When did you start maternity leave?

[stripeybump]

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?

I'm in the "Stay at work as long as you can" camp TBH. I had just over a week at home each time before baby came along and was bored, bored, frustrated and bored. I didn't have the energy to do much apart from a bit of mild pottering and I am a worrier as well so time on my hands = myself on my mind.

I'm leaving at 34 weeks, but that includes 3 weeks of holiday that I'm due. As somebody said above, I'm only 27 weeks and already switching off from work - I just don't care any more!

I'm currently 37 weeks and this is my last week at work- hurray!!!

I worked until 36 weeks with my first two, using up anual leave befor my ML started.

This time, because the new company I work for only pays SMP , I'm working right up until my due date. My job isn't physically demanding, though, and I work from home at least one day a week.

I didn't know how much to take and when I went for my appraisal I asked the two partners their opinion - luckily one of them is married to another lawyer at my firm who just had a baby and said I should take at least a month before my due date. He drove her into work every morning for the last trimester as well.

I'll be going off at 36 weeks, but first three weeks will be accrued leave so maternity leave proper will start at 40 weeks.

It's not the job that's difficult - it's easy once I get here, it's the 90 min each way commute that is getting harder by the day!

I agree with the PP's, about switching off....it's metally draining trying to constantly look busy / interested when im usually either counting down the hours til my next nap or counting the weeks till my leave begins.

DS1- 2 weeks holiday and then started Mat Leave at 39 weeks. He came at 41 weeks and I was bored silly.

DD I was going to start on her due date but she came 5 days before than. That was around Christmas so I wasn't at work much anyway.

DS2 I put on Mat B1 that I would start Mat Leave when he arrived. That turned out to be 41+2. I didn't start work that day as I woke up in labour. I worked at home from my due date as I was making the rest of the office nervous I have a office job and 20 min commute so it was fairly easy. Had to go to London for a few days at 37 weeks but even that was ok.

I only take 6 months off and I want as much of that with the baby as possible so I would much rather work as long as possible. If they are starting solids when I go back it means I have to express less . If I went back when they were still on milk only then that would be more work for me.

I started yesterday at 37 weeks and I feel much much better today for having done so. And am exhausted as have DD to run round after.

Yesterday morning I was tying up loose ends from home and staring at the keyboard, literally unable to spell words like "needless" - I couldnt work out whether it began with an "n" or a "d"!!

THis is very weird as in normal life spelling and language is one of my strengths and I would NEVER struggle with this! I was actually quite alarmed.

No such problems on MN today, tho

DS - I had a few months off before the birth because I was switching jobs, and was no point in starting new one before the birth.

DD - planned to start maternity leave at 39 weeks (because I had been in new job just 14 months), DD born at 38+1 so ended up working up until the day before the birth. Ideally I would have liked a week off before, but it was ok really.

My mat leave started at 38.5 but I took a week's leave before that.

My final week at work I had loads of problems and ended up having 2 days off to attend hospital, which I worked back from home during my week off so they didn't make me start my mat leave early.

My commute is only 10 minutes, my job isn't physical, and I can work from home anyway.

The last couple of weeks were a real drag but I'm glad I did it that way and have longer with the baby. I've been off for nearly a week now and I miss work immensely, I could definitely continue to work (from home) right up to the baby coming!

FRIIIIIIIDAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAY!

At 35 weeks

Hi OP no I'm a nurse, one of those things. I was fine BTW but had just had enough.

Stopped at 36 weeks with DD and she came at 37+1.

Was self employed by the time I had DS so worked right up until the day I went into labour (he came at 40+4) but found it a struggle.

So this time I stopped at 36 weeks again, having arranged for someone to take over my clients until the new year. Am now 38+1 and not bored at all but that might have something to do with me already having two DC

I am going to work till 38 weeks (well, 39 but with a week's holiday at the end). I turn 34 weeks this week, and I'm feeling it today. The trouble is that my work is really hectic, and I find it near impossible to even get a lunch break or anything. There isn't really the 'winding down period' I'd have liked - work doesn't get quieter because you are pregnant I suppose.

After this week, I'm going to work at least a day a week from home though, it is just too much otherwise.

I am in awe of people who work late with other kids, this is my first and I am now reliant on lying in bed in the evenings waiting for lovely OH to make my dinner....

i am planning on working till 36 weeks then having 3 weeks AL (i wont get all my AL in before baby is due sadly and dont think they will pay for that not taken) and then taking full 39 weeks off.

That said, i will see how i go. I will still have to get up at 730am to take other two daughters to school adn to do ponies