How late should I work?

[Skellig]

Hi there,

I am a secondary school English teacher and due to go back to school in two weeks. I need to eventually let school know when I am planning to start my maternity leave. I am due on 10th December and was wondering if I could stretch working until 30th November. What do people think? It's my first baby so I'm not sure how tired I'm going to get, and the autumn term tends to be pretty exhausting anyway. The issue, as always (!) is money - we can only really afford for me to have 6/7 months off, so I want to maximise time once baby is born.

Any advice gratefully received.

Can I share discussions/ hijack. I was just about to post the same.

I'm a primary teacher, last time I left a few days before 37 weeks and really regretted it. DS was 2 weeks late, yes the rest was nice but the time with baby was nicer. I'm due on the 14th Jan, we're back from holidays on the 8th and I'm considering working until due date even.

At 37 weeks I must admit I was saved by the fact I was next door to a toilet and I would pop out rather a lot. I would have been stuffed without this. It was during the run up to the year 6 SATs for me, I was not that mobile but simply in the last week or so stopped moving much. I made the kids bring me books to mark and stopped roaming.

My advice would be to put a late date, and great if you make it, don't do what I did and go earlier and regret it. You ca always trigger mat leave early but you can't move the leaving date back later on

Fab - thanks for the advice! Sadly, I'm a good long walk from the nearest toilet, but I have understanding colleagues who will keep an eye on a class if I'm caught short. Think I will do as you say and leave it as late as possible - like you say, I can always leave earlier if it all gets too much! :)

I'm a secondary history teacher and due November 27th. I have just sent in my letter stating that I intend to work until my due date. I was 10 days over last time and worked until 38 weeks which was fine. I would happily work until I go into labour but I wasn't sure I could put a date after my due date?!

I'm due 11.11 and i'm working right up until a week after half term (so up to the week before). However, I will see how I get on, hope I'm not too exhausted! I took the advice of other teachers who said you can always leave earlier, but don't agree at the outset to leave too early!

Secondary science here! First time around I had blood pressure problems and stopped at 32 weeks. (too early, went back p/t when she was ten weeks old, horrible!) Second time I was fine and worked until 39 weeks, (which, conveniently let me see my year 11 form and catch-up with them briefly, with baby, at their formal. I suggest putting down as late a date as possible, you can always change it if something comes up. Get the stuff you'll need to hand over; coursework, reports, references etc done well ahead of time, though.

I've just handed in my Mat B1 form today - yay! I'm working up to 38 weeks. Figured I would prefer to have more time with baby and delay those nursery fees for a couple of weeks...

In past (4) pregnancies I've worked right up until my due date and I was fine, I have a mostly sitting-down job tho (IT). Pg#1 - worked until 40+0, had baby at 42+0, Pg#2 - planned to work until 41+0, had baby at 40+3, Pg#3 - worked until 40+0, had baby at 40+3, Pg#4 - planned to work until 40+0 and baby arrived 39+4.

This time I'm going to finish at 38+0, I'm getting some back pain, I'm older and I think I'll need it this time, I also have my other children to tire me out!

It's going to be different for everyone, be kind to yourself, but it's not unrealistic to work to the end if that's what you really want. Bear in mind you might plan to work and then have issues that mean you have to finish earlier.

I guess being a teacher there might be issues around a smooth handover to someone else.

Best of luck!

Wow - what a bunch of formidable women!

I have a neither particularly stressful or challenging job, and pulled my mat leave forward from 38 weeks to 36. I felt lazy for doing it, but midwife suggested it, and I feel that actually I was ready for it. At the beginning of my pregnancy I planned to work up to 40 weeks!

the only thing that has made me want to bring it forward is the insufferable tiredness as I have to go to the loo around 4 times a night already, and then I can't get back to sleep - so am more or less at work, a zombie or both! I have ALWAYS been renowned for my sleeping skills - so this is a new one to me - perhaps if you already have kids you get used to no sleep for years!

So - all I can say is well done for being able to cope with class of screaming/shouting kids right until the end - I couldn't do it!

Also, if it is just a case of an extra 2 weeks or so, is there any way you could just try and save a bit more beforehand/have a lower budget over the whole mat leave period - I only ask as you do only do this kind of thing once or twice in your life (OK, perhaps more!) so why not try and make the most of it and take a bit more time off if possible?

Interesting article:

www.guardian.co.uk/lifeandstyle/2012/jul/28/working-eight-months-pregnancy-smoking