To think there's nothing wrong with early mat leave?

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I'm starting mine at 34 weeks. Well technically I'll be using up annual leave before it officially starts at 37 weeks but have had a few raised eyebrows from colleagues saying it's early! It's not really though is it?

It seems the expectation amongst people at my company is to work as long as possible before the baby is due. I understand some people prefer to do this, but I can think of nothing worse than working up to 38-39 weeks. Why should I struggle through the last few weeks if I don't have to?

I can think of nothing better than doing absolutely as little as possible before baby comes.

34 weeks isn't early is it?

Your company/colleagues benefit from you planning to start maternity leave early, in that there is then much less risk that premature birth means you start unexpectedly early.

Depends on your job and mindset as well as overall health. I worked till 36 weeks with spd in healthcare stood up for 8 hours a day. I look back and should have finished up early but I martyred myself to be able to take as much time as I could after she was born. She came at 37 weeks. With ds I finished at 36 weeks but I was working part time and it was manageable. With dd2 I was signed off at 32 weeks.

Sounds like you have generous annual leave that you can use before and after birth, so fair enough. You've also got at least one other child, so you will have plenty to do on maternity leave anyway before the baby is born and there is nothing wrong with resting up or getting things prepped beforehand. Ignore what others say and do what works for you.

Totally your choice, and I'm sure you know full well it means less time the other side.

I used my holiday before and due to bank holidays it ended up being 6 weeks before baby was born. Maternity officially started the day she was born as she was on time. Knew I wasn't going back afterwards so it made no difference and holiday had to be used.

Everyday I feel more tired. Honestly hats off to anybody who can work as late as possibly, it feels like my body is screaming at me to rest

Good luck with it all, OP.

I finished at 30 weeks, moved house at 37 weeks, ds was born at 41 weeks, and returned to work when he was 15 months old having taken all the paid and unpaid leaves available.

I'm sure you already have - but please speak to your midwife about your fatigue. Its tiring growing another body but if your struggling then maybe they need to look at your supplements to increase or change them xx

I went at 35 when I was going for cs at 39, it was just fab. So ready to finish! I used my hols for that time.

My last day in the office was around 36 weeks but it was more because I had a January due date and it didn't seem worth going back in for a week after the Christmas break. Baby was almost 2 weeks late in any case so it felt like I was off for ages.

Wasn't bored shitless without the office. Don't understand this at all. The office is like the most boring place on earth. Just do something else? 8 years later I'm still not bored (now freelance).

OP you are doing the right thing, I personally took mat leave at 35 and 37 weeks and by 37 wks I was totally useless at my job. Physically exhausted and mentally couldn't care less. It's a massive change preparing to have a baby and i think our culture doesn't value or understand that sacred mental, emotional or physical process. Take all the time you need so you can rest reflect and prep.

Also! Stop being bothered about what others think - there's lots of judgement from women on these sorts of topics because many are so highly strung and insecure about their own choices

I have finished at 36 weeks both times. 3 weeks annual leave then mat leave at 39 weeks. First time I could have worked longer (I work in a desk basked role) but had family visiting from abroad so finished to spent time with them. Second time I struggled to get to 36 weeks in all honest. I would have finished earlier if I hadn't been able to work at home alot in the last few months and had christmas break just before I finished.

Everyone is different though. Some women feel its a badge of honour to work up until you give birth.....its not. Finish when you want to. I really enjoyed the pottering around cleaning, tidying and sort between napping the second time around. I had 3 weeks just to enjoy me time before my youngest arrived.

I started my maternity leave at 9pm the night before I went to be induced (my due date). I worked in a very physically tiring role doing approx 30k steps a day. If you are physically able to work then it's just laziness to sit around on your ass waiting. You will have plenty of time to sit around after the baby comes.

I wanted longer with the baby and couldn't afford the unpaid maternity leave at the end so I worked right up to 38 weeks. Depends how well you are feeling and what job you do really. I could sit at a computer so wasn't hard physically.

I was glad of the extra time with baby so didn't have to go back to work till they were 10 months instead of 9 months. But up to you which way you want to do it.

I'm a spa therapist and had to go on sick leave at 29 weeks with my first child and 35 weeks with my 2nd before my maternity started. I had awful PGP in both pregnancies. There was no way I could stand on my feet all day and give customers Swedish massages. Unfortunately I didn't have any holidays that I could take. It's upto you when you want to start. Every pregnancy is different. Good luck

I took a weeks leave at 37 weeks, maternity leave started at 38 weeks - DS was born at 38 weeks.

Had a week of lying round doing very little because my blood pressure was up, then induced because of pre-eclampsia. Wish I had gone off work a week or two earlier.

Utter piffle.

Good for you though. I'm sure you're entitled to a 'I did pregnancy best' medal or something.

Women should be allowed to take the time the want/need. If you want to work until you're 8cm dilated or stop outside work 6 weeks (or whenever) before due date.

The problem with the scenario in the post I'm replying to is if it becomes the default position just because some women in some jobs manage it.

Then women who can t manage it (police? Ambulance drivers? Anyone at all) will be penalized for it. And thst would be wrong

I wanted to work as long as I could but had to take early maternity both times due to pregnancy complications. Went off at 33 weeks and 35 weeks.

You are losing time with your baby still, and yes, it is early, but it’s your choice.

I got made to take mine at 34 weeks because I was a carer and I had male patient turn aggressive and shove me so my agency was like please take your leave for your safety.

I worked full time until 3 days before my due date. I had an office job with no health problems so saw no need to leave earlier. I'm not one for sitting around at home so would have been very bored.

I checked my company policy to see the earliest I could go on mat leave and it turned out to be 11 weeks prior to due date so off I went at 29 weeks 😁 I absolutely detested my job though and my boss was a horror so I was desperate. I had a lovely few weeks to myself

I think it's because you get less time with baby. I agree though when heavily pregnant it's lovely to rest at home! Using AL to too it up is pretty normal too isn't it?

Nothing wrong at all. You use it whenever you like. For all they know your baby is coming early. So it's really bang out of order for them to comment.

Every pregnancy is different. Wind yer neck in

Couldn't agree more. Each pregnancy is different and so there's absolutely no one fits all on this. It can be hard to predict, anyway. With DC1 I worked until 38+5 then he came at 39+1 and I wished I'd had longer off before the birth - so with DC2 (everyone, including the midwife, kept saying he was bound to be earlier) I stopped at 36 weeks and then he didn't bloody turn up until 40+5, and I felt I'd had far too long!