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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 are you starting your maternity leave?

37 replies

Pyjamaramadrama · 28/03/2015 17:13

I'm 30 weeks and planning to start mine in 8 weeks.

A few people are saying I'm mad and I'll never last, but I really want the time afterwards.

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GlitzAndGigglesx · 28/03/2015 17:19

Do you have no annual leave you could use before? That's what I'm doing. Due to go on leave at 34 weeks as I'm having twins so don't want to run the risk of going into labour at work! I'm using remaining hols so will be leaving at about 32 weeks. With my first single child I was too exhausted to go anywhere from 36 weeks so started my leave at 34 weeks too but if you think you can manage then go for it

kiwiscantfly · 28/03/2015 17:22

First child I went at 36 weeks which was the start of the Christmas holidays (I'm a teacher) and had DD by ELCS at 38 weeks. I felt pretty good still too.

Carrierpenguin · 28/03/2015 18:32

My mat leave will start on my due date but I've saved up holiday allowance so I'll finish work at 35 weeks, hooray!

Gemerama · 28/03/2015 18:55

This reply has been deleted

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

weeblueberry · 28/03/2015 18:56

Depends what you do. I do an office job and last pregnancy it was 39
weeks. This time it was 38 but I worked from home the last fortnight because I was shattered having the toddler too.

Xo90 · 28/03/2015 20:10

My last day is 10 days before he's due. I'm hoping he comes early though.

Racheyg · 28/03/2015 20:12

i start mine at 36 weeks (in 5 weeks time). im much more knackered during this pregnancy and i have over an hour commute into work but i would rather save mine for when ds2 is born as i know how much child care is :)

applecore0317 · 28/03/2015 20:33

I start mine at 36 weeks as have some holiday :) so just 5 weeks left. Yey!!!

BeanCalledPickle · 28/03/2015 20:38

Very personal decision, based on you and your job. I have an office job and go in three days a week. Physically it's become difficult in the last week as it's uncomfortable to sit at my desk. I'm 34 weeks. But I know if I finished now I would be bored. I'm a solicitor and have a stressful job. I've just handed most of my files over and feel so much better for it. I'm assisting others and doing year end stuff. Basically I'm now at the point that I'm pretty much deciding on a daily basis whether I'm up to it. This makes it much more manageable. Good luck!

MuddyWellyNelly · 28/03/2015 20:53

Also thinking of stopping at 38 weeks. If I find myself massively uncomfortable before that I could bolt on a week's annual leave beforehand. But I'd rather save that for the end of my leave so I start to get paid again earlier! I have an office job and will try to work from home a bit more in the last couple of weeks.

HazleNutt · 28/03/2015 20:56

worked til the day I had the baby last time, planning to do the same with this. Office job, not physically demanding - not much difference if I sit at my desk on at home on the sofa.

Seasidedolly · 28/03/2015 21:14

I started mine last Friday at 38 weeks, I managed fine (although don't have any other DH'S to look after) it helped that I'm literally a 5 minute walk or drive from work and do a desk job so it wasn't strenuous. Also DH works in same office so I wasn't worried in case anything happened at work!

ToriB34 · 28/03/2015 21:15

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn at poster's request.

littlesupersparks · 28/03/2015 21:17

My first two pregnancies I worked until 38 weeks - this one is twins and I've just stopped at 35. I wouldn't have managed an office job sitting down with this pregnancy but I'm a teacher and able to stand / move about so just managed - it was a struggle but 38 weeks with the others was fine.

Seasidedolly · 28/03/2015 21:18

Sorry meant to say no other DC's! I can assure you I just have the one DH!

Also just to say I wouldn't of liked going any earlier than 38 weeks as time is already starting to drag and could be waiting upto another 3 weeks if I go two weeks over. I used the last of my holiday taking Fridays off so a couple of weeks of 4 day working weeks helped with the tiredness etc

JassyRadlett · 28/03/2015 21:27

I worked until 38 weeks with DS and it was absolutely fine - commuted into London, office job.

I'm planning to do the same this time around - I'd much rather have the time at the other end.

SunbathingCat · 28/03/2015 21:42

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn at poster's request.

WindYourBobbinUp · 28/03/2015 22:02

Pregnancy 1 I was going to go on maternity leave on my due date, but had my baby prematurely. I don't buy it you'll be bored in your own company for a few weeks - I'd have quite liked to have packed my bag, cleared my desk and got baby things organised on reflection.
This time I'm going at 29 weeks as I won't forgive myself if it happens again.

It's up to you entirely but just to say, the first babies are always late is a myth - they are in fact less on time either side!

Original poster

Pyjamaramadrama · 28/03/2015 22:29

Thanks all no holiday to use as I'm term time I know babies aren't always late as ds1 was early!

I finished at 36 weeks last time but in hindsight I could have lasted longer but perhaps I'm just looking back with rose tinted glasses.

OP posts:

aletea · 28/03/2015 22:36

Both other pregnancies I started at 40w. I wanted the time with the baby at the other end!

This time I'll aim to do the same although I'll probably be on crutches and my work place has changed so it might be a lot more physically draining. If I conceive this time round then it'll be due in this annual leave year and I've already booked all my holidays, ha ha!

LadyNovember · 28/03/2015 22:46

Mat leave starts at 38 weeks but finished at 35 with annual leave. It's just the way the due date/holiday year has fallen, otherwise I feel like I'd have been fine to work to 38-39 weeks.

avocadotoast · 28/03/2015 22:48

I'm 33 weeks today. I start my leave in 3 weeks (although the first week of it is annual leave). Can't bloody wait. I could probably have left it longer, but I'm such a complainer, I'd rather be at home with my feet up!

DefinitelyNotElsa · 29/03/2015 07:09

I'm going to start my maternity leave at 36 weeks, purely because it works out best for me in terms of work (teacher). I'll actually be off from 30 weeks though, as the summer holidays fall directly before my mat leave starts.

lightgreenglass · 29/03/2015 08:26

Second pregnancy - originally I wanted to go off at 37 weeks but now because of how busy my work calendar is - I'm thinking 38-39 weeks if I can stretch as although I feel aches I can do it. My work are very flexible and won't mind if I take it as it comes.

lmb21010 · 31/03/2015 22:27

My actual maternity leave starts at 38+4 but I'm taking 4 weeks annual leave before hand. All booke
With dd I finished at 29w and oh my goodness I was bored! But I'm glad in a way I finished when I did. I was working on checkouts in a supermarket and couldn't stand or sit for more than 10 min. I was huge. I'm now 25w tomorrow and don't even have a bump! More of a physical job this time but I'm slimmer and fitter so hoping to last!

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