Which week is best to start maternity leave?

[FlourishingMrs]

Hi ladies, just wondered when you started or will start your leave?

I began mine at 36 weeks. I wanted a bit of time to get last minute things sorted and rest. Also my office was terrible for people aiming to work until 38/39 weeks and baby arriving before then.
My waters went at 38 weeks and DD was born 3 days later so I'm glad I finished when I did.

I was persuaded to start leave with dd at 36 weeks. It was too early and I was bored. This time I'm going to 39 weeks. I'm on holiday for two weeks them I'll go back for 10 days before finishing.

I worked as late as possible with all of mine to have longer off afterwards....
37/38 weeks.....

38 weeks. Then DS didn't turn up until 42 weeks (I had to be induced) which meant I spent 4 weeks sitting around at home totally bored out of my mind! That extra wage packet would have been nice too lol.

I was very lucky, though, I didn't start getting any pelvic pain or real discomfort until my 37th week ( the midwife told me I was lucky) and my pregnancy was very straightforward. If I was clairvoyant, I would have kept working until my induction date :D

I will take annual leave from about 33 weeks and my maternity leave will start at 38. It's what I did last time, I can't wait to finish.

35 weeks, but I'll only be doing three days a week for weeks 33-35, and have two weeks off at Christmas before that! I like my job and it's desk-based so not strenuous, but I have a 90 mins commute into London so sadly that's putting me off working later.

I went at 37 weeks and felt it was about right, didn't start maternity pay til 39 weeks however as I used holiday for the first two weeks. I've got a very demanding job; no chairs l, fast paced etc and in a medical setting I was knackered but it's been worth it for the extra time off with DS going back in 6 weeks, dreading it!

I was due to finish at 35 weeks first time round, but admitted to hospital with preeclampsia at 33 weeks and baby here by the end of the week. Not having any time between finishing work and becoming a parent added to the stress of the situation- the house was a tip, we didn't have any baby stuff, I was already exhausted from working long hours.

This time round I finished at 32 weeks (annual leave until 36 weeks though). Spent the first month getting the house sorted after building work, while I could still paint a ceiling without the bump over balancing me. I've had a lovely summer, it meant I could spend time with dd1, and I was absolutely ready mentally (and physically!) when dd2 finally arrived 41 weeks. I was so relaxed, a real contrast from when I finished work.

Last time I was due to go on annual leave at 35 weeks, then start mat leave at 38 weeks. However I was admitted to hospital at 34 weeks!
This time I still plan to work as long as possible, will probably plan to go around 35 weeks again. However I'll be much quicker to go off sick if needed, I was being told (by physio and GP) to stop work for weeks before I was admitted!

I'm another who had no mat leave before baby made an appearance. I had planned to start it at 39 weeks and take a week of annual leave before that so leaving at 38 weeks, but DD1 arrived at 36 weeks I would've loved some relaxation time before she came but ultimately I was happier that I didn't go overdue!

Went at 37.4 (just because that was how weekends worked out) - still waiting for the baby (39.5). This felt about right to me - I could probably have managed another week at work but it wouldn't have been my best efforts and I have recently acquired a new boss so keen to leave her with a good impression of me.

I did have a fairly easy pregnancy - no pelvic pain or discomfort until 38 weeks - as well as a reasonably straightforward commute (tube plus some walking but only about 30 mins), as well as an office job..

This has given me a week to do efficient things around the house/admin, a week to do more fun things and I'm now quite bored, to be honest. I personally would have been pretty happy with the baby arriving straight after I stopped work - the relaxation time has been nice but not essential for me.

I was planning to work as late as I could so was going to go to 38 weeks so I have as much time as possible afterwards with baby. However I my company have been amazing and I'm leaving now at 34 weeks as this is when we break for Christmas anyway and what I don't work in Jan will be treated as paid holiday. Really looking forward to drawing a line under everything and being able to relax at Christmas and then prepare for baby when all the festivities are over :)

First baby 38 weeks - I felt fine but baby arrived at 39 weeks and the house was still a tip! I felt a bit robbed as I had big plans for the two + weeks I had booked off. Went back to work at 10 months which felt about right.

This pregnancy, DS is 20 months and at nursery and I was due to go at 36 weeks and I will be induced at 39 weeks (one week to go!). So far it has not gone to plan - first week I ended up having to work as didn't get everything finished as I wanted and DS was ill so off nursery. Second week I got ill as worn out now I have 1 week to fit it all in (but still hopeful she turns up on her own accord to avoid the induction malarkey)!

I'm officially starting mat leave at 39 weeks, but taking annual leave beforehand from 35 weeks. So I finish a week before Christmas :)

I took ML in the form of annual leave from 35 weeks, ML kicked in when LO was born at 39 weeks.

Very glad I did, had quite a long commute in the car to get to work and long, intense working day with irregular hours.

Felt really good in the last few weeks (apart from usual late pregnancy symptoms) and was very well rested by the time LO arrived.

I have a couple of friends who struggled their way to 38 or 39 weeks, going into work when perhaps it would've been better to rest at home.
One of them went into labour the day after starting ML!

She had a rather complicated birth and recovery and really struggled in the first few months, by the time she was back to semi-normality and vaguely enjoying things, she had to go back to work.

But everyone is different and there is no right answer that fits all.

I am due in May and where I work holiday allowance goes from Jan-Dec. So I will have a whole year's worth of holiday to use before the baby arrives. So I'm going to take the whole month off before the baby is due. Then mat leave can start on the due date.

If the baby arrives before you have the start of your mat leave planned, it automatically starts then.

I should add this is the same thing I did with my first pregnancy and it worked very well I have pretty much the same due date again this time round!

I was another who gave birth the day after I finished work, I was very much not 'well rested and ready'! He did come at 38 weeks though so I had planned a couple of weeks of box-sets but he had other ideas. I wouldn't change it though because I had every day of my Mat leave with my baby. If I could plan it again like that I probably would!

I stopped work at 36 and a bit weeks thinking I'd have a good few weeks to chill out at home and get things organised. Gave birth 3 days later. I wish I'd finished work sooner!

I've just started mine at 38+2, I'm a teacher (secondary) so that has taken me up to half term. Technically my leave doesn't start until my due date (the 27th). I've had a pretty easy pregnancy and so it hasn't been that hard. I spoke to as many other teachers as I could and their opinions really varied. But I'm already a bit bored at home so I'm glad I held out.
I think you need to consider how you are likely to do towards the end, have you had any hint of spd? Or swelling/ back pain? If you've had any issues it will be that much harder.

First time I was employed 37.5wks
After this I became self employed doing around 40 hrs a week.
2nd - 38 wks
3rd - 37.5 wks
4th - 40+4 wks
but I drive to work, was completely well, have mainly sitting down job and by the fourth time that was physically easier than looking after 3 children (not joking)

Annual leave at 37 weeks, mat leave at 39.5 weeks. I was glad to finish then as the commute on the underground was too much, plus I work with under 5's! However I'm not one for not doing much and was bored quickly so I definitely wouldn't have wanted to go any earlier.

DD1: 34 weeks. Everyone told me I was mad. I'd be bored. Going bonkers waiting for the baby to arrive. She was born at 41 week. Seven of the best weeks of my life.

I have a very busy job and a long commute. I had been working til 11 at night and then back in the office at 7 in the morning for three months.

And so I relaxed. And ate lunch. And got ready. It was fabulous.

DD2: 32 weeks as DD1's childcare setting was changing and I had no cover for the school holidays. It was baking hot. BAKING hot. DD1 was 14 months and not walking when I finished work. That was less relaxing .

38 weeks last time, 39 weeks this time. Plodding along but I don't have that generous ML and we need to pay the bills so stopping super early seems a bit of a luxury tbh.

I'm officially starting mat leave at 39+2 but our work is shut over Christmas and I have two weeks annual leave to take before that so will finish about 36 weeks. But now wondering whether I should move one weeks annual leave to the other side of Christmas and start mat leave at bang on 40 weeks. So I'd work up until 37 weeks. Torn between just being fed up of work and so wanting to finish and also wanting to extend paid leave with baby by that extra week.