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Pregnancy

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

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Original poster

Maternity leave.....

32 replies

PrincessClementine · 28/12/2011 17:36

I'm only 14 weeks, but thinking ahead! This is my first and I work fulltime, and wondering when I should ask to start my maternity leave. Of course, people tell me it's entirely up to me, but I have nothing to compare with! Hence asking the fount of all wisdom - MN!!

My work isn't completely desk work, I'm up and down a lot, but nothing too strenuous. I will need to go back to work after ML, although ideally not FT. So I guess it's a balance between not overdoing it when you're heavily pregnant, but equally not ending up sitting around bored and then not having enough time once the baby is born.

So, when are you planning on going on ML, or when have you in the past and what would you recommend?

Thanks.

OP posts:

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Pascha · 28/12/2011 17:46

Depends really, how heavy you are, how uncomfortable and tired you feel in the last month or so. I was off from about 36 weeks which was quite early really. Some women work up to their due date.

If you intend going back to work you might want more time with your baby and not waste it hanging around for a while before the birth, bored and fed up. On the other hand you might want to take the last chance you'll ever have for lazy days, lie-ins and being able to do exactly as you want.

Your health will probably dictate what you end up doing. My advice would be to give yourself a couple of weeks before the birth. If I did it again that's what I would do.

Bignorkz · 28/12/2011 17:48

I'm 38+5 with my first and I finished last Friday! Given the choice I would have finished a week or two earlier as I work in retail and was on my feet for 8 hours a day...we only get 90% pay for six weeks though, then we're on SMP which we aren't gonna be able to afford to live on, so I'll be back in full time employment 6th feb....hopefully i'll pop sooner than later so I can spend SOME time with DC before I go back!

If your employer is a bit more generous than mine I'd finish about 36-37 weeks...luckily I've had a great pregnancy but it all depends how you feel at the time, difficult to say when your only 14 weeks! All the best :-)

MotherPanda · 28/12/2011 17:53

i left at bang on 29 weeks - couldn't handle commuting or step-ladder work etc. I'm going back to work when my dd is 7 months old, once my maternity allowance runs out.

Commutinghell · 28/12/2011 17:54

I've been a bit worried about this too. My work maternity policy is pretty dreadful too, 6 weeks full pay, 6 weeks 90% and then down to SMP which we couldn't afford to live on. So in order to get the maximum amount of time off with the baby I will be finishing the day before I'm due. I do have a desk job but it's a long commute to work on the train which is difficult already so it's going to be a nightmare. It's what I want to do though, I don't want to waste my maternity leave sitting around waiting for something to happen.

Newtothisstuff · 28/12/2011 18:04

I left with my DD at 38 weeks I'm pregnant with number 2 and fingers crossed plan to do the same.. Just depends on how you feel.. The way I see if the later you leave it the more time you get of with your baby afterwards

NewBikeForChristmas · 28/12/2011 18:05

I have a fairly desk based job, which I can drive to, and finished at 36/37 weeks both times. Both DC were early (with DS I finished work on the Friday and he was born on the Sunday; with DD I thought I'd like a bit more time to put my feet up, finished on the Friday and she came on the Tuesday).

PotteringAlong · 28/12/2011 18:08

I'm a teacher and finished at 37 weeks. For me, that was as far as I was capable if working.

chocjunkie · 28/12/2011 19:15

i stopped work with both DC at 38 weeks. most friends stopped much earlier though. it really depends and I think i was lucky to feel absolutly fine right until labour (2 weeks overdue with both) kicked in.

Muser · 28/12/2011 19:23

I was planning to go at 38 weeks, but in the end went at 37 due to a misunderstanding over outstanding leave. I used my remaining leave to go down to 4 days a week for my last 6 weeks at work. If you can do something similar I highly recommend it. Then I gave birth at 38+2 so I'm quite glad I didn't wait until 38 weeks!

MrsCog · 28/12/2011 19:27

I'm finishing at 34 weeks, I am lucky that I can afford to take the whole year off if I want to (haven't decided whether to or not yet though), and I also have annual leave to tag on which is why I'm finishing so early. It's a desk job, but I have a long drive each way in the dark. I am a bit worried about getting bored etc, but then again I've been in this very stressful job for 2.5 years, so I'm looking at it as a potential 6 week 'sabatical' to get over the past 2 years and lie in bed reading books etc!

JambalayaCodfishPie · 28/12/2011 19:33

I'm finishing at 38 weeks, but because it's schools Easter holidays my maternity doesn't need to kick in until the day before my due date. Then get 6 weeks at 90%, then 12wks at full pay, then just SMP for the rest.

Most people seem to think I won't cope working until 38weeks, but as I was still restaurant managing at 40wks in my last pregnancy, I think I'll be alright!

painterly · 28/12/2011 19:42

Hello Princess. I'd try and save some leave if you can and leave at least a week early so you can have a bit of peace before the hiatus begins. Go out for late dinners with DP, go to the cinema. Read a book. Meet friends for lunch. Then you'll have your max leave as once you are on ML you won't want to go back in a hurry as it's always hard handing over the little bundle to anyone else and the bigger they are, the better you'll feel.

Charliewasagoodhamster · 28/12/2011 19:47

I saved 3 weeks of AL and went at 36 weeks so ML kicks in at 39 weeks. I had a long commute and a demanding team management role. I expected to feel like I could carry on longer but I was glad to be done. Been off 2 weeks now and could not contemplate being at work now.

hairytaleofnewyork · 28/12/2011 20:13

"I've been a bit worried about this too. My work maternity policy is pretty dreadful too, 6 weeks full pay, 6 weeks 90% and then down to SMP which we couldn't afford to live on."

That's fab not dreadful! certainly for those of us on smp. Six weeks ful and six weeks 90%? Yes blooming please!

I am 37 weeks and am finishing at 39 weeks. Mainly desk based - if I had a more generous package I'd have finished before the Xmas break at 36 weeks.

I want as much time with the baby as possible and dread waiting Round bored - because I'm going back at somewhere between 6-8 months (depending how money is) so I don't want to waste time off before baby arrives.

hairytaleofnewyork · 28/12/2011 20:15

Ps I also took annual leave to shorten my working weeks to four days instead of five, for the last 6 weeks.

Original poster

PrincessClementine · 28/12/2011 20:33

Thanks people. Lots of things to think about. I just don't know how I'll feel towards the end, but need to give a definite date, in order for work to plan cover, etc. Cutting down days is certainly a good idea.

I know that I'll want time with the baby after it's here, but I almost think that whenever I go back it'll be too soon!! And I can pretty much use a whole years holiday to bulk out the ML too.

My work is demanding and you have to be on the ball...I do like painterly's suggestion of final time with DH! Well, will give it some more thought, I guess you can only predict so much.

OP posts:

hairytaleofnewyork · 28/12/2011 20:45

I felt the same at the beginning - you just don't know how you'll feel. I originally said I'd work up til due date but I felt tired around
28 weeks so gave notice of bringing it forward a week.

I did find reducing to four days really helpful.

LikeAnAdventCandleButNotQuite · 28/12/2011 20:57

I worked until 38 weeks, had one week AL, then officially started ML at 39 weeks. Baby came two days late, so had a fortnight off, which was lovely

The only 'downside' I found to working that late, was training my ML cover lady. She shaddowed me for a month to learn my job as i'm the only one at my work in my role. I found it awful. At a time when my brain was wanting to do bot all, I had to be on the ball enough to ensure she knew everything. It's so much easier to just do your work, rather than have to teach someone else to do it for you (and in such a short time).

Would you have to do something similar?

In retorspect, i'd have liked to have started ML earlier so my time training my cover would have been earlier in the pregnancy iyswim

Yummymummyyobe1 · 28/12/2011 21:02

PrincessClementine I too am a first timer and have recently decided upon my Mat Leave. Our DS is due on April 29th 2012 which is a Sunday and have made the decision to work unti April 27th. My theory being it will be nicer to spend time at home with our DS.

WhenDoISleep · 28/12/2011 21:05

My ML with DS officially started on my EDD - but I finished work at 33+5 and had six weeks holiday first.

It worked out that way because he was due end of Jan, so I could finish mid-December and take the rest of my annual leave for one year and then take some of the next years annual leave immediately prior to ML.

carrielou2007 · 28/12/2011 21:46

Was full time expecting dd and finished at 37 and a haof weeks, used 2 and a half weeks annual leave so L started on my due date. Dd was then 15 days late. Luckily I went to part time when dd was 2.5 - the same week I found out I was pregnant with ds so working until 38 weeks 3 long days was more mangeable. The last three weeks were really hard, work very very full on, o9ng commute etc but worth it for the extra few weeks off the other side. Ds was 12 days late the monkey.

Really depends on how you are though, I was lucky that I was ok-ish in myself to be able to carry on, all the usual niggles but luckily not actually ill with it ifykwim.

Good luck!!

goldbow · 28/12/2011 21:49

Finish ASAP, you won't be bored you'll be sleeping

YuleingFanjo · 28/12/2011 21:53

I worked up to 38 weeks but could have worked up to 40 and beyond as I felt fine. However I don't think all pregnancies are the same so you should play it by ear.

Munx · 28/12/2011 21:53

I worked until 37 weeks, DD born at 38 weeks.

Next time I will finish at 34 weeks..... That last month was very hard work. But I was enormous and had sacroiliac dysfunction.

If possible keep the arrangement loose, you won't know how heavy/tired you will feel until you are there. Work may allow you to give a rough date but if you need to finish earlier, they shouldn't give you a hard time about it.

The more you communicate with your bosses, hopefully the more satisfactory your arrangements will be.

Best of luck and many many congratulations. I dropped off the July 2012 bus at 7 weeks, but am delighted to hear of successful scans!

Fizzylemonade · 28/12/2011 22:03

I contacted HR as I was due 2nd June many many years ago.

I was advised that as my ML would take place in my new holiday year which in my case ran from April, I would have to take my 6 weeks annual leave in one go, so had to leave work 6 weeks before my baby was due.

I was lucky as I worked for the council so could take up to a year off and I returned the very end of March the following year.

I was annoyed at the time as it meant if I returned at any stage before the following April I wouldn't have any holiday leave at all.

In a way though I was glad as I felt huge, my job was desk based but I was exhausted. I loved all the little snoozes I got to do in the day and was totally ready for the baby.

I returned to work for 6 months part time and then became a SAHM so no resting before baby number 2 came along 3 years later.

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