When to start maternity leave

[rubybloom2]

I have to officially inform my employer of my pregnancy in writing this week (I've already told them informally) and state when I wish to start maternity leave. The issue is, I don't know when to start!
What are you all planning to do?
I'm due on 8th Feb and quite like the idea of starting just before Christmas as otherwise I'll be working throughout, but that makes it 6 weeks before due date which seems too long. Any advice would be much appreciated.

I'm finishing on Monday officially at 36 weeks although as it's a bank holiday I actually finish this Friday.

Last time, I was going to work up to my due date. My waters broke at 37+1 so that scuppered that plan! I wasn't willing to work so close to the end this time so a month before due date seemed plenty. It helps though that I will be induced on my due date if the baby hasn't arrived by then so I know I won't be going over.

I think six weeks is quite a long time, particularly if the baby then goes two weeks over due, but you might have a phyiscally demanding job in which case it would make sense.

I finish this Friday at 36+3 weeks. My mat leave doesn't actually start until 10th September but I've had annual leave to take otherwise I probably would have finished a week or so later. To be honest I've been struggling the last week or so with sleep and sitting at my desk for 9 hours a day so I'm looking forward to it!

I was going to work until 34 weeks (will probably need a section a few weeks before due date) but I was struggling horribly and have ended up on enforced rest at home and thus off work at 30 weeks. Not planned, and work don't like it, but it is what it is.

I have to say I'm not bored and it's made me realise how much I was struggling (I can barely walk and have been sick constantly since the beginning.)

It's totally up to you - how you feel physically, what your work policy is etc.

I had a trouble free pregnancy last time and worked until 37 weeks. Could actually have gone a bit longer as baby was 5 days overdue. Better to have that time after they arrive. Selfishly, I'd probably leave in the new year in your position, to take advantage of the Christmas bank holidays/slow period. Three weeks before EDD was loads for me.

Have you got any holiday left?

If you have, then tack this onto the front of your mat leave.

If you're on mat leave during bank holidays (Xmas, New year) then they might be obliged to give you these days back as holiday. Check with your hr.

I have taken 3 weeks annual leave, then 3 weeks maternity leave before the due date. It's been nice to put my feet up, get the house in (a semblance of) order and generally relax.

I'm being induced on my due date (though I wasn't aware of this when I booked my leave) so I won't have two extra weeks waiting for baby to arrive!

My decision was made because of two reasons - 1) my job became very stressful due to my manager having a mental breakdown and me being the only one to pick up the pieces and 2) they moved us into a really hot office and I didn't want to be heavily pregnant in such a warm environment, I didn't think it would be good for me or the baby.

I planned to work up until 40 weeks (part time, not on my feet job) but ended up taking two weeks annual leave before it as I was just so knackered and uncomfortable at the end!

Do you like pottering about at home?

My ML starts at 38 weeks, but I will take 3 weeks annual leave before so finish work at 35 weeks. I did the same last time and loved it! Remember it'll probably be the last time in a while that you get to have a lie in or just do what you want all day long...

I'm due on 2nd January. I'm finishing on 18th December when I'll be 38 weeks. I'm taking some annual leave first then mat leave starts on my due date. Will be nice to have a couple of weeks to relax, but I'm beating in mind it could end up being 4 weeks if I go overdue.

Thanks for your comments everyone! I think it's the Christmas/New Year break that's confusing me on when to start... and the fact that I really dislike my job! ;-) I also walk to work (30 mins) and not sure how I'll manage that the nearer I get to due date. It's my first pregnancy so I'm a bit clueless as to how mobile I'll be by then!

I'm part-time in the job, and also have my own business, which I'll likely be busy with until the birth.

I do like pottering around at home and am likely to have a lot to do as we are renovating over the next few months. But six weeks does seem a lot of time... I won't have any annual leave left.

I'm due on 1st Feb so similar times to you.

I'm leaving 16 December and I'll be 33 weeks. I know it's too early but really couldn't face going back in new year to then leave again straight away.

However our holiday year starts in September so I'm taking holiday from that date and then maternity leave will start bang on 38 weeks.

I admit Christmas has scuppered things date wise but I'm already exhausted and I'm only 17 wks. More than happy to potter at home and mooch

Totally depends on how much maternity leave you're taking.

I could only afford to take four months with DS, so finished at 39 weeks so I got more time with him.

This time I can afford to take 6 months so will finish earlier, at 38 weeks.

If money wasn't an issue and I was having a full year off, I'd finish at 36 weeks and enjoy a bit of a rest.

Hi Ruby, I'm due on 8 February too!!! I'm aiming to work up until 29 January to maximise time off work on the other side of the birth. I'm quite lucky in that I get the period between xmas and new year off so planning to use that time to shop for baby stuff and get house in order. This is first baby and I've heard they are usually not on time so even finishing on 29 January I could be looking at a three week wait . You could be looking at a 9 week wait if you finish before xmas....

We have a February antenatal thread if you fancy joining in over at www.mumsnet.com/Talk/antenatal_clubs/2455532-February-2016-Boobs-are-growing-sickness-is-going-and-some-of-us-are-finally-showing

I've found it a really useful source of information and support.

I'm planning to push on until early March (due 22nd March) and see how I get on. Will probably finish at 37-38 weeks. I can't afford to take the full year, am planning around 7-8 months of leave.

I will be starting mine on the 2nd November when i will be 30 weeks. i may be having my baby at 37 weeks and i also have back problems. :)

With DC 1 I was fit to work up to 40 weeks.

I took mat leave with dc2 ASAP at 29 weeks because I hated my job.

With dc3 I wasn't fit to work past 35 weeks.

I'm finishing on the 23rd December when I'll be 36 weeks as I'm due 22nd Jan! Nice long Christmas break before baby comes along

Oh and taking 12 months

I'm due 14th Feb, so I'm finishing at Christmas (18 Dec) with 1 weeks annual leave, then January will all be annual leave with maternity leave starting 2nd February. I'm slightly concerned baby will be late so I could have up to 8 weeks "doing nothing" before baby arrives, but hey ho.

This time around I am due 30th Dec and working until the 18th.

Last time with DS I was due 14th Feb (similar to you) and worked until 31st Jan 38w - DS was born 11th Feb. I was able to use hols to work 4 day weeks in Jan but the last 2 weeks were a SLOG AND A HALF (I'm still doing it again though). I was also lucky enough to change my 30 min walk for a 5 min drive in the last trimester.

I'd recommend 36 weeks-ish - but then I love my job.

I worked untill I was 36 weeks then took 2 weeks holiday and started my maternity leave 2 weeks before I was due. It was nice to save my leave and holidays for after the baby was born but I was exhausted by the end.
Next time I would go at 34 weeks.

I knew I couldn't take a year off as we couldn't afford for me not to be paid. I also knew I had to take all my annual leave before a certain date or lose it, as I couldn't carry it over. I therefore worked backwards from that date - 1st November. working back from then 39 weeks took me to AFTER my due date, so I added a bit of leave to the end - 10th Nov and 39 weeks was my due date. I then intend to take all remaining leave before going on official mat leave:

I'm finishing at 36 weeks, but taking 15 days holiday, which over Christmas amounts to 4 weeks, so officially starting mat leave the week baby is due.

Because of my leave year I need to take 15 days before I go as I can only carry 5 over, so I'll be taking 10 plus bank holidays accrued before returning to work at the back end of mat leave.

I'm due a week later than you, OP. My plan is to start ML the beginning of the week I'm due, but to tack 3 weeks of annual leave on the beginning of that. It'll mean working through the non-bank hols of Christmas and New Year, but that'll be quiet times to focus on handover/documentation.

I'm also going to tag another 3 weeks on the end and not come back to work until the beginning September, as our holiday year resets in April, so it's sort of perfect.

With my first I planned to start maternity leave on due date and use annual leave for 4 weeks before that. Be very careful about doing that - my work had a use it or lose it holiday policy. DS was born at 36 weeks due to low lying placenta. I do regret not finishing earlier but I was under pressure to stay on for employer as they hadn't hired anyone. I don't think I would've been bored and gong from desk to first time mum is very tough.

This time I've gone at 30 weeks. Really early I know

By the way you can change your mind with 28 days notice, so what you decide now is not set in stone

Thanks everyone, great to hear all your different plans - big help! I'll definitely join the Feb thread, thanks clarabellski.