Is this too early to start my Maternity leave?

[molifly]

Due to some issues at work and how this is effecting my health i am considering starting my Maternity leave at 32 weeks. I'm aware you can start Maternity leave 11 weeks before your due date however is this too early in principle rather than in policy?

Has anyone started Maternity leave around this time and regretted it or not regretted it?

I started at 33 weeks due to having a physically demanding job...hr tried to guilt me into staying a few more weeks by saying most people hang on until later, they seemed to forget the last two women before me left at 30 weeks and they were due around the same time as me. I however expected baby to come early as kept getting false starts and severe bh but he decided not to turn up til 11 days late little bugger. I was going out my mind by then 😂 I had three weeks holiday to take first tho so my mat leave technically didn't start until 36 weeks

Ask your GP for a sick note. The worst they can say is no.

I was signed off at 24 weeks (twin preg) then took mat leave from 31 weeks. They were born at 36 weeks so had 12 weeks off but wow I needed it! I slept/rested if I needed to and all the pelvic problems I was having were so so much better especially without the commute too.

I'm 31 weeks with No2 and have been signed off work with a broken coccyx (not pregnancy related!) my current fit note takes me up to the 22nd Jan. I'll then work until I'm 39 weeks hopefully! This pregnancy has been far easier than my first. For my first pregnancy I went at 32 weeks as I was in a lot of pain SPD, bleeding etc.