Best time to finish work for maternity leave?

[BabyBSummer15]

Hi all, I was hoping for advice from people who have previously had babies. I am trying to work out when to finish for maternity but have no idea how tired I am going to be later on in the pregnancy or how much I'm going to struggle with driving/sitting at my desk etc so was hoping for some guidance?

I'm lucky enough to work in an organisation that gives good maternity pay so overall I should be able to have a whole year off including my 6 weeks annual leave which I will save up. I work 5 days a week normal office hours. Although my job is mainly desk based so not physically demanding my commute is an hours drive each way so can be quite tiring.

I'm currently thinking of finishing at 36 weeks then taking 3 weeks annual leave, then start mat leave at 39 weeks, then I'll tag the rest of my annual leave onto the end of the mat leave.

Do you think that sounds sensible or do you think I will need to finish earlier / finish later to get more time with baby?

Thanks!

I recommend finishing at 36 weeks or earlier if possible. With my first I finished at 38 weeks and was EXHAUSTED and was hospitalised the following day for high BP - no break!

Finished at 36 weeks the second time round and I was so much more rested, relaxed and in a good frame of mind before the birth

I think your plan sounds great! Good luck with your pregnancy and labour, hope that it all goes really well.

I finished at 36 weeks and DS was2 weeks late and I ended up being bored rigid. In the few weeks running up to my mat leave starting I used annual leave to effectively work part time for a few weeks and that worked well. If I could go back in time I would have worked until 38 weeks, but taken a couple of days annual leave from around 33/34 weeks.

That's exactly what I did! Even though DS didn't turn up till a day shy of 42 weeks it was AMAZING. Best six weeks ever. I was fed up of working by 36 weeks and just couldn't give a shit about work so for the sake of my career it was good I finished when I did!

I'm finishing 2 weeks before due date. I have the option to take annual leave before if things get too much. I only have a 20 min commute tho & a pretty stress free desk job with 9-5 hours

I finished at 37 weeks with DS, he was born one week later. I finished at 38 weeks with DD, she arrived the day after . Both times I regretted not getting a chance to put my feet up, but I wanted to spend my maternity leave with my babies.

I think 36 weeks is a sensible date to stop, but mat leave was only 8 months when I had DS and I didn't want to "waste" potentially 6 weeks waiting for him to arrive.

I finished at 35+5 and ds1 started to make an appearance 36+6!

You are full term from 37 weeks so I wouldn't want to still be working then. My son came at 38 weeks, luckily I finished at 36 weeks. I wasn't too exhausted but appreciated having time to focus on the baby.

Definitely agree with not giving a shit about work so finishing in plenty of time is definitely a good career choice!

Your plan sounds good. I finished at 32 weeks and it was the best decision I made. I will never get those 6 weeks of utter bliss and freedom back

i work in a school kitchen its very busy and physical i have put down to leave at 38 weeks. im only 26 weeks and struggling already :/

It all depends on your job and you, I'm a dog groomer and on my feet all day plus lifting the dogs so finished at 36 weeks with dd1 and have decided to work until 38 weeks with this one although have warned all my customers that if there's any problems I may need to cancel them.

I do get bored easily and like the distraction of having work to do to pass the time, exhaustion wise I found the first 3 months way more tiring than the last few weeks and driving was never a problem.

I'd rather have as much time with the baby after she's born than use my maternity allowance time before she's here but I only get 9 months.

I'm finishing at 36 weeks, and will have the baby at 39 weeks. I'm knackered already though (29 weeks) and have arranged to use holiday to do 4 days a week from next week.

I worked up to the Friday before my due dates both times, and hosted a conference for 200 on the Thursday before my second mat leave in heels (oh, my feet ached so bad by the end of that day, I think I was barefooted before the last of the delegates left). However, that was because I could only afford a basic maternity leave at the time.
I had colleagues that went off a month or two before the baby came along. I was a bit and . Why all that time doing nothing?

Sounds like a good idea! I finished (full time) 2 days before 38 weeks and had him at 38 weeks! I had 2 whole days off!!

That's what I did both times. Even though it was an office job I was ready to finish at 36 weeks.

Last time I worked until 38+2 and I was glad, because DD was 2w late, but tbh I was a total liability. I spent my last day running around like a lunatic because I had messed up some bank payments.

I couldn't comfortably drive after that point either.

This time I am finishing at 36w, I have DD to look after so less chance of getting bored!

I think 36 weeks is a minimum with a good pregnancy. My fil, a GP, who never usually pokes his nose in my business told me to last time & he was right. I'm going at 36 weeks this time & am also using up holiday to reduce my hours for the last 6 weeks. I've got a toddler now, so am more tired to start with!

I started ML at 38 weeks both times and both babies were nearly two weeks overdue. I was a bit bord but in hindsight should have revelled in it more.

Oh & it depends a bit when you're due. Last time was summer & my feet swelled up! I spent most of that month with my feet in a bucket of water or above my head! This time, cos it's winter, I would expect to have less of those problems.

I worked till 38 weeks, but DD didn't appear till 42 weeks. I have such good memories of those weeks, resting, sleeping, reading, going out for walks, swimming, stocking the freezer at a very relaxed pace. I'm so glad I got that time to relax, and next time I'd finish sooner to make sure I got some rest even if the baby came earlier. I think your plan sounds good, OP.

I'm finishing in 2 weeks time I'll be 36weeks I'm having 2 weeks annual leave then maternity starts I'm also adding 3 weeks annual leave on to the end. Let me tell you I'm counting down the hours til I finish I'm absolutely exhausted but determined to last out these last 2 weeks

I'm leaving at 34 weeks, officially on mat leave at 36 weeks. I have a very physical job and walk 30 mins each way to work. I'm 31 weeks now and I think I have made the best decision! plus I will be off for half term so I get to spend a whole week with just me and ds which will be lovely.

With my first baby I left at 37 weeks. He arrived at 40+3.

I felt it was perfect timing, the right amount of relaxing/preparing but not waiting too long. I had an office job 5 days a week too and with a train / bus commute of 45mins/an hour.

I'm pregnant with dc2 now and think I'll leave at 36 weeks as I'll probably be a bit more tired due to having a toddler!

I'm finishing on Friday when I'll be 37 weeks. I'm using two weeks annual leave first then my maternity leave will start from 39 weeks. I work in a bank but it's similar to a desk job, fairly stress free, & to be honest I could probably work longer. Have a feeling this wee one is going to make me wait until at least 41 weeks before making an appearance but I plan to make the most of my time off, especially as this is my 1st, life will never be the same again ??
I've had an easy pregnancy though so think it would depend how yours has been.