Shorter maternity leave???

[Sausagedog101]

Has anyone here taken a shorter mat leave (less than a year)???

I am taking 8 months which is the right decision for us as a family (my MH is in tatters and work help keeps it at bay!) but I get a lot of surprised/shocked comments from people who say they can't believe I'm not taking the year, or people saying I'm not making the most of the 'full allowance'.

I would argue quality over quantity is more important but I am feeling abnormal for wanting/needing to work when everyone seems to love mat leave and never want to go back. I keep busy with my boys and always out and about but my mind craves stimulation or else I end up in a dark place.

Anyone else???

Last baby I took 12 weeks as that's all I got full pay for from my work. This time I am taking 4.5 months as I only get 16 weeks full pay, and the other two weeks will be holiday.

I don't see how I could survive on statutory maternity pay! We'd be thousands down a month!

I also enjoy my job and feel working gives more more patience when I'm at home with the kids as I'm not constantly burnt out with them!

First baby 16 weeks, was way too short but the norm where I am. Second baby we saved up and I took 6 months. Didn't go back ft because we had to wait for a place at nursery. Returned to normal hours after 8 months.

I took 6 months and 8 months. Couldn't afford to take more as SMP wouldn't cover the bills.

I took 9 months with my first as my husband took the last three months as shared parental leave, I'd made sense financially for us and helped my transition back

I took 9 months and my husband took 3 months, it was what was right for our family. I didn’t enjoy my maternity leave with my first child and was desperate to go back to work, I just don’t like the baby phase. In some countries taking 12 months off is unheard of, don’t let their comments bother you too much.

I took 6 months plus a month A/L. Partly financial but that definitely wasnt the only reason. Never thought of it as particularly unusual at my workplace. Went back full time.

By sheer luck, the fact I went back 'early' actually led me to find a more suitable job opportunity for my circumstances elsewhere, which wouldn't have happened if I'd taken off longer. In the long term, this new role has enabled me to progress, but also given me the choice to reduce my hours around school times (several years later) so it worked out perfectly as a long-term arrangement for my family.

8 months with my first. 3 months with my second as I was offered a great opportunity.

I think a year is too long but I know most disagree.

I took 3 months with DS and I’m going back after 3 months this time too.

More than enough time for me.

I took eight weeks - six weeks standard in the country where I gave birth, plus two weeks holiday. Full time childcare ran from six weeks old.

Most people I know take 9 months.
im now at the end of my 6 month mat leave.
My self employed sister could only take 3 weeks.

I took 9 with my first and 8 with my second.
Do whatever you want. Everyone's situation is different.

I had 12 weeks as that's what's normal and paid where I am. Dd went straight into full time childcare after that. We're fine and I enjoyed being back at work and having more of my identity back.

I took 8 months last time and to be honest I did regret it. This time I’m planning to take the whole year.

I thought i was desperate to be back at work as I found parenting hard. But the reality was working around a child is (obviously) not the same as before having a child. So many sick days, nursery drop offs and collections, going to work on Jo sleep and so on…keen to avoid for as long as possible this time!!!!

that said, you need to do what’s right for you and your family. Plenty of people above who feel the opposite of me.

also when people (who haven’t had children in the last 15 years or whatever) talk about having the full year off, I think some don’t realise that although you are entitled to s year off, it’s not all paid, and for many, none of it is paid at your normal rate!

Whatever you do people will react to it.

I took a short maternity leave (longer wouldn’t work with the kind of job I have), and even still years later people feel the need to comment negatively. I’ll do the same again when I have another.

I met someone this weekend (in her 70s) who was quite shocked to hear that children go to nursery before they are four, as all of hers had been at home until then.

You need to just learn to completely ignore other peoples opinions about your choices. This is just the beginning.

A lot of children at our nursery seem to start at around 8 months, if that makes you feel any better!

I took 6 months and my husband took 6 months. Not financially driven. I wanted to get back to work as I love it and he wanted to have a stint as their primary carer.

I took 6 months with first as that’s when maternity allowance ran out (only 16 years ago) and DH was a uni student so we needed the money, and 9 months with second. I could have done with longer first time but baby was absolutely fine with GP and nursery.

There’s no right answer to this.

I took a year but I went back full time and my kids were looked after by a nanny; others take a shorter period but their partner takes some and/or they are working part time and/or their baby is looked after by family. For nearly everyone at least the last 3 months of leave are unpaid and not everyone can afford that. Do what feels right for you, line up childcare you are happy with and don’t waste time on guilt.

Yes I went back when my first was 8 months and 2nd was 10 months (had accrued a lot more annual leave). Couldn't afford to take a full year. A few people were surprised that I wasn't taking the full year until I reminded them that the last 3 months are unpaid and we couldn't live on that. We'd saved a bit for my maternity leaves but particularly second time round, cost of living rose so much during that time that we couldn't pay the mortgage anymore if I didn't go back.

What's your partners paternity leave like? Could you do shared parental leave?

9 months here too, not going to lie, I'd bloody love the year but couldn't live off no wages from me for 3 months!

Yes and back at 4mths

Mainly as se and a nights pay was more then I would get in a weeks smp

So no brainer

I took 8 months both times. It was about right for me. In both cases DH took the remainder, either as sole carer or at the same time as me. I wouldn't have wanted 12.

I took 11 months, could have taken the year plus annual leave, so circa 13 months but in my role it made sense to go back at that part of the year. I was ttc for a year and saving up ahead of Mat leave, I saved £12k so I could pay myself £1k a month on Mat leave as I only got 12 weeks full pay, then half then statutory.