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Pregnancy

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

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Original poster

Matenrity leave - 8 weeks before due?

22 replies

GingerDoodle · 20/06/2012 12:58

Hi all

I'm due the 1st week in Oct.

I had planned to have a week off over the Olympics and then work until (originally) the middle but more recently thinking beginning of Sept which I was happy with (4 weeks).

However...

Work are potentially getting arsey and may well revoke my leave over the Olympics. Me & OH haven't had a proper break this year and I am very tempted to take Mat leave from the beginning of Aug if they revoke it so i'll get my holiday anyway.

Has anyone else take approx 8 weeks off (as oppose to 4)?

Thanks

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mistlethrush · 20/06/2012 13:00

I only took 2 and ds came a week early - which meant I had practically all my mat leave after he was born which was ideal.

Florin · 20/06/2012 13:18

Personally I think for 8 weeks you will get quite bored. I left at 37.5 weeks (due tomorrow) which I have found about right. Had a couple of weeks where I had enough energy to get out and about and do jobs around the house I wanted to achieve so kept myself busy. Now I am knacked and impatiently waiting for baby so not doing an awful lot but as I have been busy up to now I am happy to flop in front of the television for last few days

babybrain3 · 20/06/2012 13:19

I am due oct 1st. I stop work 1st week in aug. 1st 4 wks are annual leave and then maternity leave starts in September.

MrClaypole · 20/06/2012 13:26

I had booked to start mat leave 8 weeks before due date I chose to do this cos I was feeling knackered (didn't know it but my liver was not functioning properly) and I wanted to rest before I had to deal with a baby and my 4 year old. I also needed to organise to have some work done on our flat.

Sadly the little monkey arrived 5 weeks early and I got nothing done!

Just be careful about "losing" your annual leave. Some companies have a policy that annual leave must be used in the year it is accrued and cannot be carried over into the next leave year, Check your company's annual leave policy. If this is the case you will have to use all your 2012 annual leave before you go on MAT leave.

Original poster

GingerDoodle · 20/06/2012 13:27

Thanks for all the responses - I would prefer them to honor my holiday and go as planned in Sept but refuse to lose my leave when there is no good reason lol!!

OP posts:

SecondHandNews · 20/06/2012 13:39

I stopped at 32.5 weeks. Loved it! Had lots of time chilling out and nesting and sorting the nursery and clothes, cooking things for the freezer, sorting out cupboards, seeing friends for lunch (who were at work), going out in the evenings to see friends/ with husband as I knew it would be a while before I would be doing that post-birth. I also had big lie-ins and was really refreshed before she came a week early, which helped me cope with the sleep deprivation in the early weeks. This will not be happening this time round with a toddler!

Different people would enjoy that or find it hell. I loved it!

Babygirlpw · 20/06/2012 13:40

Hi ladies

Can I join too. I'm due with my first, a baby girl, in third week of October too.

HappyCamel · 20/06/2012 13:41

You could tack the leave on to the beginning of your ML so you get paid fully for longer. I have tons of accumulated leave from my last ML so I'm taking a month before switching to ML a week before I'm due.

bettybat · 20/06/2012 14:01

But it eats so much into your time with your baby after the birth Even if you plan to take the full 52 weeks...I dunno, personal preference and all that :) I'd just rather work closer to by due date and have more time afterwards.

Original poster

GingerDoodle · 20/06/2012 14:31

hey bettybat, I was only originally planning to take 4 months (so 2 weeks before and 3 1/2 months afterwards) so 2 months before and 6 months after is a big change anyway lol

OP posts:

SecondHandNews · 20/06/2012 14:43

Ah yes - I forgot about that aspect - I didn't going to go back to work (and knew that already - well, unless I really hated being a SAHM) so that didn't impact. However, if I had been going back after the birth, I would have waited until 36 weeks I think.

GingerDoodle - hope you sort it out satisfactorily...

BellaOfTheBalls · 20/06/2012 14:50

Imagine if your baby is 2 weeks late. You will be at home, with no baby and nothing to do for 10 weeks. It sounds like heaven but after the fifth week when all the baby clothes are washed, the house is spotless & the freezer is full of carefully portioned out casserole/chilli/bolognese you will be climbing the walls.

I went at 36 weeks with DS1. My job involved me being on my feet all day. My last week was hard on my legs but I'm so glad I didn't go any earlier. By 38 weeks I was going mental.

Beans1977 · 20/06/2012 15:09

Similar for me. I'm 27 weeks now and going on leave at 34 weeks - first three weeks are annual leave (that I have to take this year or lose) and so I will start mat leave officially at 37 weeks.

I can't wait to have 6 weeks (assuming baby has a little diary and knows when to pop out!) to myself - we're moving house in a few weeks so I am looking forward to pottering about and making the house a bit more shipshape, and possibly - if the weather behaves itself - sitting in the garden and reading, having friends and family over, and making some nice dinners for DH and I.

I figure I won't get this time to myself again (this is DC#1) and that we won't be able to afford for me to do it like this next time. Plus having worked like a fiend for the last 12 years I am absolutely gagging for a break and some down time - which I doubt I will get after baby appears!

ItsMyLastOne · 20/06/2012 15:13

I finished at 39+4 so can't give any personal experience of finishing early.

However, lots of friends I met at postnatal groups were going back to work when their LO's were 7 months because they'd taken so much time at the end of their pregnancy, and all but one were really gutted to be having to do that. Having 4 or 6 months off is such a short amount of time! But I assume you're doing that because you need to for financial or other important reasons, it just seems such a shame as you never get that time back.

projectg · 20/06/2012 15:26

This thread has prompted me to print a calendar and mark up my holiday/mat leave dates!

I'm due early November and my company's holiday year runs from July-June so I'll have loads to 'use or lose' by then. Planning to take 5 weeks off as annual leave before due date which will be the official start of mat leave (yes, bit risky, but DC#1 arrived on time) and in the run-up to the heavenly 5 weeks hols, take a day off a week (for 4 weeks) to make the commuting a little less tiring.

When I return to work in Nov 2013 I figure I can add a few days of next year's holiday allowance on to the end of my mat leave to extend it if needed.

Difficult to work it all out though, isn't it?

Florin · 20/06/2012 15:32

I saved some holiday and did 4 day working weeks for last few weeks which really helped ease the pressure of work in the last few weeks of pregnancy

Rachog · 20/06/2012 15:36

I finished as late as possible with mine just because I know I have to go back and I want as much time afterwards as possible.

DC1 I finished at 38 + 4 baby arrived at 39 weeks.
DC2 I took 2 weeks annual leave from 37 weeks with mat leave to start at 39 weeks. Baby had other ideas and arrived the day after I finished work. Luckily I was able to tag the leave on at the end rather than lose it.
DC3 I finish on froday for a weeks annual leave, I will be 36 weeks, with mat leave to then start at 37 weeks. I am hoping for a week or two to put my feet up. KNowing my luck though baby will be two weeks overdue and I will be climbing the walls waiting!

GnocchiNineDoors · 20/06/2012 15:41

I finished at 38weeks and had one week annual leave and one week mat leave. Tbh, I wasnt bored at all and now the babys here and I cant even wipe my own arse in peace I look back on the time I spent off before she got here with fondness.

How much AL do you have left to use up of your years allowance? Maybe officially start ML the week before dd and add all AL onto the beggining ofthat?

EMS23 · 20/06/2012 15:47

I left at 30 weeks with my first but I was a temp so no job to go back to.
This time I'm leaving at 31 weeks but for contract reasons have to return in Feb 13 so I may as well front load my mat leave.

I loved having 8 weeks to myself (DD1 arrived at 38 weeks). Got loads done, the house sorted etc.. Plus saw friends, stayed up late, had lie ins. It was fab.
This time I intend to spend time with my DD and on her nursery days get stuff sorted for new baby, house, see friends etc..

I was a mess of PND after my first so I'm glad I had that time to myself beforehand. Especially when I got a job offer after 6 months and had to start working within a week.

goingmadtrying · 20/06/2012 15:49

Why are they looking to revoke your holiday?? Assuming this was already booked, just because your going on mat leave you should still be able to take your holiday

Midgetm · 20/06/2012 15:58

8 weeks for me would be excessive. Rather be on full pay for as long as possible and then have lots of time off after. I worked until 3 days before DD and intend to finish a week before this time (knowing I won't go overdue as I will have ELCS or induction). Saying that nice to make the most if time to yourself if You cab afford it. If your holiday is booked how can they not let you take it? Sounds a bit harsh.

paperclips · 20/06/2012 18:12

There's no right answer- It depends. You don't say what kind of job you do, but that makes all the difference.

If you do a "normal" desk job you can probably stay a lot longer, and would prefer to have the time later. But if its something where you're on your feet, or more physical, or if you have to travel a lot, then you might need to finish with 8 weeks to go.

I'm a nurse, and some days can be on my feet for hours at a time, can be very stressful and busy- and you can't afford to have baby-brain when looking after critically ill people with all kinds of dangerous drugs! Bump already getting in the way too, like actually reaching patients enough to do various cares is hard - I only have short arms!

Glad to be finishing at 33 weeks (taking almost all my annual leave, then start mat leave at 38). Can't wait to have a break, finish my shopping and do some nesting. 6 weeks to go!

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