How does Paternity Leave work?

[BlueIsYou]

My DH just messaged to ask my exact due date.

Is this just a rough guide to the employer? What if baby is early?

I'm not due until November but complications are looking as if this baby will be out by late September/October time.

What will DH do then?

Do you just ring work one morning and say "Paternity leave starts now, DC is here now"?

Sorry, can't find a way to word it so Google can answer

I don't know for sure but I think EDD is really to give them a rough idea. If that changes e.g. If you are to be induced early then DH can update them. I was overdue but was induced on a Tuesday, my DH just rang work on the Monday and said he'd be starting his paternity leave from then.

Giving his employer the date just gives them a rough idea of when he will be off. Paternity leave can't start until the baby arrives and it's really just a case of him ringing his employer on his first day off to say you're in labour/baby has arrived. If it's likely to be early he could give his employer a heads up, but they won't be expecting much notice - everyone knows babies are unpredictable!

The EDD is just a guide so they have a bit of an idea. Both times my husband just called in the morning to say the baby's here.