when are you planning to stop work?

[MomToBe1974]

I wonder when it?s reasonable to tell my boss I want to stop working...

Hersetta - that's a good point re spending time with first. I may factor in some time for that.

You don't have to legally give up, you can give birth and return to work the next day if you so desire.

That was a reply to lolajane2009 sorry, wasn't just randomly telling people they don't need to take ML. Thought I'd better clear that up before people thought I was telling them they shouldn't be taking time off and should go to work within 24 hours of giving birth

I work from home as a translator so someimes have loads of urgent work and sometimes have nothing for ages. Will be accepting jobs right till my due date but won't be taking anything very big on in the last month. but then I'll have to work again from 4 months post partum as mat leave runs out then (I'm abroad).
With DS I worked til as a teacher til 35 weeks and was sooooo ready to stop. Little bugger turned up at 36 weeks so basically got no time off before he arrived.

Over here (Ireland) your maternity leave legally has to start 2 weeks before your expected due date - so mine will be starting at 38 weeks - I've booked off some annual leave though as I have exams coming up.

My last day in work Ill be 35+2
For the following 2 weeks (36 weeks and 37 weeks pregnant) I have law exams to study for and sit (studying for degree at night).

So although Im finished work at 35+2 and technically on leave, because of Uni Im not counting "finishing up" til Im exactly 37 weeks, if that makes sense.

Cannot wait to have nothing to do except nest and spend time with dc!!!

Am exactly 32 weeks today.

That was me Barbie, I was due to sit my law final 8 days after my DS was due so crammed, and then he decided he was cooked enough and came 4 weeks early and by EMCS so I managed to defer my exam and sit it in 1 month so back to cramming and everything has gone, all I have is nappy brain now

Good luck with your exam.

That was 8 days before not after sorry. Nappy brain see.

I was slightly wrong I apologise

You do not have to take all of your Statutory Maternity Leave. However, you must take two weeks (or four weeks if you work in a factory) of 'compulsory' maternity leave after your baby is born.

So you don't have to start your ML until after the baby is born, but you can't return to work straight after not that anybody would surely.

I finished at 37+3, and for the first week of my maternity leave felt awesome - I reckon I could have gone on for a few more days if I'd needed to. I'm now 39+1 and it's a completely different story - getting up and getting dressed is enough of a challenge!

I should add that I have a job that largely involves sitting down all day, and I had a fairly straightforward 40 minute drive to work. I think the important thing is to listen to your body - I certainly went through peaks and troughs of tiredness but have generally felt good all the way through. Had I found it difficult I would have stopped a lot earlier!

I'm going at 35 weeks, which is the week after Easter. All these Bank Holidays have made my life alot easier! And I'm using some annual leave to make long weekends so my last 4 weeks are relatively easy. This one is my first, and I'd be too nervous to hang on until 38 weeks in case s/he turns up early! I have a desk job and an accommodating manager which has helped enormously.

I'm due on 2nd May and my last day in the office is 21st April - so 11 days before. My colleagues are more nervous about this than I am.

Oooh nunnie 8 days before?? you were brave!. I sat my first year exams 2 weeks before ds was due but Im being honest, its not the best idea, I find I've no attention span and am well.. a bit dim when Im this pregnant so fingers crossed it goes ok. (I did pass though, thankfully! )

It will be lovely to have it all out of the way before baby comes though! (hopefully, as like you, baby could come at any time - I doubt it though - as my 2 were "late" babies but suppose you never can tell)

I left at 35 weeks, the first 2 and half weeks are leave though. My job is on your feet all day and i didn't feel I was well supported at the end also there was more and more tasks i couldn't do and I was beginning to feel exhausted. Have just got to sort house out now.

Yep money means I am working until the 13th due the 19th.
My OH & family keep tying to tell me to finish early but financially tis not possible, and I think I will go mad with boredom if I finish any earlier TBH.
I guess its such a personal thing and admitedly the getting up early is getting to me and I would love to finish earlier, its just not feasable!

I worked until 9 days before dd1 was due, had kind of hoped she'd be late but she rudely turned up on time!
This time I'm due on 22nd and finishing on 4th - wishing it was sooner but finances do not allow!
I'd advise anyone to finish as early as they can afford to, it is exhausting working ft at this stage!!

I'm finishing at 34 weeks - I'm 27 weeks now. My heart's just not in work anymore and with a long commute I'll be happy to spend some time getting things ready and enjoying time in the garden before my first arrives! I'm sure I could hang in a bit longer but then thought....nah!!!

36 weeks but wish I'd started week earlier - work in a&e so on very swollen feet for 12 hours and can be heavy going

I stopped work at 36wks & that was just right for me, I wasn't too tired at work but really enjoyed the naps I had that first week off

I was only working 3days a week at a desk job though. (the other 2 are chasing after my toddler!) I think if I had a more active job or one that was more than a 10min drive away from home I would have needed to stop earlier.

I worked to 38 weeks with DS who was number 1 - this time I want to spend lots of time with him before number 2 arrives so will be leaving in August (due November) which will be about 27 weeks. CAN'T WAIT!!

With my first i worked till the week i was due so 39 weeks, she ended up being 2 weeks late so am glad i didnt finish too early. My work colleuges were more nervous about me being at work than i was!!!
With my second i just knew he would be late too so worked till the day he was due so 40 weeks.
It gave me more thime at the end and they were both late so still had time off before baby arrived.

Im due next Tuesday and working till this Friday so 3 days before EDD, I do have a sit down job so at a computer all day which isnt difficult, worst is tube journey in and out of work when you dont get a seat but again, its 1 25 minute tube journey per way and I dont have to change lines.

Have also had a pretty easy pregnancy and figure most 1st babies are late so i could still get upto 2 weeks at home sitting around waiting anyway, so might aswell keep working and get paid for a little longer !

Im a teacher and apparently I can work till the week im due. So i was thinking 39 weeks. I can only afford 18 weeks off so i want it all afterwards. Hopefully will go back part time though.

Ahhhh Maternity Leave :) Can't wait! Am in a job that I don't like anymore and was going to quit anyway and am def not going back after I have the baby so will leave as soon as I legally can :) The pay isn't great so it's not really making a huge difference to our financial situation - less for me to spend on my stuff so at least I don't feel guilty about that and the peace and time off esp. during August will be lovely ;)
Am only just 12 weeks so still have a few months to go but I really can't wait :)

I was a student with DD - had an exam on my due date, so I suppose I didn't give up work until 40w! Luckily she didn't come till 42w so there was time to calm down again.

Working till 34/35 weeks - but the first few weeks are annual leave. I probably could work longer but don't want to! Am already exhausted (29 weeks) and distracted. Want to have some time to relax & prepare (it's my first) but fully expect to end up impatient and bored!