How many weeks were you when you finished work?

[eggsbenedict89]

Just that really...
I've worked out I will be 27 weeks and the thought of staying for another 3 months kills me!

29 weeks.
Very high risk pregnancy and my GP signed me off at 27 weeks due to a lot of complications.
I'm glad he did as just picking my ds up from school was about all I could manage in a day. It did mean that I was only able to take 9 months maternity instead of the full year I had planned. Had it been a straight forward pregnancy I would've liked to stay at work until 38-39weeks. I was 39+2 when dd was born.

37+1 as DS came early so didn't finish, was due to finish that week at 38 weeks. I wanted to take mine as late as possible so I would have more time with the baby. But would have adjusted it if my health issue had got worse
Do you have any holiday time you can take?

38 and commuting into London

37
And Due date.

You have to work out that however tired you are now how will you feel when you have hardly any leave actually with your baby? How old would baby be when you go back?

34 with my first but that was because I work in a university and my contract finished - 39.5 weeks with my second baby

If you leave at your earliest possible date, you'll lose out on time once the baby has arrived. Your year of maternity leave runs from the point at which you stop working, not when the baby is born. Unless you're not planning on going back in which case don't worry! Also, the first trimester tiredness does lift so the middle bit really isn't so bad.

I went on leave at 36 weeks with DD1 (had her at 38+3), and 30 weeks with DD2 - I used 7 weeks of holiday though so my maternity leave didn't actually technically start until 37 weeks. She was born at 41 weeks but it meant I had some time with my elder before she was born.

First time, went on maternity leave at 40 weeks (the day before maybe, can't remember how it worked out with weekends). Baby born at 40+1. Was planning the same with dc2, but they arrived ten days early. Waters broke at work, they were born next afternoon.

I'm definitely of the mind set that you save your maternity leave for when the baby has arrived; that's partly because I'm the sole breadwinner. I was on statutory maternity pay first time, and could only afford 8 weeks (legal minimum), and could only afford the 5 months or whatever it was i got on full pay second time. Can't imagine wasting those weeks on time before the baby had arrived!

36 weeks with DS1
35 weeks this time, though that was annual leave so only just entering maternity leave now at 37 weeks. Would have liked to stay a week or so longer but SPD and a London commute were not happy bedfellows.

26, earliest date possible, high risk and gave birth at 32.

38 weeks with my first and working in a school, it was fine!
Stayed at home with my second pregnancy and found it so much harder than working as I had an exhausting toddler.

It sounds like you've just finished the first trimester so fingers crossed it gets easier for you now! My sickness and tiredness disappeared from then.

I will be starting my maternity leave at 39wks and adding 3wks Annual Leave to the beginning so finishing at 36wks.
I'd definitely rather save my mat leave for when baby is here.

38 weeks as it was a logical stopping point. Baby arrived 2 days later.

DS1 41 + 3 (DS1 born 42+ I can't remember how many)

DS2 39 + 2 (elcs 39+5)

38 weeks (tried for 39+1 but was exhausted!)

First time I didn't officially stop - I had a week left before my ML started and DD decided to make an early appearance.

Second time around I went at 37 weeks. DD2 was born at 39 weeks and I got really bored by the end (DD1 was visiting grandparents and I was barely able to waddle!)

35 weeks with my first, currently 34wks with my second and was aiming to stay on to 38wks but finding it a struggle esp with a toddler...

16 weeks - we relocated then for dh's job so I didn't bother looking for work when we moved.

Do you mean you're stopping at 27 weeks? Most people try and hang on in there as late as poss so they've got more time off with the baby. I finished at 36 weeks I think, earlier than planned but I'd been ill most of the pregnancy and just couldn't hack it any more!

37 and a bit weeks. That was about right for me

37 with my first, mostly annual leave first then mat leave from due date, DD was 2 weeks overdue. This one I'll be 38 weeks however used annual leave to reduce my days to 3 a week from 33 weeks to 38 weeks as this pregnancy has been a bit more high risk.

35 weeks with both of mine. Took annual leave and officially started maternity on their day of birth.

Both scheduled to arrive at 38 weeks.

Though probably would have stayed at work longer with my second but as my first dc was starting school it didn't make sense to get wraparound care for a couple of weeks.

34 weeks with my first DD in 2015, am leaving at 28 weeks this time, am totally with you

My job is laid back office environment but the work is stressful and with a toddler in tow this time around, just wanted to take advantage of the time. Actually planned to take it the same time as last time (34/35 weeks) and booked it and everything, but one morning I was on my way to work and just decided I couldn't face it, so brought it 4 weeks forward and arranged all my remaining leave for the 2 weeks before.

I finish in 2 weeks and I can't wait!

Will be going at 31. I'm a self employed contractor and so wouldn't be able to commit to another contract when my current one finishes, which is that point. It's a bit of a pain really as not sure what I'll do with that time but there's no alternative so just going to make the most of it.

37 first time, 31 this time but with AL, 34. Was bored last time as went to almost 42 weeks but going earlier this time has definitely been the right decision. I'm actually coping now and I've stopped fainting and I'm being sick a lot less. Depends how your pregnancy is.