When to take maternity leave?

[FredFlintstonesSister]

When did you/ are you planning to start your maternity leave? I had tentatively said 36 weeks but have very mixed feelings. On the one hand, 4 or more weeks off before the birth seems really decadent when my husband is still working. On the other hand, at 30 weeks I am exhausted already and very tempted to just stop after Christmas! Any thoughts?

34 weeks both times.

I like pottering around at home - we've just moved house so there will be some decorating to do and my best friend is coming over from Germany to visit for a few weeks, so I am looking forward to just vegging out and chatting with her and maybe doing up the nursery together.

Back home you automatically start mat leave 6 weeks before EDD so it just seems normal to me to do it that way and work is stressful so I'm looking forward to getting out of there as soon as possible.

I finished work at 35+2 with DS, and took 3 weeks holiday before SMP kicked in. I have a desk job which is only a 10 minute drive away but I was completely exhausted!

Luckily this was at the start of November so I had plenty of time to do my Christmas shopping in, and only started getting bored on my actual "due" week.

This time I am finishing at 35+6; and taking 2 weeks holiday before SMP. I am now only working 4 days; and at 21 weeks I currently feel fine, but do remember how shattered I was first time round, so I'm not going to be a hero....plus it ties in nicely with a weekend away.

It's entirely up to you, as other posters have said they've been fine up to 38 weeks or so, but I definitely knew it was not for me!

I'm 24 weeks and dying on my feet. Crippling back ache and still have a bit of sickness I'm going to be leaving early at 30 weeks. I work 6 days a week and I'm on my feet the whole time don't get much time to sit.

Didn't expect pregnancy to be so emotionally exhausting :(

mines starts xmas eve ill be 36 weeks. ive a long commute will be ever so glad to get finished. this is my first and as some wise woman posted itll be ur last chance of doing exactly what u want when u want! some women nearly think theyre martyrs for not takin ml till the nearly end! midwives where am from are now encouraging expectant mums to take ml sooner rather than later for preparation both physically and mentally. (I know some women havent got the luxury of this but if u do go for it!)

good luck in whatever u decide

I'm also a teacher and worked til 34 weeks - was hoping to go til 36 but pgp kicked in and rendered me useless.

Teaching doesn't really compare with a lot of other jobs so it isn't always useful to think about when others took their leave. Saying that, at my school recently a teacher worked up until 40 weeks but also in the borough a year or two a teacher gave birth in the classroom and the TA delivered the baby! There's a lot of bravado about this and I don't think that really helps !!

I am happy with 34 weeks and have really appreciated the nesting and prep time. Modwives often recommend a calm period before the birth because a stressed mum really does make a stressed baby. School can make accomodations but they can't change the fact that the day is always loud and unpredictable with pushing and shoving in the corridors and you are responsible for groups of young people!

You have done really well to get to the end of this term,so shattering for all teachers pg or not. Get as much rest as you can over the hols and then see how you feel. Remember you can be signed off up to 36 weeks when ML kicks in automatically.

Think about the time off as a buffer between work and parenthood. A time to network and get ready for a new way of life. it is seriously worth taking as long as you can. in the long run you will really enjoy it.

pooks that's a lovely way of putting it. I wish someone had said something as kind to me when I was wrestling with whether to struggle on or not.

3 months full pay is way better than the 4 weeks we teachers get in England!!

Anyway why decadent? You're the one who's carrying the baby. It's emotionally, physically and mentally draining. I worked up to 36 weeks and was practically crippled with SPD by the end. 36 weeks sounds more than realistic!

I planned to work until 36+2 then use leave so would start ml at 38+5, but I had a 1.5hour daily commute and a stressful job, and a stressful pregnancy. Felt guilty about bringing leave forward but I finished at 34+2 instead as I was exhausted and best decision I made. But I didn't intend to take full maternity leave allowance so it hasn't affected my return date. Do what is best for you, only you know how you feel.

Started mine at 33 weeks but as I'm diabetic being induced at 38 weeks,which is the first week of January. Had I been due any other time of year would have kept going for another couple of weeks but wanted a few weeks before Christmas to get organised. Just as well I did as the pregnancy insomnia has well and truly kicked in since I finished up!

34 weeks here if I can stick it out. I'm a market trader and its pretty bleak out there in January! Given that the baby is likely to turn up around 37 weeks I'll be quite pleased if I can make it. Lots of leave left over for after then!

Also don't bank on having '4 or more weeks' before giving birth if you leave at 36 weeks. Pregnancy is unpredictable and baby might arrive sooner than expected. You'll be very glad to have a buffer if he/she shows at 37 weeks!

41 weeks with DS1 - induced at 42.
39+3 with DS2 - elcs at 39+5

Statutory mat leave so wanted to leave it for post birth. Back to work at 3 months both times. Bloody knackered for the last 7 years !