maternity leave at 37 weeks?

[Chimerah]

Hi ladies

I'm looking for some advice on when to start maternity leave.

I work in London which is a 1.5 hour commute each way from where I live involving a 30 min walk to station, train journey + tube journey with 1 change.

I work in a very fast paced media environment and am rarely able to sit down at my desk. I am also often having to work late, leaving at 7-8pm.

I want to work as long as poss so that I have most time with baby however at 24 weeks I am already finding the commute extremely tiring (and the job!).

I was thinking of officially starting my maternity a week before due date but take my remaining holiday which would mean I start maternity at 37 weeks.

I'm very aware that I'm going to be at my biggest in the hot summer months and I'm starting to panic the 37 weeks may be too late?

Is there anyone who experienced similar circumstances? If so, when did u go on maternity?

Would love to hear your stories / advice

Cheers!

I'm going to finish at 35+5 and DC3 will be arriving no later than 38+1 (ELCS booked). I could happily have gone earlier but feel ok. Will be ready to go by the end of next week though and I don't have your commute OP.

I went at 34 weeks which was earlier than everyone else I knew who was pregnant. I do not regret it at all. I knew after baby was here I wouldn't get a minute to myself and I wanted to have a nice month off to prepare and chill out. But I am not the sort of person who gets bored being off work, a lot would go crackers I think.

Baby was a week late in the end so I had seven glorious weeks to potter about, take naps and chill out. I miss it

Thanks for sharing everyone. I think I'm gonna stick to 37 weeks for now and see how it goes. If I need to leave earlier I think my work will accommodate provided I give them enough notice.

They've also said I can look into flexible hours (come in later, leaver earlier at about 4.30, which would be a dream!)

They've just said I need to decide and tell them when I want to start doing that. I'm thinking maybe from 28 weeks? Or do you think that's too early?

I don't want to piss my team off but at same time the weather is getting hotter and hotter and I am getting ever bigger!!

I went at 37 weeks last pregnancy and ended up 2 weeks over, so I get like I wasted 5 weeks being bored! However I'm going to stop at the same time this pregnancy in the expectation that I don't go overdue again!! I work quite a distance from home/hospital so I'm not sure I have much choice! X

I don't mind if I go loads overdue, I don't get bored not being at work, I love not being there and being able to switch off. So if I do go overdue it will just be more relaxing baby free time that I won't have for many years!