When to go on mat leave

[Patchwork88]

I'm due at the beginning of July and have been thinking about when to finish work.
Trying to remember what it's like on the tube in the summer and just imagining the commute could be a real pain.
Anyone else due around then and got any thoughts, or anyone with experience?
I'd always thought I'd work right up until the week before EDD but now I'm not so sure.

I'm due first week in August and know how you feel, being heavily pg in the summer must be hard work, i'm now thinking I will probably take a few weeks leave and then start mat leave a few weeks before due date, so ill probably leave a month before my due date. I don't live in London but have been on the Tube in summer and it's awful so can imagine why you're feeling that way!

Hi Hun I'm going on mat leave in 2 weeks I'll be 30 weeks then many would think its very early but I'm shattered, I've had sickness since week 5 although calmed down it is tiring, I've also got spd so basically feel like I'm falling apart lol. My job is 6 days a week on my feet the entire time, so I just no I will be in agony if I stay any longer,

The coupled of months before I'm massive I'm going to spend decorating baby's rooms. Getting every thing sorted. Want to scrub the house from top to bottom have a massive through out of things.

Plus catch up with friends and things I never get to do because of work.

It's up to you, like you said you really want to be heavily pregnant on he underground.

You can leave 11 weeks before ur due date about 29 weeks. Some women would say I'm leaving to ealry and I'll be bored but I have soooooo much to do ill need more time lol

I'm not finishing until 38 weeks. If I could afford to go off any sooner I would, I'm shattered now at 31 weeks. But I run my own business so at least I can keep my own hours to an extent and there's a sofa in the office (that I am currently plonked on).

Im 32 weeks now and will be finishing in 5 weeks, taking 1 weeks hols and 2 weeks mat leave before due date.

I'm due the same time as Pina and thinking of doing exactly the same. I also commute into central London and can't think of anything I want to do less so my plan is to finish around 35/36 weeks, taking a few weeks holiday and then starting ML a week or two before due date (depending on how much holiday I'll have left by then!)

I went as soon as I could with DD, I think ML started a week before her due date and I took 4 weeks annual leave before then, so finished around 35 weeks.

It was great! Really enjoyed having some time off to just relax before all hell broke lose , and am planning on doing the same again with DC2.

I worked until 38 weeks last time, and although the last 10 weeks was at home (due to SPD) my brain was still complete mush by the end - I think my colleagues would have preferred me to finish earlier because of all the stuff they had to put right after I'd gone off! Also, even though all I had to do was get to my desk across my bedroom I still struggled so much with tiredness those last couple of weeks, I just wanted to sleep!

This time I'm finishing at 34 weeks and I am really ready for it - the commute (1 hour on train either way) is taking it's toll and I can feel my brain shutting down already. Last time the thought of having weeks off pre baby scared me, this time I can't wait, I know what's coming and I'm just going to put my feet up as much as possible before then!

That's really helpful thanks all.
I'm amazed how invisible I am with my badge now, and can imagine this will only get worse in the summer when people are desperate to pretend they can't see you need a seat!
Will definitely increase my working from home though as it's so much less stressful than dragging myself in to the office.

Hi patchwork. I was heavily pregnant in 2011 commuting until my due date. Yes, lots of people were helpful offering a seat, but people truly don't look up on the tube and I often stood from west to south London without being offered one. In the end I asked people politely as it was just so hot down there. They were genuinely shocked when they noticed me and mostly embarrassed.

Can you negotiate earlier starts and finishes? I only say that as if you are returning to work you may want to maximise the amount of time you have with baby before.

I was due mid July 2011 and worked until 38+1. I also commuted on the tube and found it fine, I would have stopped earlier if I could have but as I'm a teacher I was pushing on to the end of term.