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Pregnancy

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

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Original poster

When did you start maternity leave?

40 replies

stripeybump · 26/09/2011 21:02

I had horrible hyperemesis for first 19 weeks and assumed I'd feel awful throughout pregnancy, but now I'm almost glowing at week 28 and have booked my mat leave to start after 37 weeks, much later than I'd planned originally.

Is this late? How late did everyone work til, what's reasonable? Am I going to regret it when I'm the size of a house with an hour long commute?

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headfairy · 26/09/2011 21:04

ds - 36 weeks. ds actually born at 39 weeks so I got three weeks off.

dd - 38 weeks. She was almost two weeks late so got longer than I'd planned (though it was Christmas so didn't feel like much of a holiday)

m1nn1em0u5e · 26/09/2011 21:07

I planned to work up until 37 weeks with ds1, but due to High Blood Pressure I had to finish at 35 weeks, but I have to say I was secretly relieved!..It was December, freezing & rush hour with a huge bump & then full time work was exhausting! Amazingly my BP went back to normal as soon as I finished work!..With ds2 I finished at 34 weeks, nobody can prepare you for the exhaustion you feel in the last few weeks! I am now 23 weeks pregnant with ds3 & am going to finish again at 34 weeks, although I will be using annual leave for the first 4 weeks :)

pinkyp · 26/09/2011 21:07

I left at 30 weeks but had 2 weeks hol, still off now

ElfOnTheTopShelf · 26/09/2011 21:09

DS was born in May. He was born on the 25th, had been due on the 15th, and I broke up for maternity leave on the 6th. I only broke up that early because my childminder was on holiday and I was taking DD to and from school

With DD (born in 05), she was due on 12th October and I had planned to finish work on the 7th October, but I ended up being signed off at the beinning of August! I returned to work on half days, and then took holidays etc, so didn't start maternity leave as such until 1st Oct, but I was off work from end of Aug. She ended up being born on the 6th Oct.

AlwaysRocking · 26/09/2011 21:17

I worked until 3 days before my due date, partly for financial reasons but also because I was convinced all first babies are late. She was born 2 days early

I found it ok being at work when heavily pregnant, but I do have a desk job and some very nice colleagues who made things easier for me.

unfitmother · 26/09/2011 21:22

36 weeks with DS, had planned to go up to 37 with DD but got assaulted and punched in the stomach at 35 weeks so went then.

chocjunkie · 26/09/2011 21:25

I stopped working with both DC at 38 weeks. Had very bad hyperemesis until week 23/24 but the last months of my pregnancies were really easy then by comparision.

LoveInAColdClimate · 26/09/2011 21:26

I'm planning to go off at 36 weeks, but midwife seemed to think 35 would be better. I have an office based but stressful job.

fandango75 · 26/09/2011 21:54

i am going at 29 weeks with DC2. I worked until 37 weeks with DC1 in an office based but stressful job and vowed not to do it again

Original poster

stripeybump · 26/09/2011 22:20

Hmmm interesting. Should've said, I'm a teacher so pretty active / stressful too! I will try to stay until the date I set, but if I go off sick in the last month I think my mat leave is triggered early anyway. I feel so much better now compared to when I was throwing up all the time, but I'm aware more suffering is yet to come.

for the poster who was punched in the stomach! Are you a teacher too perchance?

OP posts:

pruney1977 · 26/09/2011 22:22

I'm going at 31 weeks with one of my jobs and will stay at my other job till either they tell me to stop or the baby comes out lol. In fairness though, I'm a carer and the latter job is almost like being at home, looking after an old chap for a few hours a week but the other job is a lot more physical, hence finishing at 31 weeks.

Chynah · 26/09/2011 22:25

At 39 weeks with #1 - started maternityleave the day he was born. At 29 weeks with #2 only because babies are very close together and starting it early meant I didn'tphysically go back to work in between.

soymama · 26/09/2011 22:32

Unfitmother, how could anybody punch somebody who is pregnant?? Hope you were ok.

shesparkles · 26/09/2011 22:36

I stopped at 29 weeks with DD because I knew I'd never get that time to myself again in my life, and 34 weeks with DS because frankly, I was knackered!

TheThingUpstairs · 26/09/2011 22:38

Officially at 38 weeks, but have saved leave and started at 36 weeks. I did have a desk job though, think it must be very different for a more physically demanding job.

LikeACandleButNotQuite · 26/09/2011 23:31

Technically, will start at 39 weeks, but adding a weeks worth of bank hols/AL onto the start. This is all if things go to plan. My replacement will spend a month before with me, so my workload hopefully wont be massive, though the thought of training someone in everything I do at 34 weeks preg is filling me with dread -will I even be able to concentrate??

SurprisEs · 26/09/2011 23:42

I went on mat leave at 37 weeks and feel liken could've done another week. But I wasn't to guess so I thought it would be a pretty reasonable time to book it for. I didn't want to miss out on the time with the baby and I knew I couldnt afford the last 3 months of unpaid leave.

BuckminsterFullerene · 26/09/2011 23:51

Teacher too.

Stopped at 38 weeks, was exhausted (& scarily hormonal), should've stopped at 36.

Trying to reach around myself to sweep broken glass off the floor during practicals was ridiculous.

madhattershouse · 26/09/2011 23:54

I planned to have a month off before birth, stressful job with awful hours, waddling home at 3am was no fun.

notlettingthefearshow · 27/09/2011 00:05

I plan to start at 36 weeks. I'm not sure whether this is slightly lazy, although I am quite tired already - probably because I stay up too late wandering on the internet! I'm a university teacher and it's not that tiring or stressful, but I am due at Xmas and thought I could do with some time to relax and not have to go to work in the depths of winter! And write Xmas cards. Also I will go back in September regardless because it's good to be there at the start of the academic year, so it doesn't make much difference financially.

notlettingthefearshow · 27/09/2011 00:06

I am very admiring of anyone working to 38 weeks or beyond - I'm 27 weeks and already switching off from work!

busyprocrastinating · 27/09/2011 00:20

I'm a teacher too and finished at 38 weeks. Though I must admit that I found the last week a struggle. But we were busy trying to renovate our house at the time so was leaving work and then spending evenings decorating.

Original poster

stripeybump · 27/09/2011 08:03

Notletting - if you're going back in Sept, go back the day before summer hols so you get full pay from then

OP posts:

sleepevader · 27/09/2011 08:28

Stripey I was going to suggest that too ( lots of teacher friends)

I finished work at 34wks with dc1. Bullied by Boss into going early- had planned 38wks. Given the relative ease of job and 15mins commute I should have resisted and gone on sick leave instead got 2 weeks. .... But her constant sniping wore me down.

This time round I've not been working since 17wks. It's dragged but mine I have finally had some magical one to one time with dc1.

lollystix · 27/09/2011 08:35

Done 37 weeks with ds1, 36 weeks with ds2 (so bored), 38 weeks with ds3 and leaving in 4 weeks for ds4 when I'll be 39+4. desk job so ok but the walk and double drop off/pick up is knackering

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