When is everyone starting maternity leave?

[Honey456]

I was just wondering- I don’t want to leave too early but at the same time, I’m only 21 weeks currently and already finding pregnancy hard. I want to leave on a high and not be too uncomfortable/ waddling around everywhere.

Due date is 2nd July- I was considering adding some holiday in and leaving end of May.

What’s everyone’s plan? :)

stopped 2 weeks before due date and used annual leave with DC1 + DC2. Started mat leave officially on my due date (but ended up going overdue by 2 weeks each time so had 1 month at home before birth which was nice. 38 weeks was pushing it a bit with hindsight).

Due 26th April and planning on working as long as I can .... I can work from home at least if things get too tough.

I drive a lot for work and I think that's starting to take its toll - I can't be on the road at 4am like I used too, as I'm still up after baby has woken me up kicking at 2am 😴

I have 7 weeks annual leave I can take beforehand, but reluctant too as would rather save until baby is here...

35 weeks. I finished at 36 last time, and baby came at 37. I felt unprepared.

Last time I finished before I’d planned at 38 weeks. I’m going to finish at 36 weeks this time - I struggled at the end last time and have a toddler to run around after this time! Dd1 was late though so I still had nearly 3 weeks off which felt plenty. I slept lots and watched lots of tv

1st pregnancy I started mat leave on my due date and took 2 weeks annual leave beforehand. I did struggle up to 38 weeks with pgp though.

2nd pregnancy I worked up to 28 weeks when the Dr signed me off with pgp and sciatica (I literally stopped being able to walk). Then I took about a month of annual leave before starting my mat leave at 40 weeks.

3rd pregnancy I plan to work up to 28 weeks. I work term time only and that takes me up to the summer hols. I'll take some annual leave after the summer hols and start mat leave at 38 weeks.

After 2 very painful pregnancies I've learnt that sometimes you need to take extra care of yourself. I'm growing a human - I'm taking it easy.

I also found that while its nice to have as much time off after the baby is born, if you are lucky enough to have 9-12 months off, a few extra weeks less at the end of maternity leave isn't that much difference. However having a solid 3 weeks off before the baby is born is lovely! Th calm before the storm. I was very lucky to have nearly 8 weeks off before and I never regret that special lead up and time to relax.

Genuine question for those who finished a month or more early: did you not get bored sitting around, too big to do anything? Not an option for me as I said upthread, but I can't imagine having weeks and weeks of waiting with nothing else to think about apart from the impending doom of labour.

I finished up at 37+4, had lots of small things ling-fingered to do while waiting for DS2 to arrive. DS1 arrived at 41+1 so thought I would have lots of time.

Induction for multiple bouts of reduced movements started at 38+0 and he arrived at 38+3!

First pregnancy midwife wanted me to go on maternity at 29wks due to my blood pressure being unable stable but I was training someone for my job so finished at 34wks, then has a wk away on holiday and daughter was born at 36 wks so had no time to myself to prepare. 2nd pregnancy had to give up work at 16/17 wks due to pain in hips and back but then had to rest from 30wks due to high blood pressure. Was induced 40+1 because of the blood pressure.
I am only 12wks+6 currently but I will just play it by ear. I work in a very warm place and the heat gets to me already and have no idea how my blood pressure will behave this time. Good luck to all you ladies that are nearing the end.

@terramirabilis- that's why I'm not finishing till the very end. I genuinely can't imagine spending weeks on end sitting around or watching TV and as most of my friends work full time id be lonely a lot!
My daughter came early so I literally finished work one day at 34 and a half weeks and went up to hospital and ended up being induced. I don't know that I really missed out on not having all this time before. I'm planning on finishing at 39 weeks this time all being well. I've been lucky enough to be able to keep really active so as long as I don't get pre eclampsia again I should be fine!

Not at all!

I went to the cinema on my own, went our for lunch with friends/mum. Met up for coffees. I had friends who worked shifts and who have children so lucky to have lots of people around.

The other days I relaxed at home, reading, watching movies, in the garden, walking SLEEPING - oh gosh it was heaven! No sitting around, I walked miles up until the birth!

@terramirabilis

I appreciate everyone is different. I found it quite a hard adjustment loosing the time to do things for me (high need children as babies).

So I'm most glad I got the time for me before birth. No impending doom either - I've never feared birth!

39+2. I'm a teacher so no holiday to add on and don't want to waste mat leave before baby arrives. 34 weeks now and not feeling the need to stop yet

Think I'll work up to 39 weeks and have a week of AL up to 40 weeks... all very optimistic at this point though as I'm only 13 weeks at the moment. Would maybe hope to use AL to go to 4 day weeks from about 36 weeks.
Rationale being that I definitely want more time at the other side and I'm not really the sort of person that will want to lie in bed all day beforehand! All of my friends, my parents and DH work full-time so I wouldn't have anyone to meet up with or whatever. Just hoping pregnancy continues to go well and that I can follow through with this plan!

Hey!

I think it depends what job you do aswell.

Im a nurse that works full time 12.5 hour shifts. I stopped at 34 weeks for 2 weeks annual leave then started my mat leave.

some may suggest it was too early but I honestly couldnt have worked another day. Fast forward to now iv past my due date still waiting on baby to arrive but enjoying every single day off preparing and resting

First day of mat leave was when I was 37 weeks.

It depends on the type of job you have, other commitments and travel etc but that felt right for me.

I'll be having a planned section so my first day of May leave will be the day that is booked (probably 38/39 weeks), and I have two weeks of annual leave to take before then so will be around 36-37 weeks. Same as two previous pregnancies.

Working as close to due date as poss. Semi physical job so not sure how that’s going to go. Only having 3 months leave so want max time with baby before I have to go back to work.

Planning on finishing next week at 34 weeks but if I can squeeze another week out of it, I will! I’m exhausted though and really feeling this time around. My first I finished at 36 weeks and my 2nd I finished at 38 weeks.