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Pregnancy

Talk about every stage of pregnancy, from early symptoms to preparing for birth.

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Original poster

When do people tend to go on mat leave?

60 replies

MeadowHay · 28/02/2018 21:32

I'm pregnant with my first.

I've given work my EDD as the date to start my mat leave officially and I've booked three weeks of annual leave off leading up to that. Is that early enough or do most people need to leave earlier? It's likely that I'll have about another weeks worth of annual leave still to use by then (I'm not due til June) so could stick that on later if I get stuck too. I work a desk job, so nothing physically demanding or anything and I don't have a long commute, it takes me like 15/20 minutes to walk there and back. Is that realistic assuming I don't have any health complications in late pregnancy?

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AnnaT45 · 28/02/2018 23:01

I stopped at 38 weeks first time round. Was bored shitless by day two it was winter and everyone was working. Went 12 days over... wish I'd worked later but you don't know!

Three weeks is absolutely plenty I think

mehhh · 28/02/2018 23:05

I used 2 weeks holiday before due date, dd arrived 2 weeks late,.. I was tearing my hair out by the end of it, the first week or so was good to get organised and excited... although it was good to chill out and totally turn off from work which took me a while

ICantThinkOfAGoodOne · 01/03/2018 06:29

I'm finishing bang on 36 weeks, although I'm working from home the final week. Then got 3 weeks holiday before going on mat leave the week of my edd.

First baby, so I know this could mean I have 5 weeks at home, but want some time to relax and prepare beforehand. Also, 2 friends had first babies at 36/37 weeks recently so not counting on it arriving late!

ClareB83 · 01/03/2018 06:34

I think you might be entitled to roll over 8 days even if accrued before Mat leave. But I would check with Maternity Action, your trade union, citizens advice or similar.

Plus if you book leave for the weeks before EDD and go into labour early then it was mat leave that stopped you being able to use it so should be able to carry over more.

SuperBeagle · 01/03/2018 06:34

Finished at 38 weeks with DC1, who wasn't born until 41+2.

Finished at 39 weeks with DC2, who wasn't born until 41+4.

Learnt my lesson with the next two and worked until my EDD, and just as well because they came at 42+0 and 41+2 again.

I thrive off my work though, so it wasn't exactly taxing.

sonlypuppyfat · 01/03/2018 06:40

I finished at 32 weeks I had a long journey to work and was on my feet all day

muffyduffster · 01/03/2018 06:42

I'm working until 33+4 this time... two weeks of annual leave to take (I only have to take the leave that's been accrued up to that point and the leave that will accrue from then on will be used to work part time when I return).
I'm finishing 27 July because a) it's summer and warm b) DH is a teacher so he'll be off too and c) I've done my maths (us accountants can't help it) and finishing that early keeps me at 20% tax for the year to try and maximise childcare vouchers

Snuper · 01/03/2018 06:49

I used a day of annual leave a week from about 28 weeks to give me a 4 day week (Wed off) which really helped me with tiredness. Stoped at 37 weeks and spent the next couple of weeks organising and cooking for freezer, going swimming, etc. Baby was born on edd. Was perfect timing.

moonmaker · 01/03/2018 06:57

I left at 34 weeks as I had severe spd with my third child and was on crutches and in too much pain to carry on with my physically demanding job ( teaching early years )
Even with the crutches and support belt I was in agony.
After a few weeks off and lots of therapy for my hips and joints I was in much better health . I did nothing but sleep till baby was born which is unusual for me - not something i did at all ( dc 1 I was in uni till the day I had her , dc2 I was still caring for a one year old so running around all day and up some nights !). He turned out to be a complete non sleeper and I still look back on those days fondly. It's like my body was gearing up for a lifetime of no sleep ever after !

RockinRobinTweets · 01/03/2018 06:58

I’m finishing at 36w. Last time was 37 & I’d have liked longer as he arrived on time.

I’m uncomfortable at the moment so it already feels like I’d finish if I could at 26 weeks.

I’m using up holiday that I can’t carry over too, Mat leave actually starts on the Monday of the week I’m due.

I’m going back in January and using the rest of my leave in December to get a better pay day.

Your bank holidays are added onto your allowance if you normally get them paid

McTootBlowsOnHisBagpipe · 01/03/2018 07:04

I’m going a month before my due date. It ties in nicely with school holidays & to be honest I’ve had enough of work! I work a stressful job which can land me in some tricky situations sometimes and working long hours. I really don’t think I’ll be bored 😂

Redcork · 01/03/2018 07:05

I am finishing work at 34 weeks as I have an exam at 37 weeks so will be attending classes in between. I won't be allowed to go over 38 weeks as I have gestational diabetes. So I will have one week before baby comes
Last time I finished at 37+1 and baby was here two days later
I wished I had more time then so hopefully this time one week is enough

Elektro · 01/03/2018 07:14

I left at 37 weeks and massively regret it. I wish I'd stayed longer (easier said now as I was knackered at that point) but I wasn't induced until 41 because baby didn't want to come!

Next time I'd defineitly try and go longer. Maybe even 2 weeks longer! (Unless necessary of course)

INeedToEat · 01/03/2018 07:14

I get induced at 37 weeks and knew this from a previous pregnancy. I worked the Friday and got induced in the Monday.

If you will lose AL take it before or as a PP suggested take it mid pregnancy.. if you get ill later on in pregnancy and go off your maternity leave will kick in and you will lose the AL anyway.

Seahawk80 · 01/03/2018 07:15

I posted the same dilemma on here when I was pregnant! I ended up finishing at 37 weeks. I was unsure whether to finish at 37 or 38 weeks. I was the same as you, short commute and desk job. I was induced on due date and knew this in advance which is why I decided to finish earlier, also due to a stupid work rule I had to start my mat leave at 39 weeks as the holiday for that week was full so I couldn't use holiday for it. These two things made me decide to finish at 37 weeks. When I got to my last day I felt like I could easily have worked another week and if I had been overdue 5 weeks off before baby would have been a bit much. However if you have holiday to use go for it. Hopefully the weather will be nice and you will not get that "me time" again for a long time. I had such a lovely few weeks and got all the unfinished jobs in our flat done. Plus if you do NCT you will have new friends to hang out with and maybe even babies to meet. The 3 weeks went really quickly and although I'll be sad to leave DS when I go back to work I really don't think I'll wish for one extra week at the end. Hope this helps!

otherdoor · 01/03/2018 07:18

It's quite a personal thing. With my first I went at 36 weeks and that was ok but I was exhausted. DD arrived on her due date and I didn't get even slightly bored in those four weeks, I loved it! Some people are the type to get bored, some aren't...

Saz1995 · 01/03/2018 07:22

I worked right up till the day before my due date, so glad I did as he didn't turn up till 41+4 xx

Girlwiththearabstrap · 01/03/2018 07:24

I'm going at 39 weeks. I'm a teacher so have no annual leave to use first. Although I had my last baby at 35 weeks so am debating bringing it forward by a week or so but I'm not sure. I am the type to get bored!

Thelampshadelady · 01/03/2018 07:31

I’m going at 38 weeks. I’m self employed so am only taking 3 months leave. Bit of a risk if baby is late as I may only potentially get 10 weeks with them before returning to work but that’s life.
I also don’t want to cut it to fine, should I go into Labour I don’t want to have to let clients down. Although I appreciate baby could come at any time.

Sarahh2014 · 01/03/2018 07:33

I finished at 30 weeks

TheCatsMother44 · 01/03/2018 07:35

I worked till 37 weeks and it was definitely the right thing for me. I was exhausted by that point and my stress levels brought on by work were through the roof, I needed the break.

boatrace30 · 01/03/2018 07:38

@Girlwiththearabstrap - that's my reason for going to 39 too. And annoyingly my first two weeks of mat leave will be Easter holidays so essentially I lose the holiday!

lightoflaluna · 01/03/2018 07:40

You won't really know how you'll feel to be honest. I planned to finish on my due date but went into labour at work at 37 weeks. I had been feeling totally fine. I preferred being at work because i was moving around more and kept busy. When i was at home trying to rest i just felt like a beached whale.

BoredOnMatLeave · 01/03/2018 07:44

I finished at 35 weeks, I just couldn't cope anymore. She was 4/5 engaged from 34 weeks and I just felt like I was walking around with a bowling ball between my legs. To be honest I wasn't that bored but I'm lazy and just led on the sofa watching game of thrones for about a week of it. She came at 39 weeks so I might have been if she had been overdue

Girlwiththearabstrap · 01/03/2018 07:51

@boatrace Do you not get any of your holidays back? I'm in scotland so it's a different sort of system but we get 28 days back at the end of mat leave (or pro rata for the time you have off).
I hope I can keep going this time. I don't think I'm the type to need days/weeks off to "plan" or watch tv but I would like a couple of days between finishing up and baby coming. Last time I finished school, went into hospital for what I thought would just be a routine overnight visit and came out 2 weeks later with a baby!

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