To take my maternity leave this early?

[GreyAndCopper]

I've asked to take my maternity leave at 32 weeks because I am so bloody unhappy in my job right now. I'm 26 weeks 4 days and just can't wait. I've been off sick for a couple of weeks due to gastritis and severe fatigue (I also have a chronic illness which makes this even worse).

But is this too early? Every woman I've spoken to has taken it around 36 weeks and I wonder if I should do the same? Has anyone else taken their maternity this early?

And also - what is there to do with this time off?

If you're not going back and hate your current job then what's the harm in starting early? I'd do it in those circumstances.

My second trimester was awful! It's supposed to be the "best" one, and I was in constant pain, and was utterly miserable. However, once my baby moved down a bit, things got better, and the last trimester was much easier. I wanted to take leave from 30 weeks, but actually worked pretty much until my due date. You might find that things get easier.

I’m going on may leave at 35w (actually I’m taking a months holiday first at going at 39w). I can’t wait! With my first I stared at 36+6. Had a week of mat leave the it was Christmas Day then my waters went at 38+0 so I felt like I barely got to sit down and rest before DD arrived.

I finished at 31 weeks with my first, and 33 with my second, both times I tacked a couple of weeks of holiday on before maternity officially started. I loved it, a great time to get things sorted and look after myself (less so the second time round with a toddler). Both mine arrived at 36 weeks though, I may have got bored if I’d gone to 42 weeks or something!

I did 36 weeks but wish I had done 34!

1st week I got flu and was in bed all week.
2nd/3rd week I chilled and wound down from work
4th week baby arrived early!!

In that case I would start now (as long as you aren’t penalised for not going back in terms of having to pay back any maternity pay)

I left at 32 weeks but used up holidays owed for 3 weeks before maternity pay kicked in.
Make sure you tag on any accrued hols you will get whilst off onto the end of your maternity leave so you don't lose out.

I had a complicated pregnancy and decided to stop at 25 weeks to get rid of work stress. It probably saved my DD, as the issues we thought could mean stillbirth or at best having baby as early as 28 weeks lessened in severity and we made it to 34 weeks.

Do what feels right for you.

I had planned to finish at 38 weeks but DC had other ideas and came at 37 weeks. I wanted to be off with my baby as long as possible.

It's really hard when you feel shit. With my first two I worked until 37 weeks but loved that job. Now I'm older and struggling at 16 weeks. I want to go on maternity leave asap but also want time off after so it's hard (and I hate my job now).
At the end of the day your health and the health of your baby is most important thing so if you need to go on maternity leave then that's what you should do.

I worked until 40 weeks. I would go.up to your due date unless you are ill. The earlier you stop, the quicker your money runs out/have to return to work.

I stopped at 36 weeks for DC1 and regretted it. Went to 39 for DC2.

I took mine at 32 weeks. I was suffering or anything, just saved up my holiday (took six weeks of holiday first).

I had the best time ever! Definitely do it.

As I accrued so much holiday whilst on leave, I didn’t go back to work until DD was 14 months old. I so miss the time I had off!

You won’t regret it.

Wasn’t suffering, not was!

Do it. You don’t want to be unhappy in your pregnancy. I went early as I had a physical, clinical job and was really big. I didn’t struggle to fill my time. Met friends for coffee. Went to antenatal classes. Went swimming. Had treatments. Nested. It was bliss. You will never get to enjoy it with a second child in the same way so make the most of it.
This culture of working right up to your due date is silly unless you really can’t afford it. Our parents generation went off much earlier.

Feeling bad about not going longer is a really daft reason. Stop when it suits you.

It depends if you're someone who often gets bored, or if you can entertain yourself? I mostly "finished" at 32 weeks, though I did a few more days after that just to do odd pieces. I caught up on all loads and loads of admin and shopping, bought all the baby things (plus washed them all), read some novels, met friends, did a couple of jigsaws, mended some clothes, went for lots of walks with DH when it wasn't icy or snowy out, watched a few box sets and films while bouncing on a big ball, slept, hung around upside-down trying to turn the baby non-breech, reorganised the kitchen, went to a raft of midwife appointments / breastfeeding lecture / scans / consultant appointments, read books about labour and babies etc etc etc. I don't remember being bored once.

Also - join your due date Facebook group and literal maternity yoga, I had a great bunch of friends quite locally from that, when you've all been off together before the birth as well it's much easier to meet up and chat after the birth.

(Local yoga not literal)