Best time to start MAT leave? Advice please? Xx

[Trishstar]

With how our holiday year runs at work, I'm going to start mat leave from 1st march, but with holiday I'm owed I will be finishing up at 32weeks.

This is my first and somewhere before due date I've got to move to my boyfriends family home (moving from Birmingham to Stratford upon Avon - I am moving in with him, his mum and sister and brother as we are saving for a deposit for a house).

Do you think it's too soon to go on mat leave? I plan to have 9 months off and the 10th month off will be using all the holiday I've accrued whilst on the leave. If I leave later i.e. march then I will have to return to work during December and those of you who work/have worked in retail can probably appreciate I would love 1 Christmas off!!!!

Plus my job is as a manager/makeup artist for a makeup brand in a well known dept store so I'm literally on my feet all day!!!

So too early or not? Sorry for long post!!!

Trish xxxx

I'd probably try to get Christmas period off if I were you but only you know how you feel now and it's hard to predict how you'll feel at 32 weeks pregnant or with a 8 month old baby.

I am working until 38 weeks but only doing 3 days a week now and have a stressful but pretty sedentary desk job, and at 35 weeks I'm even finding that a bit tough because I'm so tired, so I wouldn't push it too far...

I'd probably try to get Christmas period off if I were you but only you know how you feel now and it's hard to predict how you'll feel at 32 weeks pregnant or with a 8 month old baby.

I am working until 38 weeks but only doing 3 days a week now and have a stressful but pretty sedentary desk job, and at 35 weeks I'm even finding that a bit tough because I'm so tired, so I wouldn't push it too far...

I finished at 32wks with 2nd pg because of issues with childcare for ds1, I was bothered that I'd started too soon, but ds2 arrived 2wks later, so early (premature) small but perfectly formed.

Also with ds1 started my mat leave at 36 wks and he arrived 5 days after I finished.

But I am probably in the minority, not sure statistically how many babies are early.
Good luck

Thanks ladies!!! Xxx I think with having to move house it might be wide! Time will tell!

Would love to hear from more of you though!

I'm going off at 32 weeks purely for the fact that I work in retail and am on my feet all day. As I'm due at the end of February this means I will be working up to new year, but that I could have next Christmas off IF I decide to go back (not currently planning to as that would involve ten hour days, but that's another story...)

At 24 weeks I'm already struggling. Im not huge yet and I have lots of niggles such as back pain and tiredness that magically disappear when I'm able to rest. I think Christmas may finish me off to be honest!!

Hi I stopped at 34 weeks with both my DD's. This time I'm set to do the same. However I'm now 29 weeks and am really struggling with work (part-time desk type job) and really wish I'd opted to stop earlier. Not too sure will return to work after DD3 but just incase I do, I don't want to start ML any earlier. Will just have to grin and bear the next few weeks...

32 weeks sounds perfect given the move etc. Goodluck!

I think you have to have an open mind. Some women NEED maternity leave at 32 weeks. A lot depends on how your pregnancy goes and the type of job you are doing. There are no prizes for being superwoman.

Thanks ladies!!! xxx

I'm in the same situation! I work as a supervisor in retail and have to move into my boyfriends parents house sometime before due date as we're saving for a house deposit. So I'm starting my maternity leave 21st December - have the christmas period off and I'll be 32 weeks so I'll have a bit of time to actually move in properly and settle in! x