 weeks that I can work and get additional pay.

Now I want to take it as paid leave at the beginning of Jan even though baby isn't due to the 28th & have maternity leave kick in after the 2 weeks. I'm type 1 diabetic so it's likely baby will arrive early anyway.

My husband is stressing about money and can't understand why (logically) I want to take it as leave when I could have the money and still work those 2 weeks.

I've told him I need time to prepare for this birth as it's my first child and with my medical history I don't want to be dragging my heavily pregnant arse to work in the middle of winter!!

Money is going to be tight and I know that but AIBU or selfish by wanting to take that time for myself despite the money aspect?

I had a really bad pregnancy and went off work sick at 29 weeks with severe sod until my mat leave was due to start at 37 weeks.
I was worried I’d be bored so those 8 weeks were great, I mostly filled my days lay on the sofa resting and binge watching tv but wasn’t bored at all.
I think it’s a good idea to have a couple of weeks before baby is due to just rest and get ready

I had my first in 1983 and it was normal in those days to finish work 3 months before due date , it was still unusual for mothers to go back to work after maternity leave

I finished 4 weeks before due date ( ended up being a bit longer as baby was overdue) . I couldn't have worked any longer as I was physically exhausted from the sheer logistics of traveling to and from work and getting up many times in the night to pee. Having said that once I finished up I was bored rigid until I gave birth.

It worries me a bit that your DH has so little empathy that he wouldn't be able to realise that pregnancy takes its toll on your body and to prioritise finances so much over your wellbeing.

My DS arrived precisely 2 weeks before due date - just after going on mat leave - my waters suddenly broke and then DS was here 5 hours later (so I was very glad I wasn’t in work!) Based on that I would definitely stop working at least 4 weeks before next time

DS arrived early so I had no time off before he arrived. I was exhausted. Too exhausted to give birth actually and ended up with a horrible labour. I then spent 4 months physically and mentally ill due to exhaustion.

With DC2 I planned 4 weeks off before due date, she also came early so I got 2 weeks off and it was wondering. I was mentally and physically much much better.

I was working as a dentist and got pregnancy carpal tunnel at about 30 within a few days it was impossible to work so I had to stop work almost overnight which was not ideal as in middle of treatment plans had planned to work until week 36
as you say you are not skint so try and save as much money as you can to bridge the difference between your normal pay and SMA, you have over 4 months before beginning of January

Maternity Allowance is paid for up to 39 weeks. You can start your claim from the 26th week of your pregnancy. The earliest you can get your first payment is 11 weeks before your baby is due.
this is for people who don't qualify for SMP ie you
so you can claim for 39 weeks provided you have at least 13 weeks NI in past 66 weeks it is upto £148 (max 90% of weekly of pre tax earnings)
so if weekly wage is £130 you get £117, anything over £165 a week is still only £148