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Pregnancy

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

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Original poster

How late did you or are you planning to leave for maternity

59 replies

Evianbaby15 · 07/07/2015 18:14

as the title says really
If you stayed/plan on staying for as long as possible what kind of job do you have?
I am only part time but spend day on my feet, not sure how late I'm going to be able to go
(Have a dc already so staying at home to relax 2 weeks beforehand is all well and good but I won't be relaxing)

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BananaPie · 07/07/2015 18:25

I was part time and worked til 39 weeks. Mostly a desk job though, and I would probably have found a more physically active day quite tiring by then. I was fine til 38 weeks, but started to feel a bit uncomfortable after that. Baby ended up quite overdue anyway.

didireallysaythat · 07/07/2015 18:28

Desk job. Worked to 42 weeks first time around. Worked to elcs date minus 4 days second time around.

MrsLeighHalfpenny · 07/07/2015 18:31

I left a week before DD was born. It was supposed to be two weeks, but she came early. I figured I'd be better off taking leave after she was born.

Raveismyera · 07/07/2015 18:32

Full time and left at 38 weeks. Reduced my travel a bit in the last month

littleostrich · 07/07/2015 18:33

I'm self employed (design work, so mainly at a desk) and I planned to work until 36 weeks. I'd been so busy I felt like that was a good time, so I had a few weeks to finish buying / preparing everything for the baby and relax a bit... but then DS arrived at 34 weeks, before I'd even finished all of my projects. Oops.

Purpleball · 07/07/2015 18:34

Finishing at 35 weeks then taking 3 weeks holiday. Mat leave starts at 38 weeks as I'm having an ELCS then. Currently 29 weeks and working from home for the next 6 weeks

changingagain · 07/07/2015 18:34

This is my first so I'm not sure when I'll be capable of working until but as I can't carry holidays over to next year, I've booked maternity leave to start at 40 and clumped my 4 weeks of holiday to take right before.

eckythumpenallthat · 07/07/2015 18:35

I worked to 37 weeks. And thank god I did cos I went to 42+3 and would have been bored ridged being home any longer

I had/have a physical job in the NHS as a physical activity advisor. So working 5 days a week all over the community working in gyms doing exercise classes etc and carting equipment everywhere I went.

Rosenwyn1985 · 07/07/2015 18:36

I'm already on leave (on holiday before I start maternity). I left at nearly 32 weeks with my maternity officially starting around 36 weeks. I only do two days a week but work on my feet in retail. I have some health problems as well as spd. This is my second pregnancy and I really struggled with my first so not a chance I was going to put myself through more than I have to. I also study part time so as I can't take leave from that or being a mum (nor would I want to) I thought I deserved it!

BabyNeedsChocolate · 07/07/2015 18:38

Finished at 37 weeks in case the baby came early - ended up going two weeks overdue. It was nice having a couple of weeks off before he was born, to get everything in order and relax, but five was too many. I have an office job and had a fairly easy pregnancy so in retrospect would have waited until 38/39 weeks.

Appleblossom82 · 07/07/2015 18:41

This reply has been deleted

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

Hellochicken · 07/07/2015 18:51

Mainly desk job (go out of office meeting once or twice daily) 3 days a week. Usually there 12 hours though.

Self employed. Worked until 40+3. Had a contingency plan tho. Also been overdue 3 times previously and felt well.

First pregnancy i stopped at 37 weeks as didn't know how I'd feel.

AbbeyRoadCrossing · 07/07/2015 18:54

I was going to take holiday from week 36 until due date then go on maternity. Gave birth before then and had a nightmare with works 'use it or lose it' holiday policy as maternity leave kicks in if you give birth.
This time I'm going at 30 weeks but only because of what happened last time and it works with annual leave etc.

loveulotslikejellytots · 07/07/2015 19:04

I'm 14 weeks with my first. The plan is to leave at 38 weeks when we finish for Christmas, take a couple of weeks annual leave then start mat leave about 4 days past my due date. I don't have the most generous maternity package (although a lot better than some) so I want as long as possible off when the baby arrives.

AbbeyRoadCrossing · 07/07/2015 19:12

I thought the latest you could start was your estimated due date? That's what work told me anyway - not that it mattered in the end!

addictedtosugar · 07/07/2015 19:29

38 weeks with both. FT, but can have a day sitting mainly if needed.

You can go past you edd. Tho the girl I know who did this had an argument with HR about if it was allowed.

Nectarines · 07/07/2015 19:32

Primary teacher worked for 37 weeks. Baby arrived at 38 weeks (iol then emcs)

Junosmum · 07/07/2015 19:34

I'm 12 weeks and due Jan 19th. I plan to go on annual leave on Christmas Eve and start mat leave on 10th Jan. I'm social worker so mainly desk and home visits.

Original poster

Evianbaby15 · 07/07/2015 19:44

Thanks everyone - work in an infant school so a bit worried about how I will cope towards the end as I'm already exhausted and only early on in second trimester

OP posts:

AbbeyRoadCrossing · 07/07/2015 19:46

Don't forget you can change your mind if you feel worse or better - you need to give 28 days notice, although some employers will take less at their discretion.

hotcrossbun83 · 07/07/2015 19:48

If you give birth before you have started mat leave then your mat leave automatically starts on that day, so it's risky to take holiday too close to your due date!

I took a weeks holiday at 36 weeks then into mat leave, ds arrived at 38 weeks (first baby, no complications) so I'm glad I stopped when I did.

Using holiday for shorter weeks is good, the last month I took every weds off so I had a mid week rest

tinyme135 · 07/07/2015 19:54

I haven't decided when I'm going to leave (as work doesn't know I'm pregnant) but I was hoping I could leave 4 weeks before edd. I'm due on the 10th January so was hoping to leave the second weeks of December take all my maternity rights then use 2 or three weeks of my annual leave at the end of it then go back.

I need to talk to them first but it's finding the words to tell them haha

WeAllHaveWings · 07/07/2015 19:54

I finished at 38 weeks and gave birth at 39 weeks. I could have worked the week longer as have a office based job and felt fine, but I guess no ones knows until they get that far along how they are going to be.

If I had to do it again I would plan to stop as late as possible and if struggling finish earlier (I think a sick line would kick maternity leave in early if need).

5YearsTime · 07/07/2015 19:57

I worked up to 38 weeks, baby arrived at 40 weeks. The last week at work was tough, the first week of mat leave was lovely, the second week of mat leave I was so uncomfortable and grumpy.

DoctorDonnaNoble · 07/07/2015 20:22

I'm hoping to work up to 39 weeks. Teacher so no annual leave to take but if I can get to 39 weeks I will get paid all through the summer holidays and get almost whole year off in the least disruptive way to students.

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