When did you start mat leave?

[OutCuteBaby567]

I'm due to start mat leave at 38 weeks, C section planned at week 39. But...I'm 32 weeks and absolutely knackered. My job is physically easy, wfh as much as I like (although I hate WFH!!) but mentally very taxing, I'm a solicitor so lots of filings, deadlines, small daily shit that if I miss, I get my clients in trouble for, lots of admin, and my brain just.does.not.work.

I'm British but live abroad atm, I only get 20 weeks mat leave. I really really wanted to work until week 38 but I can't hack it. AIBU? Suck it up somehow? How?

I sleep an average of 2-3 hours per night between itching from cholestatis, pain from PGP, and bathroom trips. The second bathroom trip of the night really wakes me up. Writing this down I don't know how I'm still going.

With my first I felt fine and made it to the 38 weeks I planned to, then baby was nearly 2 weeks late and I regretted ending work so early.

With my second by 33 weeks I felt like absolute crap, I took a week sickness and ended up in hospital until DC was born 2 weeks later (I didn’t know it when I took the week off but I was really very unwell).

Every experience is different and I think you have to trust your feelings and do whatever is right for you. I’d try to focus on making sure you’re in the best possible shape for when baby arrives as that’s a whole new challenge. If you’re already exhausted and stressed ending work early might be a good idea. There is no shame in it.

With my first I went off at 36 1/2 weeks and he was born the following day - I didn’t feel prepared at all! This time round I had a lot of sick leave due to HG but officially stopped at 35 weeks and am still twiddling my thumbs waiting to go into labour at 38 1/2 weeks. I would’ve ended up back on sick leave if I hadn’t had annual leave to use though.

No rush of energy here I’m afraid!

I went off 8 weeks with my first baby (I was signed off sick) and 11 weeks with my second because I had no intention of going back to work. My current baby Im just at home. I'm not very brave at working through being uncomfortable.

39 weeks but I had a super easy pregnancy.

Second pregnancy was horrific and had I been working at the time would have left much earlier!

OP ASKED herself when people started maternity leave.

@cherish123 apologies I had read it wrong and unnecessarily grumpy towards you.