Maternity Leave

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Hello All,

When did you/are you planning to start your maternity leave.

I took maternity leave with DS1 at 39 weeks, DD1 at 37 weeks (wasn't due to start mat leave until 38 weeks but had DD on the saturday so Mat leave had to start on the Monday) and this one I intend to finish at 36 weeks. After what happened with DD I don't want to leave it too late but would you say 36 weeks is a bit early?

Not with 2 kiddies, I'm finishing this fri when I'm 38+1, she's my first and I'm nackered I'd have deffo finished a couple of weeks ago if I already had 2 to look after x

No, I'd say 36 weeks is fine. You'll be pretty much sure of having at least a little bit of time off before the birth.

I start with two weeks leave this Wednesday and then 2 weeks Mat leave so 35 weeks and 3 days. xx

I am meant to be working until 38 weeks, but am so exhausted now (33wks) and am going to make it 36 instead! I can't keep it up lol

Although I do work night shifts as a carer, so not one of my better ideas! I felt quite capable back when I booked it lol. I am also anxious I could go into labour whilst working a shift (its in a client's house in the middle of nowhere)... I would feel awful creating a drama, and also having to leave my car there and get an ambulance lol. I have had nightmares worrying about it :S

I will be 37 weeks when I stop, I am shattered now at 33 weeks but I have a 2 week Easter break coming up so that will help(I hope!)

I am planning to stop between 36-38 weeks. I would prefer to work longer to get more time with the baby, but will see how I feel when I approach the date. If I start to feel tired I will finish closer to 36 weeks.

Finished at 37 weeks with first baby and am about to finish at 34 weeks with second baby. Just find that I am knackered all the time having a toddler to run around after and working so decided to finish 6 weeks early.

I'm glad you all think 36 weeks is fine. I want as much time as possible with the baby afterwards but I also don't want to give birth at my desk, my last labour was literally 1 hour start to finish!

Good Luck to all those finishing soon, I hope we all get a little break before our babies arrive.

I am going off work in 3 weeks, so will be 34 weeks but I have all my holiday time to use so I am using that, then starting official maternity on due date.
I either use my holiday time, or get paid for it next January. Decided to use it all before as I have a dissertation to finish and want to get it done before baby arrives.

I had to leave at 31 weeks because of severe SPD had 4 weeks holiday so 35 weeks really.. With DD1 i worked until 38 weeks.. Work as long as you feel comfortable.. It's nice to put your feet up for a few weeks before baby is born

I stopped work at 33 weeks, but had been having a few pregnancy problems which increased my risk of a premature birth.
Turned out stopping work at 33 weeks was right for me, given that DS made a surprise appearance the next week.

I think it all depends on how smoothly your pregnancy is going and how well you feel.

I have stopped work at 36 weeks (just over a week ago) which was the right time for me. I am currently officially still on annual leave until 16 April when maternity leave proper kicks in (and that's a day before my DD).

In retrospect I am glad I stopped at 36 weeks as I was getting increasingly heavy, my feet/ankles were starting to swell (with a bit of oedema thrown in for good measure), I was far slower in getting ready than usual. And during the last week at work just being there 8 hours was more than exhausting (even though it only involved sitting at my desk most of the time, frantically typing maternity leave cover notes).

I finished work at 29 weeks and then my daughter was 2 weeks late but I still feel it was the right thing to do when I went back to work. I had SPD, sickness and have a long commute so I was emotionally and physically exhausted so I had a lovely rest and then when she arrived I felt great and ready to be a mum so I could not have gone straight from work to having her.

I am planning on stopping work at 36 weeks (I work from home, but will have DDs aged 4 and 3 to contend with over the summer when baby is due).

I am only 19 weeks pg but exhausted and am considering stopping work earlier.

If you have 3DCs already then 36 weeks is good going!

It's the law here in Ireland that you have to finish up work at least 2 and no more than 16 weeks before the end of the week in which your baby is due.
It sounds a bit confusing but all it means is basically If you're due on a Tusday of week 40 you must finish up the Friday of your 38th week.
This is what I'll be doing. I want to maximise the time I have off with baby rather than using it up beforehand. We get 26 weeks maternity benefit of ?262 per week and that's it. We can then take a further 16 weeks unpaid leave if we so choose (or a portion of that..).

I know it's different in the U.K.

I am going at 37 weeks. I think it all depends on the job you do, the hours you do, the length/type of commute to work involved and your commitments outside of work.

I have a one-hour two-trains and a walk commute each way, a pre-schooler, and a stressful job at times. 37 weeks is my maximum, especially as there is a chance that I will have to deliver by c-section at 39 weeks.

Go as soon as you can!

I finished at 37 weeks with my first, 35 weeks with my second as they said he was going to be early and I had a few problems (he was 2 days late!), and this time round I'm going at 29 weeks partly due to having 2 other other children aged 5 and 1 and I want to spend some time with them and I'm alreaky knackered! and partly because I now really dislike my job and wont be returning! :)
10 weeks to go!!