Maternity leave - when?

[woollysocksaresexy]

Looking for a bit of advice about mat leave from those who know more about these things than me... I am 18 wks with DC1 and am soon going to have to make a decision about when I plan to start my maternity leave. My problem is that I have a job where I spend a lot of time on my feet, and when I do get to sit down, it is never long before I have to get up again (I am a nurse). I also work 13 hour shifts. I have had quite a difficult pregnancy so far and further problems look like they might be rearing their scary heads (or I could just be overacting!) I would ideally like to start mat leave as late as possible, but at the same time, need to be realistic about what I can do. Trouble is, I really have no idea what I will feel like as I am a first timer! Please could anyone give me some wise words of wisdom? What have you all done in similar situations? Thanks!

Firstly, read up on what reasonable adjustments can be made. Extra breaks, somewhere to elevate your legs, shorter shifts (this is common with female police officers apparently).

Secondly, there's a balance between time off before and time off after, unless you're one of the lucky few who is giving up work completely! Work out how long you can afford to have off, and balance it from there.

Depending on what kind of issues you've had already, your midwife might be able to advise on how likely you are to go to term (women with some conditions are routinely induced/have ELCS at a particular stage).

Are there implications for planning/handover?

Finally, check you maternity policy. Ours says that if you take four weeks of continuous sick leave for a maternity related illness, this triggers the start of your mat leave. Might this sort of thing affect you?

It is obviously difficult to know in advance, but even when you set a date your maternity leave can be brought forward if necessary. So you can plan to leave on a certain date but keep in contact with HR and your manage if you start feeling that may need to be changed etc.

Fwiw, I gave up at 36 weeks with my first but was thoroughly ready at about 34 weeks, and I worked in an office. A friend I know who worked on her feet all day gave up at 32 weeks and that suited her. Everyone is different though and some people obviously work much later. The one thing I would say is to make sure you look after yourself - although you might have a set plan of how much time you want to spend with your baby afterwards, your baby won't notice a few weeks here and there when/if you do go back to work.

I am 34 weeks with my first and I stopped work last week as I live abroad and you have to stop 6 weeks before, plus I had an extra weeks holiday to take. I have an office job.

I totally underestimated the need for so much leave beforehand and am now glad I have finished as this week I do find being on my feet for a longer period of time (say for example chores at home, cooking, tidying etc.) can be exhausting and I need to sit down. For what it is worth I was very active pre pregnancy very sporty, marathon runner etc. I can only imagine the running around you have to do as a nurse is more tiring than this, even if you are used to it.

So I would personally say 34 weeks. However it could also be the heat knackering me out at the moment, so you might be ok as it'll be a lot milder by time you are third trimester.

That is my own, current experience hope it helps x

Has your work done a risk assessment for you yet? this is required legally and they need to adjust your work so it is suitable, give you an alternative, reduce the workload by having more staff on/or a junior who can be your run around person, or sign you off (paid) - could you be more admin based / or in a diff ward for the some months?

You could also ask for shorter hours, although be careful how the contract is written - i.e. you are getting unpaid leave due to pg rather than a reduced hours contract as this can affect you at leave pay, and the job you come back to.

I think its hard for others to advise as each preg and job is different and only you will really know what you can cope with. I'm 32 weeks and feel fine at work (on a construction site so on my feet a bit, but not running around), still cutting the lawn etc at home, but my bump is small for my dates and my preg has been pretty easy so far. Oh and its cooler here, which I think must be helping

I am a nurse too and was due to finish at 35 weeks (hols first then mat leave to start following what annual leave I had.) After having a bit of a rough time and struggling to continue working on the ward I had to finish at 30 weeks I believe you have to give some notice for mat leave but as I had 4 weeks holiday I was able to finish at the end of the week after speaking to Sister.
Overall it was the best decision I made and you have to put yourself and your baby before the patients - I found this really difficult! Hope you make the best decision for you

I'd say earlier rather than later. I'm currently 37 weeks with a very physically undemanding job and I wish I'd arranged to be off work by now simply due to tiredness and lack of focus. I read in all sorts of places that I should consider stopping at 36 and by no means to work past 38 weeks, but didn't believe it. Would now like nothing more than to rest and prepare for the birth and baby without feeling guilty about how little I'm accomplishing at work.

I would advise not to go too late - the advice above is good, especially a risk assessment/change in duties if needed.

I worked to 38 weeks (on a hospital ward, though I'm not a nurse) and was very tired at the end but otherwise had an easy pregnancy and a small bump. However, I had to be induced at 38 weeks due to suspected pre-eclampsia, so I missed out on my final day at work (including my leaving do!) and had no time pre-baby to get stuff organised. My husband was building the pram in a very sleep-deprived state while I was in hospital, just so we could be discharged! Don't be as disorganised as me. :)

Best of luck!

I would say no later than 36 weeks. With my first I left at 38 weeks - the last fortnight of that was really tough. And my job was a sit-down office job so perhaps take the advice of others here and leave earlier!

I know I also tried to balance it with what date that meant I had to go back. (the earlier you leave, the younger your child is when you return, if you see what I mean). I guess it depends how, or if, you intend to return to work.

I'm expecting DC1 too and planning on taking maternity leave at 37 weeks. My job isn't physically demanding, work is letting me work from home and won't expect much travel so I am quite lucky.

But, a woman who has a child said to me that if you're planning more than one child this is the only time for a good while that you will be able to have time on your own. Lets face it lo will be demanding all your time when it arrives and if you have a second then DC1 will still want mummy time before their new brother/sister arrives.

I'm working to 37.5 weeks but my maternity cover plan starts at 31 weeks meaning that I'll be doing handover stuff and then updating systems and procedures so I will be able to work from home more as I get bigger and more tired by commuting. Mind you I'm lucky to have quite a small bump at the mo which makes my life easier

Hi I work in an office and with my first didn't stop work until I was 39.5 weeks. For me it was all about saving as much of my maternity leave as possible to spend with the new baby. Even then DS1 was a week late arriving and I was SOOOOOO bored hanging around the house in the 11 days I had off. With that in mind this time (I am 26 weeks) I have told my HR department that I plan to work right up to my Due Date. My Due Date will be my last day in the office so technically I will start my mat leave when I am 40 +1. I think it is a very personal choice that comes down to your own circumstances. I always took the view that I would plan to go ff as late as possible and if I needed to go off any earlier I could make that decision when the time arose. Luckily for me it never arose!

Hi, I have a physical job with long hours and a long commute so I knew I would have to stop as early as possible - I booked maternity leave from 38 weeks, but first used all my annual leave, effectively finishing work at 33 weeks (partly because I was worried that otherwise I might loose annual leave). And to be honest if my manager hadn't put me on (very) light duties from 28 weeks even that could have been to late. It all depends on the job you do and how you feel....

Really personal to you. Last pg I gave up at 38 weeks and was walking three miles in to work every day till the last day, totally fine though tired by the time I stopped. This time I'm thinking 37 weeks because I'll need a section at 39 weeks, but I'll see as it is a bit more tiring as I have a toddler and big house renovation on.

However...my job is office based and I am able to work from home and I was lucky and felt fine after the first 12 weeks. I honestly think it is hard to say!

Your circs do sound different though. Is using up your maternity leave a concern? Could you consider other options like taking bits of holiday so you reduce to a 3 day week for a while? Is your employer likely to be understanding if you give one date now and change it later?

I went off at 30 weeks, mostly due to stress although I did not let them know that (various reasons!). I was so depressed and stressed at work and I decided fairly early on that I would take as much time off as possible just to get out of such a terrible place.
I am a but angry still that it came to that as in an ideal world I would not have felt the need to go off work. I have a fairly horrendous and very busy commute (I work in an office) into work and that combined with the stress of the job and what I felt was lack of support (not helped by high turnover). I think you have to decide whats best for you at the moment, go with your gut and once you have made up your mind stick with it where poss and remember the reasons for your decision. Think of the worst case scenario - can you afford to go off early if need be etc etc and if you can and want to then that is probably the best decision for you. Only you know your current situation and work environment. I think you can always change your mind nearer the time (giving 28 days notice) if you feel you have made the wrong decision so it might not be set in stone.

I was off by 30 weeks this time for similar reasons Susie. Sorry to hear you went through that too. It's a sucky reason to take precious M/L early but I don't regret it!

I?m also expecting my first baby and have decided to start my maternity leave at 36 weeks. I?ve read articles about labour being easier or there being less complications if the Mother relaxes in the run up to delivery. My Midwife recommended it also. I?m nearly 32 weeks and starting to feel shattered even though I work in an office! Don?t overdo it at work otherwise you may end up regretting it ? I?ve heard a Mother?s sleeping habits aren?t on a new born baby?s agendas!

Just to clarify if you are signed off work sick maternity leave will automatically kicks in at 36 weeks - so four weeks before DD not after four weeks sick.

Hi wooly. I too have a job where I am on my feet all day and where I go up and down some stairs at least 30 times a day. I asked hr to do the risk assessment at 12 weeks instead of 20 due to physical nature of job. You should be given a seat and the opportunity to take restsif you are tired. I have had quite an easy preg, tho carrying big at 24 weeks. I am leaving at 34 weeks... some of this will be holiday then mat leave. I am starting to feel tired now and use my seat more often than before. I am a londoner so I think by 34 weeks I will have had enough of the commute. My advice to youwould be 32 to 34 weeks.

I am also a nurse :) I am going on maternity leave at 32 weeks as where i work is extremely demanding and i do four 12 hour shifts atm however im only 7 weeks pregnant when i get around 20 weeks i will be reducing my hours. Gl with your birth :)

I am a teacher and will be finishing next week at 34+4. I am ready to finish now -completely exhausted and can't really get around the classroom!

I have two kids at home too, but they are older and it really isn't them that's tiring me out - it's work.

I'm a nurse too. I found the 12 hour days just too much towards the end of pregnancy, I spoke to my manager and changed to 8-4 mon-fri but tbh it wasn't much better as it was the being on my feet all day that was the killer! Unfortunately I developed spd and got signed off at about 30 weeks and started mat leave then.

Aim for what you want to do, but be prepared for the fact that things might change as you get further along and you just get bigger and less mobile!

I am 35 weeks and will be giving up my office based job by the end of this week. I am so tired by the time I've come home and cooked I don't have energy to do much else! I had intended to work until 38 weeks and now can't imagine having to work until then!