When did you start maternity leave?

[sarahpip]

Due to start M Leave at 38 weeks. Just seen midwife and she said possibly finish a bit earlier. I am 31+weeks and already I only have enough energy for working and sleeping, so I am considering moving forward 2 weeks to 36 weeks if possible. We are also moving house at about 36 weeks (although I will only be taking on an advisory role!). I feel that people may think I am just being lazy and on the one hand I do worry that I might be giving up a little to soon at 36 weeks. The Midwife said longer off would give me a proper chance to get geared up and in the right frame of mind for what is about to happen - it made sense.

Can you share your experiences of when you finished - was it too early, do you wish you had more time off?

Thanks all xx

I'm planning to finish at about 29 1/2 weeks. Much much earlier than I had planned and yes, I do feel a bit lazy for it. My problem is that work has been just so monumentally unsupportive - currently I'm signed off sick, my PGP significantly worsened after a problem with work (long old story there!). Plus, so far I've mostly hated being pregnant and felt very unwell, so it'd be nice to have a bit of time to enjoy my last ever child-free days.

Well I saved up a whole month of overtime and vacation to get off at about 34 weeks but ended up in the hospital giving birth the day after I left work (which sucked). This time I am aiming to leave myself a month again but who knows? I hope it works out - I was knackered by the time baby came I could have used at least a week to relax a bit.

I think it depends on what you do

I sat on my bum at a computer all day and finished at 38+1, ended up being 15 days over so I wish I'd worked till 40 weeks

They wouldn't even let me make a cuppa I literally just had to type

38 weeks. Ds arrived at 40+11. Wouldn't do it differently another time

I'm planning to work till 38 weeks but am using holiday to make weeks 34-38 three-day working weeks to make it a bit more manageable.

I don't really want loads of time off before the baby arrives as I'd probably just end up spending loads of money entertaining myself and buying baby bits knowing me - but having said this I'm currently only at 23 weeks and might feel very differently in 10 weeks time.

I finished at 36 + 5 plus vacation to be used up, rather enjoying the time to get organised tbh, plus this is my first baby,and although my job wasn't partically active hours are shift work and unsociable so worked out for the best really. Getting antsy now though want baby here!