Active discussions

Meet the Other Phone. Only the apps you allow.

Meet the Other Phone.
Only the apps you allow.

Buy now

Please or to access all these features

Talk
AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

Do most people here take the entire year maternity leave?

77 replies

helloteas · 30/07/2022 23:37

I get paid full salary for around 7 and a bit months ( including holiday ).

For my first baby I went back at the point I stopped getting paid in full.

I'm considering taking the whole year this time, just because I think it might be less stressful.

Money isn't a huge issue. It was more of an issue last time, which is why I went back.

I feel like now with two small kids, working is going to be even harder. I mean to juggle it all. So I might as well wait until I've had a whole year.

What's the general consensus ? In my company, women tend to come back when full pay runs out..

OP posts:
hamustro · 30/07/2022 23:44

Just do whatever works for you. You won't ever get the time back, so if money's not an issue and you want to take a year, go for it.

Apparently 55% of women go back after 39 weeks - presumably because SMP stops after that point. On that basis, no, most women do not take the entire year, but that doesn't mean you can't do it.

UpToMyElbowsInDiapers · 30/07/2022 23:49

I went back after 9 mo with my eldest, 6 mo with my second, and a year with my third due to COVID childcare challenges. I’d say for me 7-9 months was the sweet spot. Before that felt like a big rush and I’d only just found a nice routine. After 9 months I was bored out of my mind and absolutely desperate to re-engage my brain. 😂

NeedMoMoney · 30/07/2022 23:52

Im only going to get 90% of my pay for the first 6 weeks then just the standard SMP from then on, but I'm going to take the full year off as this is my first pregnancy (and maybe be only pregnancy) and I'll be having twins! Me and my partner are lucky that we have abit of money saved up to keep us going till I get back to work, every one is different but I can't imagine going back to work before their one and I want to spend as much time as possible with them 🥰

Paprikapommes · 30/07/2022 23:54

Hoping to eek my time out to around 9 months with added holidays. Would love to take the year but it's not financially possible at the moment. Still do need to do the nursery sums though, with all the price increases it might not make much difference.

JackieCollinshasnoauthority · 31/07/2022 00:07

I did 8m and then 3m with my second. A year is way too long in my opinion. Why not look into shared parental leave as that gives you more options on using the time and getting your partner involved.

YellowSparrow · 31/07/2022 00:11

I'm going back at 11 months but taking paid leave for a few more weeks. I'll have 2 months unpaid so if I'd have realised if have gone back sooner and used my leave to extend my time at home. No pay is really shit.

GoT1904 · 31/07/2022 00:19

I was only offered Statutory pay with my youngest DD and had to go back to work after 3.5 months. If I could have afforded to I'd have loved more time off with her. If you can afford it, go for it! There's also the possibility of returning part time for a little while and finding your groove, before diving back in. Good luck

TonightIamgointobe · 31/07/2022 00:21

6m - financial reasons
8m - financial reasons
14m - last baby and wanted to make the most of it

Itawapuddytat · 31/07/2022 00:26

The 9 paid months (plus 4 weeks annual leave) with my first child. Second time I could afford to stay at home only 6 1/2 months - I was self employed at the time (well, I still am) so we had to budget carefully for that. I'd have loved to stay at home with the wee one a bit longer, but we really couldn't afford it (even if that meant we had to pay for childcare). However, the fact that I was self employed helped me to partially choose my hours and be able to continue breastfeeding, which was great.

Passmethecrisps · 31/07/2022 00:32

9 months with my first and a year with my second. I was so very ready to return with no.1 and at points considered ending it earlier. With my second it was perfect. I feel guilty about how much I enjoyed my second mat leave in comparison to my first

Angelinflipflops · 31/07/2022 00:41

I didn't get any maternity leave

Mangogogogo · 31/07/2022 12:00

With one of mine I didn’t go back I left and found another job when he was about 1… my mental health was a bit fucked and I was diagnosed with bipolar disorder so I stayed home for a while.. with my youngest I went back after 6 months but my partner is very involved so I think that makes a huge difference. I know some men can be a bit shite with that unfortunately.

i took a young a child in whne his mum abandoned him and got fuck all time off! And he was the one I really really needed the time off with all the shit that was going on and appointments and stuff and settling him in!

Italiandreams · 31/07/2022 12:03

I was lucky enough to have a whole year with both of mine, had to save hard for it. But went back full time so was determined to have that time. To be honest, it’s whatever works for you and your family.

TheGoogleMum · 31/07/2022 12:10

9 months with my DD but nearly all my colleagues take a full year! I think most of them have husbands in better paying jobs. We felt we couldn't afford the time of no pay (DH earns a little less than me). I'm pregnant again and really want to take a full year this time like everyone else seems to but I'm really not sure we can afford it still especially with cost of living increases

devildeepbluesea · 31/07/2022 12:12

Main wage earner, went back PT after 2 months using KIT days, then FT at 5 months.

luxxlisbon · 31/07/2022 12:14

Took a year + another few weeks annual leave.

CurbsideProphet · 31/07/2022 12:15

This will be our only baby so I'm taking 12 months. Full pay for the first 12 weeks then SMP. We're in the North and not high earners compared to SE standards, but we can manage for a few months / I can use a bit of leave to get some money in.

Dweetfidilove · 31/07/2022 12:15

I received 90% pay for six weeks, then SMP.
Took a year of maternity, then a month's paid leave.

MajorCarolDanvers · 31/07/2022 12:16

Full salary for 7 months is amazing 😮

I got full salary for 3 months and half pay for 3 months and in my sector (charity) that is considered very generous, many places its just statutory.

I did take the full year mat leave both times but we saved loads before to supplement the loss of salary.

berksandbeyond · 31/07/2022 12:24

I was lucky enough to take 13 months off by tacking some annual leave on at the end, and I'd choose that again if I had another shot.
I know some people who went back after 9 months, and some people who didn't go back at all 🤷🏼‍♀️

HousePlantNeglect · 31/07/2022 12:50

DC1-9 months and DH took 3 months
DC2-11 months and DH took 1 month

Only SMP for both.

pregnant with DC3 and am taking a year but get 6 months at 90% pay this time. Shared leave didn’t work well for us, I just wasn’t recovered enough, found it hard to stop BF during the day and neither of mine slept a wink at 9/10pm months.

rainbowmilk · 31/07/2022 13:00

Worked where I am nearly 8 years and only know 1 person who took 9 months. 1 year-18 months is the standard (and the one who took 9 months was the subject of gossip for months). I work with women who have high earning husbands and multiple children though.

Whitewolf2 · 31/07/2022 13:28

Most people I know (largely teachers and private sector) took a year, including myself. It helps when you get a healthy annual leave as I accrued this over the year to use it within the mat leave. The only person I know who took less (5 months) was American and her benefits package was awful.

Geranium1984 · 31/07/2022 13:31

I took a year. This is what majority of people I know (friends/family/colleagues) seem to do.

DappledThings · 31/07/2022 13:57

Full year plus some of the accrued annual leave so 13 months