Start of mat leave with number 2

[EnidClowes]

I'm trying to work out when to start my maternity leave second time around.
First time I took a whole month off before to have some peaceful time to myself knowin that it would be the last chance for a long time.
This time around financially I know I can't take a full 12 months off so want to maximise the time I have with DC2.
At the same time I'm only 17 weeks and still so tired am I going to be a wreck if I finish work at 37 weeks?
What if the baby is early?
Aaargh. Baby is due beginning of march and I was think of officially finishing work after the Feb half term (w/c 24th feb) am I mad?

Any thoughts?

I was the other way about, with DD worked up until 36 weeks (and would have gone later if work had let me carry more leave forward)

This time I'm finding everything so much tougher and am finishing in 3 weeks when I'll be 34 weeks. Don't know if it's because im a bit older than last time, that I have a longer commute to work or (and I suspect its mainly this) that when I do finish work I have to deal with a 3 year old when last time I could come home and just veg.

Do you have much leave left? What I did was give the start date of 36 weeks in when I handed in my MatB1 form and book 2 weeks annual leave before that knowing I could cancel it if I felt up to working longer.

I started my mat leave at 40 weeks but actually finished work at 34 weeks because I'd saved up all my annual leave and took it all in one go so I could finish early. Baby didn't end up arriving until 42 weeks though so I was off for AGES before she came!

Will DC1 be with you or is s/he at school/nursery or something? I found it much much more tiring being very pregnant with a toddler (mine are 20mths apart) than at work (secondary school teacher) - although managed to time DD2 so that I could start leave on 1st September and get the summer free.

With DS I was meant to be working the day he was born (38 weeks) so with this second one I decided to finish earlier - 37 weeks with a weeks annual leave before so stopped at 36weeks.

I found being pregnant, working full time & looking after a toddler much much more tiring. I also have kept DS in childcare for 3 days per week but I'm also enjoying spending time with him.

I won't have any leave as it has to be taken in summer hols and half terms etc. I might ask HR once I've told them and see what they say. Pretty sure I have no actual leave though if you see what I mean.

I'll have DD (2.6) with me for 3 days a week. I'm only 18 weeks, early pregnancy over the summer which was great as I was mostly off work but HARD because I had DD with me.

Hmm I think I'm trying to base things on finances but actually I will probably need that extra couple of weeks.

Thank you all.

So many factors to consider. I am more stressed about this as DH almost choked the other day when I said I was taking 12 months. Bit of a reality check as he thought I'd be taking 6 months this time. And obviously we'd both made assumptions. Sigh.

The first time I took four weeks. Dc1 came over a week early.

This time I am much more tired and have a little one to contend with so am leaving at 34.5 weeks. The commute is proving too much and I am no spring chicken - nearer to 40 than 30!

I am using the last of my annual leave which I held onto for dear life then taking ML.

I am taking at least 9 months off.

I finished at 37 weeks with ds and had him at 38! I was induced.

This time I am due at the end of Jan and I am finishing on Christmas eve. I couldn't face going back after Christmas!

I am looking forward to hopefully spending a month with ds if baby isn't early obviously