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Pregnancy

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

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Original poster

Is anyone thinking of mat leave already?!

16 replies

izzybizzybuzzybees · 10/04/2012 12:56

I am due in November and I'm just trying to figure out when would be best to take mat leave?

I think with my DD I stopped around 6weeks before my due date. I'm not sure what to do this time as I now only work part time.

Any ideas?

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bettybat · 10/04/2012 13:23

I'm going to attempt to work as close to my due date as possible, since my work are really stingy with maternity pay and we can't afford me off work for long. So I'm hoping to make the most of my time post birth rather than before.

Alamaya · 10/04/2012 13:27

Im working as close to due date as i can. Mainly as i feel guilty as i only return of maternity leave this month :O

Hpbp · 10/04/2012 13:32

totally agree with Betty, will try to remain at work until 2 weeks before due date, I am not getting anything more than SMP so I'd rather spend more time with baby. Do you have some hols you can take before ML ?

Florin · 10/04/2012 13:40

I am working until 2 weeks before due date although that 2 weeks in annual leave. Want to be earning for as long as possible. I have quite an easy job and drive an easy 20 minute journey each day so not too stressful.
However really want to leave now, now I know I am going I am fed up of everything at work and can't wait until maternity leave starts!

McPopcornMouseNFries · 10/04/2012 15:04

I'll be working as close to DD as possible. I considered saving holiday and taking that before the DD, but if you give birth early SMP automatically kicks in and you forfeit any holiday you have left (my company won't allow you to carry it over to the next year ) and, well, I'm too stingy to risk losing it :o

Original poster

izzybizzybuzzybees · 10/04/2012 15:57

I have two weeks off booked in Sep already and a wee in November. it ends up only being 7 days as I work part time but I could make it do 3 weeks and a day if I use it wisely before then (eg only take the a week off when I'm due to work 2 days and not 3!)

I am undecided what to do. Obvioulsy the Nov hols will need used before I stop but I could keep sep the same I suppose then stop in October. I do a physical job working in NHS so stopping two weeks before not a great plan!

OP posts:

babybrain3 · 13/04/2012 07:29

I am due on 1st Oct. Will be starting mat leave when dc go back to school and using my annual leave for the school hols.. That works better financially for us, as then we won't have to pay the childminder her retaining fee over the summer holidays..

I can't wait-I am counting down the days already!!!

mousebacon · 13/04/2012 08:26

I'm finishing work at 37 weeks - 2 weeks before a planned section. I'm a teacher and our mat pay is rubbish so working as long as possible is the only thing to do sadly.

On the plus side, when I go back on Monday I'll only have 5 weeks 24 working days left. Hooray!!! I cannot wait for mat leave!

bettybat · 13/04/2012 09:35

As much as I wish we could all have wonderfully long, blissful maternity leaves, it's actually making feel better that so many of us are working quite close up to our due dates :)

I was beginning to feel very sorry for myself - I work in the City, and am surrounded by women whose husbands are very nearly on six figure salaries, and hence are taking the full 12 months off. I'm currently the breadwinner, on nowhere near as much as these husbands are, and have cried several times that we might just only be able to afford 4-6 months

ArtyJennie · 13/04/2012 15:54

Well I'm going to buck the trend here. I'm finding pregnancy really tough, HG and exhausted, so I'm going to start mat leave as early as poss (at 30 weeks). This will be dd2 and I found that last time the baby bit was much easier than being preg! I'm 21 weeks at the mo (and counting!)

thebabywife · 13/04/2012 21:29

I'm hoping to finish at around 34 weeks, use up a few weeks holidays then start mat pay at 36 weeks

ahhhhhpushit · 13/04/2012 21:36

I'm finishing at 38 weeks but am self-employed so needs to be as late as poss. Worked up til 36 weeks last time.

I will get maternity allowance but obviously will be losing a lot of work/clients the longer I am away! meh!

goingmadtrying · 14/04/2012 06:08

im pg with twins who will be born at 36 weeks, as its the beginning of the holiday year at work i will be finishing at 26 weeks and my mat leave will start at 32 weeks, my thoughts were i didnt want to risk losing my holiday if babies came early and although would get money at end of year better to have it now. i im soooo glad made that decision as struggling now, and have 2 ds already so looking forward to some time with them as i work weekends for convenience :)

Weezie85 · 14/04/2012 06:27

I just finished at 34 + 2. I had all my anual holidays to use up though so I am using that until my maternity leave kicks in on due date. I am shattered though, had a bit of tough time with this pregnancy and got a very stressful job so just no way I could continue.

littlemissnormal · 14/04/2012 06:59

Both of my previous DCs went 2 weeks over so I was planning on working up to my due date, anticipating the same thing happening again.
However, I didn't bank on how much mor tired I'd get with a job and 2 young DCs to run around after so luckily my holiday allowance means I can finish 1 week earlier...not much of a difference but 3 weeks til that date and counting!!!!

Goldrill · 14/04/2012 14:15

Due in October and will be working up to and, if at all possible, beyond, my due date. Because it's either that or stay at home and look after a very lively toddler, and quite frankly, being at work is a lot easier!

And also because I only get SMP and figure I will probably need it more afterwards.

(And I am due to present at an event which is a couple of days after my due date. My boss set the date without asking me, despite it being on a weekend and entirely up to me to organise, and I can think of no better revenge than doing it whilst overdue and getting the whole audience (largely middle aged men) extremely worried!)

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