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Pregnancy

Talk about every stage of pregnancy, from early symptoms to preparing for birth.

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Original poster

When did you stop work for mat leave?

54 replies

crazycatlady82 · 22/03/2015 10:56

I am not sure if I have posted this in the right place but...

When did you stop to go on mat leave?

I am due on 18th Oct so I thought I would start my mat leave 2 weeks before my due date and use annual leave to stop 2 weeks before that, so it works out that I stop on 18th Sept.

I am a little worried (with no reason why at all) that I 'go' early.

Any thoughts ladies...

OP posts:

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weelamb123 · 22/03/2015 11:03

Hiya, it depends on how u feel. Ive just put in my matb1 form and stop on 30th June. I'm due on 22nd July but will be taken in for planned section 7-10 days before my dud date. So I'll have about 2 weeks off before baba comes. I stopped 4 weeks prior to due date with dc1 but it was too early and I was bored then was a wee late. Its best to work as long as u can that way u can take it at the other end. Xxx

OhMjh · 22/03/2015 11:04

I went at 31 weeks, using 5 weeks of holiday first, but I worked and incredibly physically demanding job and had issues with low blood pressure.
Given you're so newly pregnant, why not wait and see how your pregnancy goes before you decide anything? You have a while before you have to set a date. Generally, I think stopping a month before due date is a great idea. It gives you time to get everything ready, put your feet up, go crazy with nesting and cram in as many indulgent baths as you can before your baby arrives!

LittleGreyCatwithapinkcollar · 22/03/2015 11:04

I'm due 7th April. Was planning on working to 27th March but moved it to starting mat leave on 16th March as I was struggling. Depends on what you do I'd have thought. I teach, and found being on my feet all day and all the 'out of hours' stuff just too much as I was too tired. I didn't feel like I was doing a great job so decided it was better for everyone that I just went home and slept!

Archer26 · 22/03/2015 11:11

I'm due 22nd April and my mat leave starts 13th April, but I am using some leave first so last day will be 2nd April. (9 working days and counting!). I've been lucky with my pregnancy and still feeling fine however very tired come Friday. I did have some other days leave saved and took then around 25 weeks but in hindsight I wish I'd kept them for a few days here and there to break these last few weeks up.

Congratulations on your pregnancy OP

SunbathingCat · 22/03/2015 11:13

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn at poster's request.

PotteringAlong · 22/03/2015 11:18

I went at 37 weeks with DS1 and 39 weeks with DS2

Patatas · 22/03/2015 11:19

I finished two weeks before dd but he was a week late. It was nice to have those 3 weeks especially as it was Christmas time. I was really ready to finish and finding it a hard slog.

My sister went on mat leave and had him the next day, she felt a bit cheated that she didn't have any time to put her feet up before hand, but good that she didn't have to wait.

littlesupersparks · 22/03/2015 11:22

I'm pregnant with twins. My last working day will be the day I turn 35 weeks. I worked until 38 weeks with my previous (singleton) pregnancies. I would be very uncomfortable now sitting down all day but I'm a teacher and although it's tiring at least I can be upright/moving around when I need to.

PinkParsnips · 22/03/2015 11:38

I finished at 35 weeks, only because I had lots of leave to use up, i could have gone on longer though and probably would have finished at 37/38 if it was using up my maternity leave as i had a straightforward pregnancy, DD was a full 2 weeks overdue so I had 7 weeks on my own which did get a little boring but in hindsight was a lovely relaxing time before baby comes!!

Rebecca1608 · 22/03/2015 11:52

I'm finishing at 28 weeks! As I'm pregnant with twins, will have them at 36 weeks also 3 weeks leave to take.

Wisteria1979 · 22/03/2015 11:56

I agree with pp - wait and see. If you feel well it's nice to have the time at the other end. I worked until my due date with Dc1 (10 days late!) and felt fine. Would have been bored if I had too much time waiting around. Felt a lot worse in second pregnancy and ended up leaving a month or so before.

MissHobart · 22/03/2015 11:57

Planned section on 1st may (39+2), maternity leave starting on 21st April (37+1) but last day of work is the 16th April due to sift pattern. Really hoping that she doesn't come early! I'd rather have time after than before!

purplemurple1 · 22/03/2015 12:03

With both of mine I worked until I went into labour, actually worked for a few hours after my waters had gone with my first as nothing was happening.

I have a desk job and worked from home for the last few weeks though so that helped a lot.

trilbydoll · 22/03/2015 12:07

With DD I worked until 38+2 and I was glad because she was 2w overdue but tbh I was a liability at work, I think they were glad to see the back of me! Finishing at 35w this time and using holiday until 39w. I think with a toddler I will be more appreciative of the rest while she is in nursery!

Gemerama · 22/03/2015 12:39

This reply has been deleted

This poster has privacy concerns, so we've agreed to remove this now.

Whatabout · 22/03/2015 12:40

Worked till 37/38 weeks first time round, then went two weeks over. Plan similar this time, want the time afterwards more.

Feckeggblue · 22/03/2015 12:42

I've just finished 2 weeks before due date. I'm using 2 weeks annual leave and going on maternity leave on babies due date. I would've been bored at home for a month but had a textbook pregnancy and no difficulties commuting or working

Christelle2207 · 22/03/2015 12:46

With my first I planned to work till 38 but things got rapidly tougher for me towards the end and I finished at 36. Baby came at 41 in the end- I enjoyed my time off (was summer) but was a bit bored at the end. This time I'm aiming to finish at 36 but I have loads of leave so ML will only start a week before. You can get "cheated" with ML if baby comes early as it has to start the next day but you won't lose any annual leave- this can be tagged onto the end of your ML in most cases.

Murphy29 · 22/03/2015 12:46

Planned to work to 38+3 then use annual leave to due date but DS had other ideas and arrived at 35+0 so my leave started the day he arrived and my annual leave carried forward

weeblueberry · 22/03/2015 13:24

Last one I worked til 39 weeks quite happily. This time I originally said 38 weeks but as it got closer I asked to go two weeks sooner using annual leave. My boss said it would be hard to accommodate because of staffing issues so asked that I worked from home. I was exhausted though despite only being in an office job and driving to work was very tricky towards the end.

dinodiva · 22/03/2015 13:38

I can't decide. Due 18th September, but I commute through Victoria into South Kensington and just know that August will be a nightmare with the heat and holiday crowds. Currently toying with using annual leave to go part time, but think I'll see how I feel.

Strokethefurrywall · 22/03/2015 14:40

Worked until labor with both, but don't have a horrendous commute to deal with and easy pregnancies with both.

Marshpillow · 22/03/2015 14:44

Originally I was going to finish at 38 weeks as my job is sedentary and I have like an eight minute commute. However towards the end I was knackered and had backache from my chair so I asked to leave a week earlier, and as my maternity cover had already started they said yes. I thought I was in for a boring few weeks but it stands I'm currently in hospital waiting to be induced at 39+1 so you never know how it'll turn out!

smilingthroughgrittedteeth · 22/03/2015 14:45

I'm due today, I initially planned on working up to 37 weeks but really started to struggle at about 32 weeks so moved mat leave forward to 35 weeks and am really glad I did.

WindYourBobbinUp · 22/03/2015 14:52

If you think you might be early I'd trust that instinct. I was still at work and had nothing ready. On reflection I'll never have a few weeks to myself for many years and it would've been quite nice to wind down and get things ready at home. I'm still jealous of peoples leaving presentations and spa days!!

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