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Pregnancy

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Original poster

Anyone went or going on maternity leave at 32 weeks?

51 replies

ButteryJam · 20/03/2013 23:35

Hi,

I'm thinking of going on maternity leave at 32 weeks instead of at 36 weeks. Did anyone else do that? Did you get really really bored or was it a good break? What sort of things did you do?

Also is 32 weeks considered generally too early? I don't want my employers to think I'm not committed.

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OohShinyChocolateHollowBunnies · 20/03/2013 23:39

Would you not rather spend the time with your new baby? That's potentially 10 weeks at home if you go 2 weeks over.

I finished at 38 weeks. Am 41 weeks tomorrow and I'm already bored stiff. If i knew i would go over, i would have worked longer as id rather have had more time off with my baby.

Trishstar · 21/03/2013 00:09

I finished at 32 weeks for various reasons

One because it tied in better with how my holiday year starts/ends

I had holiday to use so my mat leave actually started at 34 weeks.

Another because I got married 2 weeks after I finished work!

Another because I just couldn't give 100% anymore in my job.

It's a very personal decision tbh. I've just spent the time (after the wedding and mini moon), reading my BF and hypnobirthing books, meeting up with friends, spending time with my parents and generally having lie ins and relaxing xx

My EDD is April 16th and my mat leave officially ends on feb 27th 2014 but I shall probably go back just after new year

Shesparkles · 21/03/2013 00:15

I went on leave at 29 weeks with my dd-that was the earliest you could start at that time, I don't know if it's changed. I did it because I knew I'd never have that time to myself again, ever, in my whole life.
I never felt bored, I just spent the time puddling about, relaxing and eventually going to ante natal classes.
I've never regretted it and wouldn't have done it any other way

Dannilion · 21/03/2013 06:38

I went on ML at 29 weeks due to SPD. I am a nurse in a very 'high risk' unit and just felt too vulnerable and exhausted after at 12 hour shift.

I've loved it and haven't been bored since. Then again, I've had a whole house to decorate, many a book to read and much pottering about to be done. The way I look at it is, I'm never going to have this time and money to myself again. I'm fully prepared for babies imminent arrival, including all my batch cooking, birthday presents bought for the next 6 months etc.

However, I'm quite lucky in that I get 9 months full pay whilst on maternity leave. Of which I'm saving a lot of to ensure I can spend pretty much an entire year off. If I was just on SMP my outlook would probably be very different.

LazyMachine · 21/03/2013 06:48

I went on leave at 30 weeks (couldn't have been soon enough!), but I'm not going back to work at the end of my ML, so wasn't worried about not having enough time after LazyBoy was born.

CareerGirl01 · 21/03/2013 06:52

32 weeks for me this time round - with DD1 I worked till 38 weeks. I am self employed though and spending some of my Pre baby mat leave retraining. I did have a bleed the other week which made me slow down. My bp went up massively at 37 weeks with DD1 and I don't want that happening this time round. If I were working for an employer I'd probably try and keep going a few more weeks

chickenfactory · 21/03/2013 06:54

I've gone on mat leave at 29 weeks, I'm only a week in but as others have said I'll never get this time back. I was getting sore and uncomfortable doing my job but could have carried on with a few adjustments. Wasn't for me. I'd say its totally up to you, plenty to keep you occupied. I probably won't go back to the same job though so that may have influenced me slightly!

bluer · 21/03/2013 07:11

I'm going at just over 32 Weeks ...but I have six and a bit Weeks of summer hols. My sure date is 22nd Aug and school stats back on the 15th I think so technically my mat leave doesn't start until then. I feel quite lucky as I'll be able to relax etc and not worry about mat leave being used up! Enjoy the time as i'm sure it'll be the last you time for a long time!

PrincessOfChina · 21/03/2013 07:21

A friend did this, but she knew she would be made redundant during her Mat leave and has not returned to paid employment.

A colleague recently fibbed to all but HR about her due date and finished at 34 weeks rather than 36. Most odd.

StrawberriesTasteLikeLipsDo · 21/03/2013 07:23

Ds1 I finished at 37 weeks, had a weeks hol, was absolutely shattered but recovered in the time as i just slept and lunched really!DS born 38+4.
DS2 got signed off at 32 weeks until my holiday before mat leave started at 36, mat leave started at 37 (DS2 was planed section at 37+6), I was signed off with "stress" but really I just abhorred my job, the environment and the company. I shant be going back so dont really care that it inconvienienced them as they have treated me awfully in the run up. They have for example, told a colleague that they need to make me redundant, but wont so that I just do not return after ML to "save them a wedge" - my redundancy would be under 1k... They are cocks. Anyway after that cathartic rant, with DS2 I didn't get bored as made most of time with DS1, met with friends as majority work part time, sorted a lot out, sued a pharmacy company.. The usual! If it was DS1 I probably would have been bored though.

onyx72 · 21/03/2013 07:23

I went on ML when I was 32 weeks because our family was moving out of London and I knew I wasn't going back to work. I was bored out of my mind.

floatyjosmum · 21/03/2013 07:27

I'm 36 weeks and still working and wish I wasn't so if you want to start mat leave then do. I've only carried on as I'm not having full mat leave for financial reasons but if I'd been having the year I would set have finished by now!

Msbluesky32 · 21/03/2013 07:52

I had quite a bit of annual leave so took week 33 as holiday and officially started mat leave at 34 weeks. I was commuting 3 hours a day and although I've had a relatively healthy pregnancy I was beginning to find it a real slog. I was very ready to go when I did! (my last week of travelling to and from London was half term and it was a killer). I was worried I'd be bored but I'm loving it. I've spent the last three weeks doing all the hobbies I love, meeting up with friends and relaxing. Yesterday I went swimming (i can highly recommend this towards the end (Im 37 wks) - it really helps with restless legs/problems sleeping).

StrawberriesTasteLikeLipsDo · 21/03/2013 08:27

MsBlue, i swam also
In both pregnancies, nothing quite like feeling weightless when you are big is there ?! I did get lapped twice by an elderly man though.

wifey6 · 21/03/2013 08:27

I am going on ML at 32-33 weeks as my job is manual & I've had SPD for several weeks now. I also want to spend the remaining 7-8 weeks with DS1 & prepare for our new arrival.
With DS1 I started ML at 34 weeks & had the luxury of lie-ins etc...but this time it's all about quality time together before we expand to a family of 4
I feel it's a personal choice & women should start ML whenever they feel they need to..if that be for physical reasons or not.
For all of you who are already on ML..enjoy it

Littlemissexpecting · 21/03/2013 08:35

Im finishing at 33 weeks and cannot wait!
I'm starting to struggle now as so tired and achy.
I plan on sleeping, resting, packing my hospital bags, catching up with friends I'm too busy to see now and going to some antenatal fitness classes such as Pilates, yoga and aquanatal which run during the day around here!

pebspop · 21/03/2013 08:49

I went on annual leave at 34 weeks and start mat leave on Monday at 38 weeks. this last four weeks have been amazing. I don't know how I was managing to commute and work being out of the house for ten hours per day.

to avoid boredom I had an idea of classes friends/family days off and I know I can attend something or meet someone for lunch most days. if I dont feel up to it I stay in and nap.

I also have a list in my head of things that can be done around the house in case I get really bored but haven't done any of them yet.

Msbluesky32 · 21/03/2013 08:50

strawberries ha ha, yes I got lapped a couple of times too but third time I tried very hard and I beat him and then spent 10 mins clinging to the edge trying to get my breath back

CityDweller · 21/03/2013 09:17

This will probably get me flamed, but I do not understand people who say they get bored on mat leave... There's so much to do - books to be read, films to be watched, tv to catch up on, exhibitions and galleries to visit, swimming to be done, friends to meet for lunch, cooking and baking to stick in the freezer, or just lie-ins to be had and space to be stared into! Maybe it's cos I've always done a lot of work from home and am used to spending time on my own, but I am LOVING my mat leave. (Been off for a week so far - went at 37 wks) and am like a pig in sh!t!! So much so that my fingers are crossed for baby being a week or so late...

StrawberriesTasteLikeLipsDo · 21/03/2013 09:21

Msblue

peanutMD · 21/03/2013 09:30

I had planned to work until 37 Weeks but was signed off at 36 Weeks for medical reasons.

I was bored shitless by 38 Weeks!

LeBoob · 21/03/2013 09:42

I started at 30 weeks, I spent my days watching crap tv, napping, eating & getting informed on mumsnet

Technically started at 36 weeks as had holiday to use! I'd do it all over again in a heartbeat!

goodygumdrops · 21/03/2013 10:45

I did. And had a massive APH four days into my maternity leave! So glad I went early as I think i would have blamed work otherwise (have a very physical job). I was never judged for it. Just do what feels right for you.

Hamnvik · 21/03/2013 10:47

I went on maternity leave at 33 weeks, used three weeks holiday so technically didn't start until 36 weeks. Its been fantastic!
I haven't been bored at all, I'm going to miss my long naps once the baby is here though. There's no way i could have carried on working full time up to the last minute and I'm so much happier being off. Do it!

LazyMachine · 21/03/2013 13:34

You'll still get lovely long naps, Hamnvik (babies sleep a lot!) - they just won't necessarily be when you want them to be... . It took me about 3 weeks to actually start doing what EVERYONE had been telling me to do and sleep when the baby sleeps. Life saver, that wisdom is!

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