Maternity leave - when to leave?

[BurkeyBabyNo1]

How do you know when to leave work? I've suggested at work it'll be 4 wks before EDD but is that a good idea? How have you all decided? I know some mums that worked up until EDD and some that that have taken 6 weeks off prior. Any tips on how to decide? Work are starting to want answers and I am only 25 weeks.

With DD I finished at 34 weeks because that was just before Christmas and I then had enough holiday to get me through until the due date of 21 January. I wanted to have a year off and not go back to work until after her 1st birthday so wanted to maximise the mat leave part. As it was I worked at home a fair bit of the time until 4 Jan. DD turned up at 37 weeks by EMCS at 4am on 5 Jan so I never got to do the treats I had planned like posh afternoon tea, getting my hair done, sitting watching telly etc!

I am due with No. 2 on DD's third birthday. I think I will stop a few weeks before Christmas this time around. I am starting to hoard my annual leave already... December and January are our most stressful months of the year at work so best to be out of it for me!

If you have a reasonable employer I am sure they will be flexible. The rules are 28 days notice to change your mat leave dates but my employer would take shorter notice than that for either starting earlier or leaving later. If you have a difficult employer and you find things get tough then you can always get your GP to sign you off which can kick start mat leave at that point I think.