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Get updates on how your baby develops, your body changes, and what you can expect during each week of your pregnancy by signing up to the Mumsnet Pregnancy Newsletters.

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Get updates on how your baby develops, your body changes, and what you can expect during each week of your pregnancy by signing up to the Mumsnet Pregnancy Newsletters.

Pregnancy

When did you start maternity leave?

46 replies

hmyh23 · 03/12/2017 17:22

I'm 30 weeks so not starting any time soon but I'm so tired and fed up already! Im.a teacher so just trying to drag myself to Xmas and then will only have 2 weeks left to do in January.

I can manage the actual day to day fine but in terms of marking/planning in the evenings and weekends, I just can't think straight.

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AccrualIntentions · 04/12/2017 01:16

36 weeks because I was being induced at 38 weeks. Otherwise I'd probably have pushed it a bit later. But I have a desk based job, short commute and felt really well during pregnancy, even at the end. If any of those things hadn't been the case I'd have had no qualms about finishing earlier.

oldlaundbooth · 04/12/2017 01:29

First pregnancy I was put on preventative leave at five months, full pay. Utter bliss

Second pregnancy I finished at 7 months.

Bobbiepin · 04/12/2017 01:54

I'm a teacher too and finished at 37 weeks which works out nicely for the last week of my statutory pay to be the week before the summer. I'm going back to work for the last week then having the summer holidays paid.

TheMrs04 · 04/12/2017 07:38

I'm leaving at 32 weeks with 3&1/2 weeks leave before my mat leave starts! With my first I left at 35 and DS was born 2 weeks later! I didn't want to risk giving birth in the kitchens at work 😂 but what's even better is I have 3 weeks off for xmas then go back for 2 weeks! So that worked out pretty well!

YouBoggleMyMind · 04/12/2017 11:24

I am finishing at 38+4 and taking a weeks annual leave so will start official Mat Leave on my due date. I have an office job and have had hand over cover for a month so doing very little!

Howaboutanotherusername · 04/12/2017 13:07

i had my last day at 36+3 baby was born next day :)

spearo21 · 04/12/2017 15:48

I am finishing up on 22nd Dec and will be using annual leave until 3rd Jan for my mat leave to start. I will be 35+2 on 22nd but suffering with hyperemsis, spd and ICP, I'm demented and just so bloody tired!!

owltrousers · 04/12/2017 16:17

Its my first day of maternity leave today and I'm almost 35 weeks. I tacked on 4 weeks A/L too. It wasn't work that was tiring me out so much as the commute, it was 45 mins bus and a 20 min walk each way (up a hill may I add!)

It feels dead strange! Luckily I had a to do list as long as my arm.

Rae2017 · 04/12/2017 20:37

I'm a teacher and hoping to put due date down as starting maternity as we break up for Easter week before. So will effectively work up to 39. But just going to see how it goes. On feet all day looking after the kids. Will be doing a handover with new teacher in last couple of weeks so hoping i can ease off. Will have to see

hmyh23 · 04/12/2017 20:53

My maternity cover is on stand by to start the day I finish so there's no time to handover etc! Seems unusual for a school, it would make sense to have at least a few days crossover I think.

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user1491295468 · 04/12/2017 21:01

I'm working til 40+3 (the joys of self employment!). I'm 38+2 at the moment and feeling ok but just trying to take each day as it comes. My job is quite physical and that's probably kept me going as I've been forced to keep active and busy.

Rae2017 · 04/12/2017 21:18

Yeah that is unusual not to have handover at school. But not for you to worry about it. I'm going to be really lucky as will have a 6 week handover.

thingymaboob · 04/12/2017 21:19

I'm hanging, my manager asked me if I wanted to start leave early but that would mean forgoing 2 weeks of annual leave which I've tagged onto the beginning of maternity leave. Er...no thanks! I want two weeks of full pay thank you. I will limp in for the next week.

cakesandphotos · 04/12/2017 21:55

I’m going at 35 weeks. I’m 29 now and I’m exhausted! I’m a nanny to 4 kids so it’s a demanding job (the joys of toddler twins!) I was hoping to tack some annual leave on but I don’t have any left

BillyAndTheSillies · 04/12/2017 22:58

I took annual leave from 38 weeks and maternity leave kicked in on my due date.
Getting on a minging tube commute was not fun. I remember having such swollen feet I was wearing flip flops in January to get back and forth to work. But those two weeks were bliss. Loved the silence. Not sure I could have gone much earlier to be honest.

stealthbanana · 04/12/2017 23:04

Left the office at 37+4, I had 2 weeks annual leave before mat leave officially started. DS arrived at 37+5 - the little bugger only gave me the Friday night of my last day at work before I went into labour. Best laid plans...I tacked the 2 weeks a/l onto the end of my mat leave, so I suppose it was efficient at least . I felt fine up until the last week where I just seemed to run out of steam so with the benefit of hindsight I probably should have slowed right down then!

Mammyloveswine · 05/12/2017 16:34

I'm a teacher too! I'm 36 weeks and finishing at Christmas (It's so late this year!). I'll be 38 weeks and 2 days when I finish and maternity leave officially starts on my due date. Did exactly the same with first (I have a 22 month old). So ready for maternity leave already... just finalising my data... joy!

hmyh23 · 05/12/2017 22:13

Nearly there, keep going! It's the never ending half term.... 💤

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geologyrocks · 05/12/2017 22:17

Im a nurse and went off a few days before 37 weeks. Im 2 days into maternity leave and absolutely kicking myself i didnt go off sooner.

It was suh a strain on the body. Not sure why i struggled on

BelafonteRavenclaw · 05/12/2017 22:17

I'm a teacher too. With DS1 I went at 37 weeks at a half term (38 officially)
With DS2 I put down my due date and he was 13 days over due. I have a tiny commute (5 min walk) and it was the summer term, my last week was during activities week and they gave me very light work. I would have gone sooner if that wasn't the case.

CoolGirlsNeverGetAngry · 05/12/2017 22:18

36 weeks (when my waters broke).

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