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Pregnancy

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

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Original poster

How long before due date is everyone taking their maternity leave?

46 replies

bowlingball · 30/01/2011 17:35

Just what the title says really. Want to go as far as I can before due date and have longer after but don't want to be too unrealistic in my expectations of how mobile I will be/how much I can do.

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flowerfairy · 30/01/2011 17:43

I'm working until 15th Feb (due date 26th feb). The only reason for this is i work 1 and a half days a week and think i can manage this as have 3 days to myself for rest and preparing for dc#2. Though at 36 weeks in a classroom i'm beginning to feel exhausted from not doing very much!

When i had ds i worked up until 34 or 35 weeks and i worked full time then. I was also 7 years younger!

onimolap · 30/01/2011 17:44

Depends on the nature of your job. When I had my first DC, maternity leave was 18weeks, so I wanted as much as possible after the birth.

I was in an office job, so was able to carry on as normal. And did so until the day I went into labour (not quite the plan, he was early). With DC2 I stopped the week before my due date, and DC3 turned up the morning immediately after my last working day.

I really appreciated having more time with the babies when they had arrived.

SnapFrakkleAndPop · 30/01/2011 17:56

I'm teaching up to 38 weeks, unless I need a CS (looking likely) in which case I'll stop at 37.

nicki1978 · 30/01/2011 17:57

I'm due on 20th June and, if dc (first child) comes on time, to have off work the two weeks before as annual leave.

I work in an office on my butt 90% of the day and they won't let me do a thing , I've been given strict instructions not to lift anything heavier than a small file (hmmmm) - are they forgetting I'm pregnant not ill!!! I even got told that I shouldn't be on my knees unplugging my pc from the floor, lol. I understand that their looking out for me whilst trying to protect their own interests, but surely I'm old enough (33 yrs) to understand and know my own body to know if I'm doing too much, lol, or am I just being naive as it's my first child xx

SnapFrakkleAndPop · 30/01/2011 18:01

Your company are just taking precautions to protect themselves - if they don't and something goes wrong they could be liable.

I think as pregnancy goes on the line between fine and not fine at all get very thin. I'd think twice about getting down and unplugging something now because I might feel faint when I stand up!

allatsea1 · 30/01/2011 19:22

Have you checked your holiday situation? I planned to take just a couple of weeks off before my due date, but didn't realise that you still accrue the same hols on mat leave as you do when at work (and in our company you can;t carry them into next year). So...to cut a long story short I'm finishing about five weeks before my due date: yay!

RememberToPlaywiththeKids · 30/01/2011 19:41

It depends how long you're planning to take and whether or not you have other kids who go to nursery

For DC3, I found myself craving time pre baby being born to do stuff that i can't otherwise do due to work / looking after the kids.

I am THOROUGHLY enjoying them being in nursery while i do what I like!!!! will never get the chance again....and certainly won't get the chance later on...it wouldn't wash with DH to do this before going back to work.!

jenga079 · 30/01/2011 19:49

I'm due on 27th July and planning to work right up till my due date. I'm a teacher though and have several Year 11 and Year 13 groups who will leave at May half term, that means I'll only actually be teaching for about 15 hours a week by then so I'm hoping I'll be able to cope (I kmow, I know, bloody teachers and their part time hours!!)

sophielouise · 30/01/2011 19:57

I've just started mine at 36 weeks.. it's my first official day of ML tomorrow ! I'm also a full time secondary school teacher so quite a busy and demanding job. It really does depend on your job I think.

BertieBasset · 30/01/2011 20:01

I finshed at 36 weeks with dd and will with this one. Gives me time to get everything sorted and sleep as much as possible!

SarahScot · 30/01/2011 20:01

I'm a full time primary teacher, currently 34 weeks and am fecking knackered. I have a 3yr old so get no rest at home either. I'm working up to 37 weeks but wish I'd planned to stop earlier to be honest.

Panzee · 30/01/2011 20:05

I went at 32 weeks. I loved it - had time to do all the shopping in my own time. And I delivered at 38 weeks so I'm glad I had time before!

LovelyKatie · 30/01/2011 20:17

I am working up to just over 37 weeks which i think is rather good considering my job requires standing up and moving around a lot!!

use of machine,fast paced etc

but like many, in the current economic climate i have to work as late as possible to ensure i have money and enough time off with my baby.

I am quite capable and as im young i think its easier for me to be able to cope with working in this type of environment for longer.

I am worried im leaving so late but if that happens to be the case then theres no problem me leaving earlier. i will be taking the full 39 weeks off though so i suppose i am at a better advantage more than most people.

Oneof4 · 30/01/2011 20:22

I'm 37 weeks now and have two more weeks of work left.

Part of me is loving the fact that I'm so busy and not just sitting around waiting for the baby to appear, but the commute is really hard work (90 mins each way) and the perfect situation would have been to take one or two days a week as leave in the next couple of weeks. I also took two weeks off over Christmas to get a proper rest before the final push (so to speak), but you soon get tired again.

hoolabombshell · 30/01/2011 20:27

I finished work on Friday at 37 wks. Although I was deskbound for most of the day it was becoming a bit of a struggle just getting up and hobbling to the loo in the end! And the commute (40 min bus journey, followed by a 30 min walk) was getting to be a bit much, so I am so relieved I finished when I did.

All I need now is for baby to stay put for at least another couple of weeks, just so I can get organised!

jojosmaman · 30/01/2011 20:28

1st time round 38w but this time 35w so I can put my feet up before all hell breaks loose!

WhereYouLeftIt · 30/01/2011 20:33

I worked until 7 days before my due date, but I had a desk job at the time. Depends on the physical demands of your job as to when would work for you.

mamadoc · 30/01/2011 20:34

Taking annual leave is definitely the way forward. My mat leave doesn't start until the baby's due but I'm having 4 weeks off before (I'm part time so only use 3 days hol per week). My job is pretty hard core, on your feet a lot, shifts and it just gets hard to move around. I worked till 38 weeks last time and really it was too much.

melwood · 30/01/2011 20:34

I'm expecting my first child and have decided to work up until 36 weeks (which seems about normal for people in my company). I'm currently 29 weeks pregnant and already feeling quite uncomfortable sitting in the office all day, so I can't imagine working right up until the due date, plus my job is pretty fast paced/high stress so I thought 4 weeks before would be about right.l Would love to go off now though!!!!!

Suggest it depends on how demanding your job is job and how you're feeling physically.....

Mumbybumby · 30/01/2011 20:41

For DD my maternity leave hadn't even stared when I had her - went to work on Friday and went into labour Sunday night at 37 weeks!
For this DC I went on leave on 27 Jan (due date 19 feb) as I'd saved my holiday up so maternity doesn't actually start until 8 feb. Am glad I did as I'm shattered and want to spend some time with DD beforehand.

doodledee · 30/01/2011 21:43

Planning to work till 36 weeks although wondering if i'll manage some days (did same with first DD) Am a nurse in busy, heavy going A+E dept

Kitty81 · 30/01/2011 22:05

I'm going off 8 days before edd. And I'm a sixth form drama teacher. It's going to be hellish I think. Plan to stay in my wheely chair and just have the kids push me from room to room :) I'm shattered now so what it will be like at nearly 39 weeks I have no idea... And bambino had better stay put!

rednose · 30/01/2011 22:30

This thread interests me as I am just entering my 3rd trimester. I plan to leave work at week 36 and hope I make it as i am already massive and struggle to fit behind steering wheel!!- I drive for a living

K8HB · 31/01/2011 01:19

I'm going off ten working days before but I expect it completely depends on your work, how good your maternity benefits are (!) and how you feel. In order to compensate we are making sure at the moment that we have at least one day each weekend with nothing planned so today we lounged around watching Andy Murray in the Australian Open final until 11.30am...I think it is each to their own and you have to go with what suits you regardless of what anyone else advises/says and don't be afraid to change your mind!

JetLi · 31/01/2011 03:26

6 days before EDD is when I finish. I'd rather have time with the baby than by myself. Besides I'd be prone to worrying if I had too much time on my hands...
Last pregnancy I did 2 weeks prior to EDD, but for the previous 4 weeks I had used 1 days holiday per week to give me long weekends.

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