No RaRa, maternity leave has to start on the due date or when the baby is born if he or she arrives before due date.
Im finishing at 36+1 and taking annual leave until 39+3 when maternity leave starts (at my work maternity leave has to start on a sunday)
So only 9 weeks left at work now, I wouldnt say im ready as such as im still certainly capable of getting up and going to work but being off at xmas has marked a very certain line between work going to the back of my mind and the baby coming being at the forefront! going to be a long 9 weeks of waiting when theres a lot I want to do at home!