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

[OnlyWantsOne]

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

This is baby number 1 and I'm due 29/01/11. I am starting my mat leave end Dec but am finishing work 27/11 cos have my annual leave to take first, so I will be 31 weeks.

DD2 for me.
In theory I'll be 37 weeks as I start mat leave at the begining of Jan but I have my Christmas hols (annual leave) before that coinsiding with DD's school holiday so shall be leaving work on the 16th Dec when I'll be just over 34 weeks. Which is actually 34 days in the office - not that I'm counting or anything..

I have a strange feeling that this one is going to arrive a bit early.

tick, tick, tick......

This is my first I am planning to stop driving distances with work around 28weeks then with the agreement of my boss, work from home from 37/8 weeks and go on Mat leave at 39weeks. My local office is only 10mins away so if I rule out nationwide travel early its not too much of a chore.

Today is my last day at work, yippee
I am 31 weeks today but am having a c section at 36 weeks (identical twin girls )

I am exhausted and am so glad not to be doing another day!

I finished a week before due date & am thinking of doing the same this time. I work in an office and the last few weeks are handover - I quite enjoyed it. Would love to stop earlier but not at the trade of time off with new baby so I choose to work until as late as possible.

I stopped at 39 weeks. Seemed to me that since I had a finite amount of time on maternity leave it was better to use it up with the baby rather than sitting around at home on my own waiting for the baby! If I had stopped at 30 weeks that would have been 9 less weeks I would have had with the baby before I had to go back.

I'm 15+2 but am already trying to work it all out in my head.

EDD is 4 April but I have pelvic problems and my hips and back are already starting to hurt. My commute's an a hour and a half each way through central London (I was sold to another company shortly before finding out I was pregnant) and my DP is fussing about how I'll cope with the travel when I get substantially bigger.

DP is getting a bit hysterical and suggesting I go off after Christmas but I'm thinking I'll go off at the beginning of February as a compromise. Dunno what week it would be

I'm pregnant with my first and planning to leave at 38 weeks.

Worked full time doing shift work with my second (My older son was 12 and doing shift work meant I could get lots of lay in's) - I finished 2 days before I was being induced ...but in all fairness I was 37 weeks. That was back in the day when leave was only 6 weeks full pay and 12 weeks half pay. I went back to work when he was 4.5 months.

First baby and don't know how I will feel when it actually happens, but I'm planning to go off on annual leave at beginning of Feb (around 36 weeks), EDD 3 March, and start maternity leave the day baby is born. My policy says the latest I can start maternity leave is the day the baby arrives, so that's what I intend to do. Then 39 weeks on mat leave...

Hope a) do not go stir-crazy at home waiting for baby but also b) that baby is not born the day after I stop work so I get a chance to see whether or not I could cope with being home alone - have always thought I would love it, but many people say you get totally bored.

pregnant with DC2 (DD1 is 2.5y). will be working until almost 38 weeks (if everything goes to plan)...

With DS1 I chose to work until 35 weeks and then DS1 was 2 weeks late.

With No.2, I am 37+1 today and will be working FT (desk job) until 38+2. It is not easy, especially with a 2.5yo DS1 demanding attention after work, but I can cope. Very glad that I will be finishing soon, though!

I have finished at 33 weeks with each child ( am expecting my 3rd child) I have had c sectioned with each one but have had to leave at 33 weeks each time for different reasons. This time just so tired and my bump did'nt fit behind my desk and was fed up of being moaned at as i work in a Call Centre lol!!! Everyone is different and finances dictate what needs to be done. My friend finished work 2 wks b4 the baby was due and the day after she finished work she had the baby bit of a surprise and she never got the 2 wk break she was hoping for.

I've just had my first child 3 weeks ago and went on mat leave at 38 weeks. However, I work in my partner's family business and I ended up going in twice after that, the last day being the day I went into labour.
If I could do it all again I'd go on maternity leave at about 36 weeks so I had some time to relax before the baby came.

This is my first pregnancy and I'm officially starting my maternity leave at 39 weeks, although I have annual leave that I have to take so I'll be finishing work at 37 weeks.

I have enough lieu time owing that I'm able to work 4 day weeks for the next 5 weeks which takes me up to my leave (am 31+3 at the moment).

I have to say that I am absolutely knackered and have no patience at work AT ALL these days - so I'm sure my colleagues are counting down to the day I finish!