When are you going on maternity leave/finishing work?

[mackinnonka]

Not sure I am posting this in the right topic area so apologies if not!

Just wondering when people think they will start maternity leave/finish work in terms of how many weeks pregnant they will be?

Any recommendations or suggestions in terms of when and why?

With dd1, I left at 37 weeks...she was 10 days late. Leaving earlier at 35 weeks this time...mainly becauSe I'm having a bad pregnancy....hyperemesis, bleeding, sciatic pain. On top of it, I commute an hour and 15 minutes to a job where I'm treated like rubbish. I'm a teacher and bosses are horrible. I won't be returning to work anyway. Hoping to get a bit of time with dd1 before dd2 arrives...and some naps! I am a little worried she's going to be early though as I'm contracting daily quite often - only 24 weeks!

I was off for a month before DS arrived. Last trimester of pregnancy was good -terrible sciatica from 8-22 weeks.
It was a bit long really and was bored and ate too much. Next time I'd have a couple of weeks off.,

I'm finishing on 5th Feb - I'll be 35+5. I'm just working mornings that week though and working 9 - 3 the preceding week, so only this week and next week to go being full time.

I've struggled today - it's been a full on day and I was ready for a rest at about 3.00pm, my bump feels very heavy and I feel like I am hauling myself around.

My managers are great though and are happy for me to take it week by week.

DD finished at 39 weeks, she came at 39 +4. DS I timed it brilliantly as I'm a teacher as he was due early sept so got the Summer holidays on full pay and went on leave on the 3rd Sept, he arrived a week later! So really 33 weeks but 6 of those on full pay! Any teachers planning a baby need to have a 'fun' Christmas

Officially today is the first day of my mat leave, 37+5. However I finished on the 18 dec for Xmas and had been signed off since 7 dec due to PGP, working from home.

Basically a nice quiet month with DS and DH before DS2 arrives on the 20th...... I hope!

Went to 38 weeks with DS1 (though 39 weeks on my dates) and planning 39 weeks with this one. But my job is a short drive away, involves mostly sitting on my bum in front of a computer, and generally nice people in an easy environment. I've also had a fairly easy pregnancy. With different variables I can see how people would like to go off much earlier

Today is my first day of mat leave at 36 +1 but finished work just before christmas as annual leave

I couldn't deal with the physical nature plus stresses of work and Christmas seemed a nice time to stop. Will be going back after 6 months so baby will still be young but backed up by a SAHD and will need the money. No way I could have kept working - SPD + rib flare & disturbed sleep would render me incompetent....

I finished on Christmas Eve at 35+3 but have a physically and mentally demanding job and was feeling ready to finish weeks before that! I am on annual leave until next Monday so ML starts at 39 weeks.

Finishing at 37+5. i dithered over this as I have a 2h commute involving 2x tube lines, train and bus. But 32wks now and bar vicious sporadic hearburn feeling fine (almost gave Virgin staff a heart attack sprinting for my train last friday though!) so fingers crossed. I've negotiated working from home 2 days a week which is taking the pressure off. I am glad my colleague is back from a 3wk holiday and I can stop doing the work of two though.

Definitely depends on the person and your own circumstances. I finish this Friday at 39 weeks exactly, and that's with a 1.5 hour commute across London. But I have a desk job, and having had the Christmas hols, using my leave to reduce days in work in the run-up to leave starting and having a low risk pregnancy with no complications I feel absolutely fine with my decision. Before Christmas I felt quite differently but I'm now glad that I'm working as close as I feel comfortable doing as I'd be going mad at home - plus we need the money as my DH has recently been made unemployed!

Good luck with whatever you decide OP

My midwife has told me they recommend people plan to finish around 34 wks if poss. It is a way off for me yet so haven't firmed up with my boss but think I will try to use some annual leave to go around then and start mat leave around 38 wks. Finished at 35 wks with DC1 and he arrived at 36 so not as much nesting done as I'd planned!
Good luck OP whatever you decide.

I'm self employed so will be literally working to the end. I wish I could take proper leave, but I think I can only afford 3 months, and would rather have that time with the baby than before it arrives.

First baby I was a bit scared and didnt know what to expect so took off 3 weeks before my due date. I was so bored and ended up with a induction due to a late baby so was over a month off before she arrived.

This time with baby number 2 I am going to stay til my new date and beyond. A few reasons really: Money, Help things along, Less of a commute now so easier to get in, I will be project planning so easy work really and not too many long meetings.

Same as Suz pretty much - finishing up on 26th Feb at 36+5, burning three weeks of annual leave and starting proper maternity leave on 21st March at 40+1 or earlier if my little guy can't wait!

I'm managing ok at the moment at 30 weeks commute and work-wise, my commute is short by London standards (around 30 minutes door to door) and my job is sedentary.

First time I went at 38 weeks and had him at 39 and I was so exhausted.

This time I'm going off at 36 weeks but saving at least 2 weeks of annual leave to go onto it.