When are you or did you go on maternity leave?

[AlmondFrangipani]

And did you feel it was the right amount of time off before? Straw pole...

Am 34 weeks now with DC2, working till 37 weeks in an office job. I'm exhausted though, really looking forward to finishing. If I'd have known how tired I'd feel, I'd have decided to finish a bit earlier.

With DC1 I also worked to 37 weeks, but that was easier as no toddler to look after!

With DS1 I finished at 36 weeks - 2 weeks annual leave and then started mat leave at 38 weeks. DS1 was born at 40+10.

With DS2 I finished at 39 weeks - 1 week annual leave and then started mat leave on my due date. DS2 arrived 2 days before (was the weekend so it didn't result in mat leave kicking in automatically).

I've been lucky to have easy pregnancies, work close to home and have a big gap (6 years) between dcs, so finishing work so soon before DS2 was born was perfect for me, especially as I'm going back to work after 6 months this time so wanted to maximise the amount of time I have at home with him.

I'm leaving at 38 weeks TOMORROW EVENING thank the lord. I'm feeling relatively fit but god it was hard dragging myself out of bed this morning without the aid of a small crane.

DD1 - 39 weeks. she came 2 days early so 2 days after I started ML.
DD2 - 38 weeks as had a CS booked at 39 weeks.

Was fine both times, I work in an office, so sedentary and I wanted to maximise time with the baby (as Sleepyhead said).

37 weeks. I didn't have any particular problems working until then, but I am self-employed and needed a reasonable deadline for finishing up and passing things on. Baby didn't come until 42 weeks. Grr.

11 weeks! I was a crippled mess in constant agony, threatened miscarriages and cervical stitches here, there and everywhere. I was no good to anyone and I think everyone at work was secretly relieved.

It was a good summer! If I had been able to drink wine it would have been the best time of my life.

Im going very early at 28 weeks. Having a month of leave first though so 32 weeks. First baby came early so I want to take it easy and it falls when first baby starts school! Also I work in a physical job which can be high risk so will be going in and doing very little which is very dull.

I'm leaving at 38 weeks it is my first baby. I have an office based job with a 40min commute. So far (33 weeks) I'm feeling fine i've had a few wobbly days where I've worked from home but mostly so far so good... I took it so late so I could have more time with baby (and more time being paid!!)

Part of me is worried that I've been a bit of a 'hero' and been over ambitious with my last date but I don't want to be sat round board as I know that if I do that I can be prone to stink into a not 100% positive place.

I've stopped around 36 with all of mine, finished at end of last week and very glad not to be working in this warmer weather as it's a bit of a struggle. Have been overdue with all 3 so far so expect I will have 4 weeks to get organised and mentally prepared for dc4.

37 weeks, although have been using my annual leave so have been working every other week

Technically start today at 39+4 but have had the last two weeks as holiday. No sign of anything happening yet and I am getting bored of being home alone now !

37 weeks with this one (Monday) I'm so much better for giving up. The last few weeks have been really hard work. I'm much better for being off.

With Ds I took holidays from 34 weeks and again started mat leave at 37 weeks.

I was almost 33wks, I had 13days annual leave first, so officially ML started at 35+4. I was getting very tired at work as it was a very busy active job, it fitted in well with the holidays and I ended up being high risk and MW had have advised starting ML at 36 wks if I hadn't have already been off (I must've known to go when I did!)

I plan on telling work 29 weeks, with a week or two holiday before that if possible.

I only found out last week that I am pregnant, and I am 19 weeks according to a scan on Tuesday.

Realistically, I probably won't be pregnant anymore by 28 weeks so ML starts automatically upon baby's birth.

(Ps, don't rely on depo ;) )

Technically finish at 40 weeks, but have been saving all my hols so have taken annual leave since 37 weeks.

I originally planned to work until 38 weeks but pgp, plus driving, train journey and walk into the office were becoming a nightmare.

Baby due in 4 days and I am so bored! The house is spotless, I have batch cooked, watched films and relaxed and now just want baby to hurry up

I'm planning to finish at 37+4 - the week after is a very hectic event that there's no way I could handle.

Am slightly worried I'll be going off too soon (convinced junior will be late), but at 33+3 today, it's starting to take its toll as I'm knackered.

I was going to take AL at start, but then found out I could tag it on the end, so will be doing that to get a welcome income boost after a couple of months on SMP only.

I'm going at 32 weeks, I do a very physical cleaning job and have really struggled since about 26 weeks so have no qualms about going earlier than most people would, I need the time off now, no matter how badly I'd like to have longer with my baby at the other end.

Years ago, but I went at 28 weeks - no real reason except I didn't like the job and I didn't need the money and whatever benefit you got kicked in then! As my son was not born until 43 plus 3 it was rather a long time in the end. But I got all my Xmas shopping done and wrapped, cards done in advance of what turned out to be a December baby!

36 weeks. I'm a secondary Drama teacher, so a high energy/loud job!! Couldn't really just sit at my desk and "let them get on with it" IYSWIM.

DS arrived on his due date so I had exactly 4 weeks off, and it was utter bliss! I cooked/cleaned/swam/slept/watched loads of shite telly!

I'm a teacher in ks1 and started at 32 wks. I was ready!

HDEE ive just found out that im 25 weeks pregnant (on depo also!).

Baby due sept 16th. Going on four weeks annual leave on august 2nd then commencing into maternity leave on sept 3rd

i'm planning 37 with a week of annual leave so mat leave is 38

I was working during labour. This is not a stealth boast . I went into labour rather unexpectedly at 26 weeks and was in complete denial about the whole thing.

Tomorrow at 37 weeks . This is DC2 but did exactly the same for Dc1. To be honest there's part of me which is sad to be finishing work and a bit daunted by the prospect of 7 months of maternity leave and another newborn. Mad I know. ..