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Pregnancy

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Original poster

When are you / did you plan to stop work?

54 replies

TailFeathers · 22/02/2015 11:00

Hi,

I'm 20 weeks pregnant with my first baby and I've just started talking to work about when I'm planning to start maternity leave. When I said I was going to stop 2 weeks before my due date, and come back after six months, there were lots of comments from colleagues about "well you'll definitely have to stop sooner than that, at least a month, you just won't be able to work that late".

I wondered if anyone else has any thoughts on when they are stopping work before their due date? Am I being naive thinking I can work til two weeks before?

Any advice much appreciated.

TailFeathers

OP posts:

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avocadotoast · 22/02/2015 13:14

Oh, and I'm planning on going back after 6 months(ish) too. We're going to use shared parental leave, so DH will then have some time at home too.

I've managed to use my annual leave to phase myself back to work gradually though, so for the first few weeks back I'll effectively be part time, working steadily back to full.

BreeVDKamp · 22/02/2015 13:16

I'm 28 weeks and this week coming is my last!! wanted to go until 36 weeks really but am embracing my long pre-baby mat leave now

teejayem · 22/02/2015 21:24

My original plan was to finish at 35 weeks, use 5 weeks of my annual leave and then start ML (due early June, so finishing end April). I have a non taxing physically, but high stress desk job, and I have a two hour commute each way which is all public transport and is nearly all standing. I rarely get a seat, not because I don't have a badge or for the want of asking, but because the trains I use are just so crammed it's impossible. Its actually incredibly tiring, more so than I'd realised. i was signed off for two weeks with SPD which had gotten so bad I could hardly walk, and my GP told me the best thing I could do for my back would be not to Work! Which is easier said than done, so I'm going to approach my boss with a plan to work half the week from Home and half from the office. I really don't want to bring my leave forward if I can avoid it, not because I esoecially love my job, it's more from a financial planning perspective, but as the midwife and doctor have both said, I need to be looking after myself, so it's a bit up in the air!

MagicAlwaysLeadsToTrouble · 22/02/2015 21:33

Physically I was at my desk till 38 weeks, though I had emotionally departed from week a good couple of weeks before that and was just coasting along to pass the days in the end.

I had a weeks holiday then mat leave started 39 weeks.

Planning to do the same next time.

NoNoNoMYDoIt · 22/02/2015 21:36

I worked until 35 weeks and took 2 weeks AL with DS as I was commuting 3 hours and staying over away from home several times a week.

With DD I planned to work until my due date but just told them I was working from home after 37 weeks as I was stroppier and cared less the second time round. She actually arrived at 39 weeks so I hadn't officially finished work then.

I am office based though. But at the time had to be mobile throughout the UK

Elledouble · 22/02/2015 21:49

I'm finishing at 37 weeks - taking two weeks of annual leave then maternity leave starts the week the baby is due. I'm only having six months so wanted to save as much as possible for after the birth! My management keep offering to let me start winding down though - more time working from home (we've just reached the climax of my biggest ever project so they're worried I'm working too hard). I still feel fine to carry on at the moment though - I'm 31weeks - so it's a bit annoying.

Chchchchanging · 22/02/2015 21:56

38 weeks
Currently pg
If all goes well will finish really early, c.29 weeks as it coincides with ds starting school, though will use holiday first

bullseyebraces · 22/02/2015 22:11

I was a full time MA student in exam period with DC1. I carried on until I was 40w as I had exams during the due date week. Mentally felt fine, & I guess it was easier as although I had to get the tube into uni I didn't travel at rush hour.

DC3 for me now (was a sahm for DC2 birth) & I work part time in a teaching role, thinking of stopping around 38w. But I am v part time, around 10hrs a week, and have short ish commutes by car.

pinkie1982 · 22/02/2015 22:15

I am leaving at 37 week but have two weeks annual leave to take before that. So last week is end of may. I'm also 20w. I'm taking ayear off then have more annual leave after that will be due back aug 2016

Pigriver · 22/02/2015 22:35

I am incredibly lucky that as I am a teacher I finish for summer in July and baby due in sept. Mat leave will start on 1st day of term and baby due a week or so later. I will be 32 weeks when we break up.

misseskimo · 22/02/2015 23:36

I'm currently 21wks and just writing up my letter to HR about mat leave etc. I've chosen to finish at 37wks and do 9m. Then after that I'll come back 3days a week for 3m using my accrued annual leave from this year for the other 2days... I was told by a few like-minded workaholics at my office who have recently come back from mat leave that 3wks was a good amount as any less and you don't really have time to wind down before baby arrives, but anymore and you'll get bored... However that could all go pete tong for me as I'm high risk for prem, so I could end up going alot earlier than planned and not having a break at all! I am not in a position to be able to book off like 6wks before EDD though "just in case" as it'll be just my luck baby comes at full term lol x

Moreisnnogedag · 23/02/2015 00:08

I finish at 38 weeks with planned c-section at 39. With ds1 went off at the same time but ended up 10 days overdue. My commute is about the same now but in a car which I think is easier.

Treesandbees · 23/02/2015 07:44

I'm aiming to finish at 35/36 weeks, take 2 weeks a/l then start mat leave. I've got a pre existing medical condition which means they won't let me go overdue. Last time I was induced at 39 weeks. I went off at 34 weeks first time thinking I would be induced earlier but my blood pressure remained stable. In the end I had 4.5 weeks off which was too long. I would say 3 weeks is ideal so Id aim for that. And cherish that free time as you won't get it back !

SusannahD · 23/02/2015 07:49

I work in an office and I know of person who worked up to 38 weeks they however lived very close to work and part time. I planned to 37 weeks put was very tired so used holiday to finish at 36 weeks. The norm in my office is to work to about 36 weeks.

Jaffakake · 23/02/2015 08:39

I'm finishing on Friday! It'll make me 35 1/2 weeks. Last time I finished at 36 weeks on advice from fil, who's a gp. He was right, even thought I went to 42 weeks. This time it's a csection, but it'll be my last chance to chill out before ds2 is born & ds1 goes to school in September.

GoooRooo · 23/02/2015 09:02

With DS I had planned to work right up until my due date. In the end he arrived at 37 weeks (I was due at work that day as my waters went on a Monday so it was lucky I wasn't on the train!) and I was working all the way up until then. I wish I'd stopped at 35 weeks, I was finding the commuting so difficult by then.

This time I will be stopped at 36 weeks and hope I might at least get a week of rest before the baby makes an appearance.

GlitzAndGigglesx · 23/02/2015 09:11

My job is very physical involving being on my feet for approx 8 hours a day. I do have a sit down every couple of hours for 5 mins but find I'm coping fairly well. I'm pg with twins so there's the likelihood of them being born prem. I'm planning to work until 34 weeks but would like to take my remaining annual leave before so technically working until around 31 weeks. I have to give my maternity notice by mid April so have a bit of time to properly decide. In an ideal world I'd work up to 38 weeks but that won't be physically possible!

Rebecca1608 · 23/02/2015 09:17

I'm 22 weeks pregnant I was hoping I'd be able to work until the end of April, (I'm due beginning of June- I'll only go to 36 weeks) I was going to finish end of April take my 3 weeks annual leave and start my proper maternity end of May-beginning of June and take 9 months off.... This was my plan at around 12 weeks pregnant when I felt fine but at only 22 weeks with mono-di twins and my first pregnancy, I'm struggling already. I'm knackered and will definitely be finishing before end of April.

Christelle2207 · 23/02/2015 14:27

Last time I planned to work till 38 weeks but ended up starting ml at 37 weeks in the end because I'd had enough. Baby was nearly a week late so I had nearly four weeks off in the end which was perfect for me, but I know three mums whose babies arrived early just after they had finished work which was a bit crap! Dc1 was born in august 2013 though and the fact that the office was so friggin hot affected my decision.
Expecting dc2 in may and will finish at 36 weeks but i have an easy commute and I can make my job almost 100% desk based. Also I will be using up leave to work only 3 or 4 dpw between now and then. Though my work can be stressful at times it's
Easier than looking after a toddler while heavily pregnant!

Number3cometome · 23/02/2015 14:54

DC1 - left 4 weeks before, was bored for 4 weeks, DS was born on due date.

DC2 - left on the Monday, had DD on the Friday (38 weeks, planned c-section) Was bored for those few days in between.

DC3 - Due July (19+1 today), planned C-section 38 weeks, aim to leave the day before.

I will be taking 6 weeks maternity leave, so cannot afford to have any unneeded time off (and it is unneeded for me if all goes to plan)

I work in an office job, commute for just over an hour, don't usually have issues getting a seat etc.

MuddyWellyNelly · 23/02/2015 15:08

For those who have said that they experienced/had friends who ended up with a very short gap until baby was born, why was it bad (most posts seem to suggest that). I am hoping to keep going as long as possible, for financial reasons. Maybe even 39 weeks if I'm up to it, but I'll plan it so my critical work is done by 36/37 weeks just in case. Due to age and IVF, I will be induced at 40 weeks latest, so assuming that goes well I'd have only a week at most. But by that stage I won't be up for doing much of any interest, and I think will just end up being annoyed that I've wasted weeks of potentially paid leave when the baby is here.

My job is desk bound, I commute by car, and can work at home a couple of days a week. Sensible, or not?

Number3cometome · 23/02/2015 15:13

MuddyWellyNelly

Absolutely, you do what you feel comfortable doing.

GoooRooo · 23/02/2015 15:16

Muddy because I was absolutely exhausted. I'd planned to work up to my due date but everyone said first babies come late and I relied on that really - thinking I would have time to sleep, shop, read a magazine occassionally, get the house spotless etc. Instead he arrived three weeks early and the house was a tip and I was so so tired.

More than once once I got to 35 weeks I couldn't face the tube and got in a cab instead - it cost me a fortune but I just couldn't go down the stairs to the station without feeling anxious. I am not doing that again.

I'm self employed so wanted to take as much time with the baby as possible rather than spending time off being pregnant, but I've changed my mind for this one.

ToriB34 · 23/02/2015 15:27

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn at poster's request.

middlings · 23/02/2015 15:45

DD1 - went on holiday for a month at 34 weeks and then mat leave started at 38. Everyone said I'd be bored. I wasn't. I have a very stressful job and it was absolutely the right thing to do.

DD2 - DD1's childminder decided that she was moving to term time only so I had no childcare for the summer. I left, on holiday, at 32 weeks and started mat leave at 37. She was 14 months and it was a very hot summer. That was less relaxing!!

Given your commute, I would strongly consider going earlier than 38 weeks. Remember you can take holiday that you're due to accrue while your off before you go!

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