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Pregnancy

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Original poster

Is 35 weeks too early to go on mat leave?

29 replies

Spookey80 · 07/01/2014 20:18

I am currently 31 weeks pg, already have 2 dcs aged nearly 5 and a 3 yo.
I work pt (2 and 1/2 days a week) and My job is quite active and busy.
Was planning on going at 36 weeks, but now may be able to go at 35 weeks which sounds good as the thought of another 4 weeks has been making me feel tired in itself.
However I'm a bit worried i will regret it, I'm being dithery and just and just can't decide?
Would welcome opinions/ advice.
Thanks

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Bumpiemalumpie · 07/01/2014 20:25

I am 36weeks and regretting the plan I have for leaving at 37.5weeks, although you have already done it take my advice RUN AWAY AND START NOW!! I have never been so tired in all my life!!

good luck

feekerry · 07/01/2014 20:33

hell no!
35 weeks tomorrow and starting mat leave tomorrow. worked till 37 weeks first time and was totally fine with that..... this time round i had to bring mat leave forward to 35 weeks as i am absolutely on my knees!
wish i had left last week tbh!!

BEEwitched · 07/01/2014 20:48

To be fair, where I'm from maternity leave starts automatically at 34 weeks so I'm biased - but if you feel tired all the time and think you will really benefit from it I think it's definitely worth it. I'll be going early, too, and I'm already looking forward to it even though I have a few months to go yet!

Hamnvik · 07/01/2014 20:51

No! I started at 34 weeks and was then two weeks overdue and after the next nine months of very little sleep I'm so glad I did. I know you have other children but just sleep and sit down as much as possible!

SugarMiceInTheRain · 07/01/2014 20:54

The way I feel now, I'd say take the chance to go early! (I'm 34 weeks with DC3 and knackered!) but when it was my first, I went on ML at 36 weeks and was bored - didn't handle going from FT working in the day to being home alone well. It's different when you've already got children though, as you are constantly busy. I only work very PT now - employed one night a week, and do a few hours of SE work - doing both up to my due date to maximise my ML - I'll be back doing the SE stuff within 6 weeks of the birth, otherwise will lose my clients, but want to make the most of having a full year off from the employed work I do. Not yet sure when I will be stopping my voluntary work - just going to play it by ear, but I'm feeling pretty fed up and very uncomfy and achey already!

littlecrumb · 07/01/2014 21:13

Not too early. I finished at 34 weeks and really glad I did

flowerpotgirl12 · 07/01/2014 21:20

I've finished at 34 weeks and loving being at home pottering. was so tired as early starts for work, so enjoying the napping and relaxing before all hell breaks loose

babsie007 · 07/01/2014 21:39

I was to start mine at 36 weeks but ended up so exhausted I just couldn't manage so I took off at 35 weeks. I don't regret it although I do know it will eat into some of the time I have with my dd when she finally decides to arrive!!!! I figured that my rest was more important than trying to power through in work, and everyone kept telling me how the rest I get now is that last I will have for a while once she gets here!!

elfycat · 07/01/2014 21:46

I went off at 32 weeks (had enough of the job) and had DD1 at 36+2.

So for me it was the right choice, of course if I'd gone overdue I might have felt differently. I don't think so as I had hyperemesis from 14 weeks until the day I went into labour and had lost half a stone in weight by this point (stone and a half once I'd had DD1). Mind you I had it to lose but I was beyond tired.

See how you feel over the next couple of weeks but do take it a little easy.

PinkandPoo · 07/01/2014 22:05

No! I finished at 34 weeks both times.

Ilovekittyelise · 07/01/2014 22:06

not at all. i finish on thursday at 36+2 (ds2) & past few weeks (ok lets be honest, months!) have been a struggle & waddling is hurting now.

Ilovekittyelise · 07/01/2014 22:07

ps dont feel guilty. relax, enjoy and do what feels right for you sod anyone else!

AnAdventureInCakeAndWine · 07/01/2014 22:17

With DC3 I stopped work at about 32 weeks! (although owing to very fortuitous timing of my EDD vs. our annual leave year, I managed 7 weeks of annual leave and only had a few days of ML before DD2 was actually born). It was great! (If I'd actually had to use up ML entitlement I'd probably have toughed it out for another few weeks, but I was very glad I didn't have to).

beela · 07/01/2014 22:18

I also work 2.5 days and am planning to finish at 35 weeks.

I know maternity leave is about the baby that you are about to have, but I wouldn't want to devote so much time and energy to work that I didn't have any energy for DS, especially as he is going to have to accommodate the new arrival as well, so will finish earlier if I need to.

Fedup1992 · 08/01/2014 00:51

Hey I started mine at 31 weeks. But had 4 weeks off sick before that as I got fed up tbh. And thank god I started early originally planned to go at 37 weeks and for the last month I have been wide awake all night and getting a few hours sleep in the morning no way I could of gone to work too! Xxx

victoriac123 · 09/01/2014 14:33

I'll be 29weeks on Sunday. I start my maternity leave on 1st Feb which is ages before due date (I'll be a day short of 32 weeks by then).

I also have 2 kids, aged almost 5yrs and 2 1/2yrs. I only work weekends but have found this time round I am exhausted by the smallest of things.

I left work at 38 weeks with my 1st, and about 37 weeks with my 2nd. But I just don't think I can go on that long with this one.

It is completely up to you when you go and depends on how you feel. I think you have 2 weeks before you leave to extend working. But 28 days if you want to bring it forward.

Don't let anyone pressure you into working longer if you don't or feel up to it. It's not too early at all and I have seen many go on mat leave way before 35/36 weeks.

Just do what's right for you.

captaincake · 09/01/2014 14:49

I hope not - I'm planning to go at about 31 weeks! Everyone's situation and how they feel are different so you just have to do what's right for you.

ch1134 · 09/01/2014 16:06

I left at 35 weeks, currently 37 and 1/2 and just wish I had more time!

Thegreatunslept · 09/01/2014 16:11

I went off at 33 weeks with pfb due back in 3 weeks!
I am glad I went early I had a lovely time at home meeting with friends and packing and repacking my hospital bag for weeks.
Ds was 11days over due date and I would go at the same time again if I knew how late he would be.

mrsbug · 09/01/2014 16:17

I was due to go at 35 weeks because that was the start of the Xmas break, it would havebeen been pointless to go back for a few days in January.

By the end I was pretty knackered, working short days and taking days annual leave every now and then to rest. I was really looking forward to my month off work. Then on my last day at work my waters broke and I went to hospital and had dd.

I still mourn my lost month off work! So I wish I'd gone even earlier.

Were your other babies born at term?

ALittleBitOfChristmasMagic · 09/01/2014 17:48

I went off at 34 weeks . I was due to start mat leave at 39 weeks but leave at 35 weeks using up annual leave . However I had an accident at work at 34 weeks and got sent to hospital and decided it was no longer safe for me to be working .

You should definitely knock off and try and get some time to yourself for a few weeks

Beckybob · 09/01/2014 18:18

My DD is 12th March - my ML starts on the 11th March.... think I'm a bit mental!
This way I can have more time off paid with the baby otherwise will have to go back to work much earlier which I don't want to do. Its whatever suits your situation I think and also how you feel in yourself!

livingzuid · 09/01/2014 19:03

Gosh no. I am only 18+5 but not planning on working again till after the birth. I finished a contract on 31 December and it has been bliss not going to work. It was crippling me particularly as I have HG which has improved hugely since I stopped work. It is mandatory where I live to start maternity leave a month before the due date anyway so it I do pick up odd bits of work I will stop at 35 weeks.

I thought I would be bored but it has been so nice! I'd put my feet up if I were you :)

Tiredlouise · 09/01/2014 19:06

I think 34-36 weeks is the best time to leave. I would struggle leaving it past this and honestly don't know how others do it.

SweetPea86 · 09/01/2014 19:16

I'm leaving at 30 weeks I work 6 days and it's taking its toll I'm not guna spend my whole time moaning how teird I am and in pain I'm just leaving and going to enjoy and use my free time.

2 weeks to go

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