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Pregnancy

Talk about every stage of pregnancy, from early symptoms to preparing for birth.

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Original poster

When did you take mat leave?

31 replies

Namechange2837 · 27/06/2017 06:51

I'm 31+3 and was planning on going right up until 38. However I've woken up this morning and just feel like I can't face much more time in work. I'm walking (about 30-40 mins each way) and on days it's raining I have to taxi it in which is wasting all my money and just seems a waste.
Is it ridiculously too early to be triggering my mat leave? Will I really regret not having the extra weeks with baby at the end?

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Heirhelp · 27/06/2017 06:55

Is there any public transport you can get to work or anyone who can give you a lift?

Pickerel · 27/06/2017 06:56

I stopped at just over 37 weeks - but the baby was 8 days late so I ended up having nearly a month!

FruitBadger · 27/06/2017 07:01

I worked until 38+1 with my first pregnancy, but I have a desk job with a car drive commute of 25 mins and I could park less than a minute's walk from the entrance. I wouldn't have been working that late with a long walk like yours. See how things go but I wouldn't expect to last much longer than 35 / 36 weeks. Is there any way you could lift share or work from home???

Original poster

Namechange2837 · 27/06/2017 07:01

Heir - the bus comes twice an hour so I'd have to actually leave earlier to get it. I waited yesterday for it but as it was taking so long I thought I'd walk up and catch it on the way past. Ended up getting to work before it passed me anyway!
Pickerel - did you find yourself twiddling your thumbs whilst you were waiting? Do you regret not going longer?

OP posts:

MaverickSnoopy · 27/06/2017 07:04

I felt like this during my first pregnancy. You're so close to the 38 weeks and yet it feels so far away. From my point of view I wanted to keep going as long as I felt able to so that I could have more time at the other end. Aside from not really wanting to be there, how are you physically? Bringing it forward might help, for example 36 weeks and the you've only got 4.5 weeks to go which doesn't seem as bad.

In my second pregnancy I wasn't physically able to be there and was signed off from 30 weeks, began annual leave at 35.5 weeks and then started mat leave at 40 weeks. 10 weeks was a long time at home on my own and I was pretty bored. You're not talking about 10 weeks but starting your mat leave early could be enjoyable or once your baby comes you could wish you had saved it.

For me the time with my baby was always the bit in wanted more of and so in your shoes I would be trying to stick it out as long as possible if physically able. I would however be breaking it down into chunks with annual leave and nice plans.

mummabubs · 27/06/2017 07:13

I'm 25 weeks and have planned it so my mat leave will literally start on my due date, however I have 5 weeks of annual leave saved up so I'll take that as a chunk and stop working at 35 weeks. My commute is over an hour in the car each way and I'm already starting to struggle with back pain during it so I'd definitely struggle to work to full term! :/

lastnightiwenttomanderley · 27/06/2017 07:19

I worked up to 37 weeks - I had a 90 minute commute across London over the summer and in hindsight have no idea how I managed it! I had a grand total of 3 days pre baby mat leave in the end....

That said, in my mind I knew that I would stop doing it if it got too hard and it sounds like you're nearing that point, I'm not surprised with a walk like that! Your health is precious so don't push yourself for the sake of weeks at the other end - I was in intensive care for 3 days after having DS and it was a big wake up call.

What about saying the end of July? Would that feel within reach and manageable?

Original poster

Namechange2837 · 27/06/2017 07:30

Thanks for sharing all of your experiences - I think it's definitely the walk that's wearing on me. I've managed to wangle a lift in today with a colleague who said she should be able to help out most days so that takes the pressure off. The work itself isn't demanding, I'm on my feet a bit, but majority is sat down and my employer is very accommodating.
I think I'll suggest taking leave from the end of July (so only 4 more weeks after this week), and then if I did miraculously find a burst of energy I could go on further.
I think we put so much pressure on ourselves to be these "super mums" and feel like we should be able to do everything right up until the last minute!

OP posts:

AndWhat · 27/06/2017 07:38

I was off sick from 31 weeks with matleave kicking in at 36 weeks with sciatica, then baby was 2 weeks over so ended up having almost 3 months off.
Loved the first couple of weeks just being able to rest then got bored in the middle (thank god for 2 weeks of Wimbledon to ease that boredom!). Then excitement kicked in getting ready to meet baby. I had 5 weeks of annual leave attached to the end of my leave aswell so had a total of 51 weeks off altogether and was eager to return to work when DS was 9 months old.

Flamingoprincess1212 · 27/06/2017 07:40

I'm essentially having my mat leave from 33+1, I am due end of January and I work in a school, 33+1 is the day we break up for Christmas, and the Christmas hols seemed like the most appropriate place for me to stop so they can fill my post. I am actually working from home from 35+3 -37 but I'll be at home doing reports /admin, but I think I've managed to wing it so I get paid in January which is fab!
i say this but I'm only ten weeks and it could go proper tits up

Good luck op
Hope works ok

Flamingoprincess1212 · 27/06/2017 07:40

Whoops I meant work's as in work is sorry

Original poster

Namechange2837 · 27/06/2017 07:42

Thanks Flaming, and congratulations on your pregnancy! 🎊 ♥

OP posts:

mctat · 27/06/2017 07:43

It's a very individual decision, but I took a month before and I loved every second, despite getting a bit uncomfortable at the end. A very special time! If it's just the walking though, and you're otherwise fine at work then it might be better to just find a solution to that.

PotteringAlong · 27/06/2017 07:45

I finished at 37 weeks with number 1 but it was far too early - they were born at 42 weeks and I was bored but also had too much time to think about it! With number 2 and 3 I finished at 39 weeks - they were also both born at 42 weeks and that was much better.

Kittysparks1 · 27/06/2017 07:46

I am very much in the same boat as op, 31 weeks, takes an hour to get to work, 45 minutes of walking. I had planned to work up to 38 weeks.
Well that's gone out the window now. I'm working the rest of this week, taking 2 weeks a/l and then my maternity will start when I'm 34 weeks.
I'm just not coping with the early mornings and lack of sleep. I had 4 hours sleep last night and I'm sat here looking like a zombie wanting to cry and I'm running late. And the thought of the long journey ahead of me is soul destroying....
Start your maternity when you get exhausted!

Original poster

Namechange2837 · 27/06/2017 07:50

Kitty - I really feel your pain - i'm struggling to sleep too. My alarm goes off at 7 but have been up since 5 this morning, which has become the norm now, it's soul destroying just lay awake watching the clock tick down!

OP posts:

Pickerel · 27/06/2017 08:07

No, I didn't find myself twiddling my thumbs, I enjoyed the time! Having said that, I was a SAHM for a while after the baby was born, so I didn't have to go back earlier afterwards.

Kittysparks1 · 27/06/2017 08:30

What's more soul destroying is laying there whilst your partner is proper in the land of nod and not being able to suffocate him because it's illegal.
I also get grouchy when I'm tired.

tiba · 27/06/2017 08:33

I thought I'd be ok to go at 38 weeks.

Bought that forward to 35 weeks, wish I'd finished sooner.

Those last weeks were hard

jennymac31 · 27/06/2017 08:37

With both of my pregnancies I finished at 36 weeks and I was ready to finish by then plus baby no 2 ended up arriving a week early so glad I finished when I did.

mintich · 27/06/2017 08:42

At 32 weeks. My job requires s lot of walking and I had spd so was getting quite difficult!

BoggledMind · 27/06/2017 08:42

With my dd I started maternity leave at 35 weeks because my job involves standing all day and bending down a lot. As it turned out 35 weeks was far too late for me and I really struggled the last two weeks. This time I'm starting it at 33 weeks. It all depends on how you're feeling.

WaxOnFeckOff · 27/06/2017 08:44

With DS1 I finished at 39 weeks. I had DS2 13 months later and finished on the Friday and was due for a section on the Wednesday. I had sacroilliac hip dysfunction both times but had a lovely friend who drove me to and from work. We didn't have a lot of cash and I wanted as much time with the baby as I could. If you can afford it then stop as soon as you can.

user1498549192 · 27/06/2017 08:44

I'm also 31+3 today :) and feeling pretty similar.

I have a 3-train commute plus a walk at either end and am reaching the end of my tether with it now! My maternity leave doesn't start until 38 weeks, but I am taking 2 weeks of annual leave before that so I've only got to get to the end of July now, which feels doable!

sofreakingtired · 27/06/2017 08:47

If you'd have to leave earlier to get the bus, could you start work earlier and finish a bit earlier too?

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