38 weeks too late to start mat leave?

[T00ManyB00ks]

I'm currently 23 weeks and very aware that I need to tell my work when I'm starting Mat leave.
Due date is June 22nd and I was planning on starting my leave at some point in my 38th week (I work in a school and that is the start of term so I'd have one week of half term off in my week 37).
My line manager is happy with me starting back that week and maybe doing a few days, but when I mentioned it to my team one woman looked at me like I had two heads! My thought is that there's no point starting leave at the end of term if I have a "free week" anyway. Is 38 weeks too late and am I totally mad? At the moment I'm still pretty active and happy! This is my first baby so I'd love some advice. I work in admin, not a teacher so not on my feet all day.

[Ilovefffffffridays]

Not mad at all. I went on annual leave at 38 weeks, Mat leave started on due date - babies then 2weeks and 1 week over due. Personally I wanted as much time with the baby Once it arrived. good luck

[T00ManyB00ks]

Thank you very much for your feedback! I'm gonna stick with my choice and tell other people to butt out i think!

[T00ManyB00ks]

...and obvs I'll quit early if I need to.

[Mrscog]

I finished at 34 weeks (had 6 weeks of leave that were 'use or lose') it was bliss! I pottered around town, read loads of books, cooked tons of meals, met up with friends, did crafts, watched films had long naps. I don't identify the last weeks being boring at all so don't worry too much if you want to finish a bit earlier when it comes around.

[onemumtwocountries]

I have an office job and a very easy commute and I worked to 38+6. I was happy with that. I went one week overdue and spent two weeks sunbathing in the garden 😎 Wouldn't change it but I realise I was lucky as I wasn't ever that uncomfortable.

[GreenGoblin0]

this is my second and stopping at 38 weeks. first time around I stopped at 36 weeks baby was 2 weeks overdue so I had 6 weeks of matenity leave and no baby! also meant had to go back when she was 8 months rather than 9. for me it's better to aim to finish later this time and if it's too hard I can finish earlier but 3 weeks to go now and feel fine.

(I should add however that the reason I stopped work at 36 weeks before was that both my sister's babies were born at 36 weeks pretty much as soon as she'd finished work!)

[mistermagpie]

I'm starting mat leave at 38 weeks -three weeks to go now. For me this is quite brace because I also started mat leave at 38 weeks with DS and he was born the next day!

It really depends on your job, I have a very non-taxing desk job, and with a toddler at home it's actually more restful to be at work! You don't need to decide now, but 38 weeks is quite normal for my workplace and friends etc.

[mistermagpie]

brave not brace!

[PotteringAlong]

Not too late - I'm a teacher and finished at 37 weeks with my first but that was too early for me so finished at 39 with my second and third.

[Ponderingprivately]

I'm a teacher and went to 38 weeks the first time. Second time I went to 38 too but that was only possible because he was a summer born and a lot of my classes were finished. I was more tired second time but first time it was no problem carrying on till 38.

[NoArmaniNoPunani]

I planned to stop at 36 weeks with my first, baby was born by EMCS at 35 weeks

[NewPurrs5]

Personally if you can afford to, I'd go earlier. (Although it depends if this will affect how long you can have off on the other side ofc) ... when I was pregnant with my first someone said I'd never get this time again, to just be on my own and enjoy the rest. In the end I finished at 33 weeks, so quite early. The first couple of weeks I was so bored and wondered what I'd done but then I settled into a lovely routine of pottering and sleeping and little walks. I had an easy pregnancy and baby arrived on due date. I still look back to that time with great fondness now I'm a haggard sleep deprived mess and haven't had a moments peace in about 6 years. I'm so so glad I had those weeks to myself, I found the early days with baby quite easy despite the lack of sleep and crap start to breastfeeding and I do think it's because I was just really well rested and chilled out. Next time around there was no chance of that with the first running under my feet and I had a much harder time.

Anyways, I digress. Do whatever the hell you want, you'll know if it's too much.

[T00ManyB00ks]

Pottering around sounds lovely! I really don't think I'd be bored at all but I'm trying to squeeze out every last drop of leave at the other end I guess. I'm quite lucky in that I have half term to chill out and make sure I have everything ready and I have no intention of overdoing it at work!

[Heirhelp]

You can start leave on the Monday after half term and when you return you can officially return and therefore get paid for the first Monday of a holiday.

[BWatchWatcher]

I have a desk job and worked up until my due date.
I did use annual leave to go part time from 37 weeks though as I could no longer be arsed.
I found part time at the end was easier to wind everything up.

[haveacupoftea]

It really just depends on you and your pregnancy. I am going off at 33 weeks because I have a high risk pregnancy and will likely be induced at 38 weeks if I dont go early. I also have a stressful job and a 40 minute drive to and from work, which isnt too bad I know but i'm quite big already at 26 weeks and worried about fitting behind the steering wheel safely!

[Ahmezia]

I'm a Police Officer and started a week before my due date with my first & on my actual due date with my second. Definitely wanted to spend as much time with the baby when it arrived.

38 weeks is definitely not too late.

[Crumbelina]

I went at 37+4 for my first pregnancy and DD ended up coming 2 weeks late. My God, I was bored and ended up going a bit mad waiting for her to arrive! That said, I had a very easy pregnancy with no SPF or complications.

I'm now pregnant with number 2 and if all goes well I'll try and work up until 38 weeks if I can. The main reason for this is because I doubt I'll be returning to my job after and will really need the money!

[sailorcherries]

I'm a teacher and my last day at work will be at 32+6 with mat leave starting at 35+3. It is the start of a new term and I thought it would be fairest for the cover teacher to have a full term. I'm also suffering with sciatica and spd already, which is making everything sore and uncomfortable, not to mention the lack of sleep it causes.

I am going to finish up reports during that time before due date, get clothes washed and meals cooked etc. I'd go next week at 29w if I could afford it, as I am so tired and sore come the end of the day, but can't.

[user1468957349]

I worked up until 39 weeks and so glad I did as I was bored to tears waiting for baby to arrive!

[Tubbyinthehottub]

I'd planned to finish at 38 weeks but my baby was born by then.

[Redstorm2807]

I'm a teacher and had planned to work until 39 weeks as this got me to the end of term. By the start of the week when I was 36 weeks my body was telling me to stop, so I moved it forward. I stopped work on the Friday and gave birth on the Saturday morning! You can plan to stop later and then listen to your body, if you get too tired stop early.

[Mustbeoriginal38]

I was 39+1 when I officially started Mat leave with ds1 but my last day at work was 38+5. I started my leave on the first working day after the weekend. He wasn't born until 41+5 anyway so I still managed to rest (and get bored!). Last year with ds2 I was 37+6 when I stopped working but first day of mat leave was 38+2 - holiday weekend pushed first day of leave. I knew when he was coming though. Complications with ds1 meant we had a plan in place and a date for induction (if he wasn't already here). I don't feel like I missed out on anything by working as long as I did. I'm a teacher too and my headteacher was happy to go with how I felt.

If you are coping and feel good there's no reason why you can't work as long as you feel able to.

[Jenniferb21]

I think every pregnancy is different and you really don't know how you'll feel then. I worked until 35 weeks but my job means I'm on my feet a lot and I'm a senior manager so it's a role with a lot of responsibility and thus some stress. It was also an hour commute so 2 hours driving a day. I don't think I'd of coped working any longer.

Everyone has different circumstances by the sounds of yours id say 38 seems reasonable and it's lovely to have more time with your baby if you can. The education sector is quite family friendly from what I know I'm sure you'll be able to review it nearer the time if your health requires it

Good luck with everything xxxx

[anxiousandpregnant]

I've let my work know that ill be starting my MAT leave at 38 weeks. My manager looked at me like I had two heads as well! But said as long as HR approve it then its ok with her. I'd much rather have the time spent with my baby, but who knows I might be totally fed up by then and use my holidays to finish a bit earlier. Id say plan for 38 weeks if its what you want and im sure if your fed up by this point you could finish earlier.