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Pregnancy

Talk about every stage of pregnancy, from early symptoms to preparing for birth.

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Original poster

it's "normal" to go on maternity leave, when?

41 replies

OnlyWantsOne · 12/10/2010 17:27

When did you, are you going on mat leave? Giving up work?

Especially, those of you that are on your second or more child, and work part time

OP posts:

Are your children’s vaccines up to date?

Set a reminder

wigglesrock · 12/10/2010 17:47

I'm finishing at 32 weeks (Christmas Eve), its my 3rd child and I have a physical job, work 19 hours a week and would have preferred to finish week before Christmas if only to avoid the busiest week of the year . I was signed off at 28 weeks with second child, general feeling of shiteness!!

I think you also have to take into account time spent on feet in job, travelling/ commute time and do you park near to work, have to walk etc.

Bushymoo · 12/10/2010 17:55

I'm 30 weeks pregnant with my second child and starting maternity leave at 36 weeks, although I'm taking 2 weeks leave before that. I only work part-time but it's about an hour drive each way so I can't wait to finish!!

emmyloo2 · 12/10/2010 17:57

I am pregnant with first child and work full time. Finishing at 38 weeks on the dot. Currently at just under 36 weeks and still feeling good but looking forward to finishing.

RememberToPlaywiththeKids · 12/10/2010 18:08

I'm thinking of going at 33 weeks as it's christmas eve and prob not worth going back in the new year for a couple of weeks! I feel guilty about stopping so early though. This is my 3rd too.

whizzymummy · 12/10/2010 18:13

This is my 3rd also and am only 17 weeks so not decided what I'll do yet.
With both my DC I finished 35 weeks on the dot, but was easy for me as need c-sections so I knew there was no issue of going overdue! I had both my DC in the spring so took my annual 4 weeks of holiday upfront and my mat leave kicked in week the baby was born.

yellowflowers · 12/10/2010 18:15

I started at 30 weeks - couldn't face the commute!

faverolles · 12/10/2010 18:45

I'm finishing at 32 weeks. This'll be my 4th, and I'm stopping before Christmas so I won't have to sort out childcare, and then i'll have a couple of weeks doing nothing before it's born.

lal123 · 12/10/2010 18:50

I finished at about 36 weeks with both DDs - 2 weeks AL then ML starting at 38 weeks. DD1 arrived on first day of maty leave and DD2 arrived the week before ML started.

lennon80 · 12/10/2010 18:51

I finish at 35 weeks well I am taking all my leave for the year then and my maternity leave kicks in on my due date.

MiniMarmite · 12/10/2010 19:14

First child I went at about 38 weeks officially but had 3 weeks of leave to take so actually left at 35. I had started to work part time during the pregnancy (but had requested this before I fell pregnant, following a previous MC).

This time I went at 28 weeks but taking 2 weeks for leave so, officially, at 30 weeks. I felt that I needed the extra time to get things ready for the baby on the two days a week that DS is at nursery.

Mammie81 · 12/10/2010 19:35

Im finishing at 36 weeks but 2 weeks of that is annual leave. May have held out longer but I commute. Boo!

SweetCarolina · 12/10/2010 19:37

DC1 36 weeks
DC2 32 weeks
DC3 29 weeks and was knackered by then

1Catherine1 · 12/10/2010 19:42

I'm 17 weeks pregnant with my first child but have decided to work to 39 weeks. My decision was purely a financial one since I can only afford 18 weeks off and I need to go back to work 2 weeks before the summer holidays start. I'm hoping this isn't unrealistic.

MumNWLondon · 12/10/2010 19:59

DS2 is now 6 months.

I decided I'd work to 39 weeks as both DD and DS1 a few days late. And of course DS2 was a week early. And I take the tube to work!

I work 3 days a week and DS1 already at nursery all day so had time to do stuff before DS2 was born in my non working days, its wasn't a problem.

My last day was a thursday and labour started on the friday!

gallicgirl · 12/10/2010 20:23

I'm finishing at 36 weeks because it's Christmas Eve and I can't be bothered with the office fight over who has to work over Christmas. I also have a week's annual leave to take before then so will actually leave around 35 weeks. My employers are pretty flexible though so if I decide I'm shattered and want to finish earlier, then it won't be a problem.

Panzee · 12/10/2010 20:26

32 weeks, it coincided with an end of term.

TheMulledBloodsOnMe · 12/10/2010 20:55

I work as a childminder and I am expecting my 2nd child. I get maternity allowance as I am self-empolyed and the earliest I can take it is 11 weeks before my due date, so when I am 29 weeks, and I can take 9 months off. I will be taking leave at the earleist possible time as I find my job too exhausting and demanding, physically to carry on for longer, especially with my own toddler!

Miffster · 12/10/2010 21:08

I'm going to finish @week 34. First baby, and I'm 39 years old.
My back is killing me and the bus commute is already making me tired @ 31 weeks.
But I like the distraction of being in the office, I worry that I will go mad googling everything that can go wrong at home, as well as being bored and lonely.

missmapp · 12/10/2010 21:10

ds1 and 2 38 weeks, but with ds2 it was much harder getting there!!!

babywrangler · 12/10/2010 21:16

I'm clearly in the minority here but I worked till my due date for all of mine. 1st (FT, hr commute into London, but I was only 27) was 2 weeks early and others a few days after dd.

Also had really easy pregnancies and desk job although half-hour walk to current work.

Much prefer having the time with baby. Would go mad pregnant at home.

InNeedOfCoffee · 12/10/2010 21:17

With dd i stopped at 36 weeks, this time i will be stopping asap as want to spend sone 1to1 time with dd before new baby comes.

I work part time and share childcare with dp so we dont get to see much of each other at the moment either so thats my other reason to start leave early.

would love to be a sahm but will need to see how curcumstances are at the end of mat leave.

pushmepullyou · 12/10/2010 21:27

DD worked up to the Friday, went in to labour on the Saturday

DC2, due March, will likely have an ELCS and planning to work up to the day before.

Am a director of a small private sector company and it's not a great time economically so don't want to let the staff/business down by going off before I really have to.

WidowWadman · 12/10/2010 21:50

Last time I worked until 38+1 (gave birth 3 days after stopping work), and this time am planning to start ML on due date, but take 3 weeks of annual leave beforehand.

Wouldn't want to stop any earlier, would get bored.

Wholelottalove · 12/10/2010 21:58

DD worked to 35 weeks.

This time (currently 30 weeks) was planning to work to 36 weeks, take 2 weeks leave and start mat leave at 38 weeks. SPD and general knackeredness seems to have put paid to that idea, although am planning to keep going for as long as I can on reduced hours.

Although I was very tired and uncomfy at work with DD, she was overdue so ended up with 6 weeks off before she was born, which crawled by. Mind you, I suspect the last 2 weeks would have felt very long anyway.

RememberToPlaywiththeKids · 12/10/2010 22:02

oh drat - just done a count up and realise that the kids nursery closes the week before Christmas eve, which puts me at 31 weeks if \i can't get childcare to cover. Is that too early to stop ?

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