DC no 4 and working full-time. When to start maternity leave?

[Moominsummermadness]

I'm currently 22 weeks. I had originally planned to finish work at 35 weeks (2 weeks holiday, then mat leave kicking in at 37 weeks. However, I'm feeling increasingly knackered, and SPD has kicked in properly this week, which makes sitting at a desk for 8 hours per day very uncomfortable. I was thinking earlier that I might finish at 33 weeks instead. I'm reluctant to finish too early, as I'm planning on breastfeeding and don't want to have to give that up too soon. My sister was horrified that I might be finishing at 35 weeks, as she works full-time as a lawyer, and worked until 38 with DC no 2. (She can afford a cleaner though, lol). I know that choosing when to stop work is a personal thing, and nobody can tell me what to do really, but what would others do in the same situation?

Can you drop your hours/go part time? Then rest up.

I worked until 38 weeks with DC2 as well, and only stopped then because DC2 born at 38+1 (was meant to start mat leave at 39 weeks). But then I was feeling fine, no health issues aside from the usual discomfort/tiredness at that stage. Also am self employed so no maternity pay for me, so wanted to maximise time off after the birth and minimise loss of earnings. If I had been feeling a lot worse, I might have stopped a bit earlier.

Thanks for your replies. i would love to cut my hours, but can't afford it- hence working full time with 3 dcs and one on the way! If it was dc 1 or 2, i would feel able to work much later, but feel knackered when i get home then my other job starts, cooking, cleaning, ironing, assisting with homework etc,etc, lol! I've decided to think about it for 2 weeks before i have to let work know. dh is happy for me to finish at 33 weeks, take 3 weeks holiday (realised I've got more left than thought) then my oml would start at 36 weeks. another plus would be getting a whole month of school hols off with dds, think they'd appreciate seeing more of their mummy !

Do it, you won't regret it at all!

If you've got that much holiday to take I would definately stop at 33 weeks and take ML from 36. I worked till 37 with dd3 but with a five minute commute on a bike and I expected her to be late like her sisters. I wasn't wrong! So I was fine with that but my midwife was horrified and predicted exhaustion. I guess she's seen that a lot.

Do it! get it in writing about the holiday though, mine said I could do that - then they changed their mind and said I was only alowed 18 hours holiday was gutted...