Only taking 9 months mat leave?

[Pinkturtles]

AIBU for this? I thought it would be the norm but most people I’ve chatted to with babies have taken at least 10 months or a full year.

DH is taking months 10 and 11 as shared leave and we already had a month together when DS was born which is taken from the shared leave. The main reason is financial as he will be getting full salary in these months whereas I would be getting £0.

Did you go back at 9 months? I’m worried people will judge me for being a rubbish mum.

I did the same at seven months. I could have had three more months, but I hated maternity leave.

I am taking 9 months too but would have gone back sooner had I not spent a month abroad travelling with my husband and baby in June. Not going back for financial reasons (husband is a high earner and has been paying me a ‘salary’ whilst on maternity leave as I only qualified for statutory pay) but more because I have ultimately found maternity leave incredibly boring as I suspected I would. I cannot wait to get back to work for my own MH and for adult conversation!

Don't be daft. Between you, you have a year covered. That's lively, and great that you can share.
Maternity leave/pay didn't used to allow anything like that long. I returned to work PT after 4 months with my DD27 and 3 months with DS25
Both are happily adjusted adults with no more than the normal MH issues!