Maternity leave

[bathandpjs]

Hello

I'm just wondering when everyone went on or is planning on going on maternity leave?

I'm planning on going at 37 weeks but this is my first and I'm already struggling at 21 weeks. I seem to have been hit by all the worst pregnancy symptoms and none of the glow I want to leave it as late as possible as I don't want to be sitting around bored and waiting for ages when I could be saving my leave for when the baby is here. My work have been great though and said to tell them nearer the time.

I'm due 6th July. Handed my maternity statement in today stating that I intend to work until 29th June. I doubt I'll be able to but can aways leave early if I need to. Just want as much time off afterwards as I can.

Is this your first baby? I'm due in July too

I’m due 5th May and officialy my Mat leave starts on 17th April (37 weeks) but I work term time only so I leave when it’s the Easter holidays (35 weeks). It’s great that work are flexible, don’t be too hard on yourself though, I’m so ready to leave now and have been for ages but am hanging in there, just

With my first child I left at 29 weeks because I knew I wasn’t going back afterwards but I do plan on returning this time and like you I want to have as much time with baby as possible

I planned to go tomorrow when I'd be 39 weeks. Ended up getting it put forward to last Friday (38 weeks) as baby getting very big. Wish I could have afforded to go sooner but I'm the only breadwinner and will want to use some savings to stay off longer afterwards.

You might find how you are managing comes in waves.

I was really struggling at 28- 32 weeks in my last pregnancy and was more than ready to leave then. When I actually finished at 36 weeks (annual leave rather than mat leave, mat leave started at 39 weeks) I felt like I could have actually stayed working for a few more weeks and indeed felt fairly fabulous and able right up until about 3 days before I gave birth.

I went at 33 weeks with no1. Awful pregnancy. No2 I went at 39 weeks. Was a much easier pregnancy even with a toddler to chase after!

I will be induced latest by 38 weeks so I have another 8 weeks to go. I am going off at 33 weeks so another 2 and a half weeks to go for me before I break off. I am sitting an exam at 37 weeks so using annual leave plus study leave before official maternity leave starts.

I'm Finishing work at 36 weeks, two weeks holiday before maternity leave starts. I cannot wait! Really struggling with back pain so can't wait to relax at home and have some time to myself before the baby comes.

I’m planning on finishing 4 days before my due date.
I’m 26 weeks at the moment and have been feeling great throughout my whole pregnancy so far so hoping I’ll manage and I’m not being too optimistic!

@bathandpjs yes first baby. What date are you due?

I’m finishing at 37 weeks (1 week to go! Woohoo!) obviously it completely depends on what type of work you do but is there anything you can do to make your job easier? Working from home 1 day per week and not having to commute has made a massive difference to me physically and I feel like I’ve been able to keep going for longer.

Full 40 weeks both time for me but I had very easy pregnancies and was able to waddle around happily right to the end. Both were 2 weeks late anyway so glad I went to the end as I would have been bored .

Baby 1 I ended up having baby before I was due to stop work- 35 weeks.

Baby 2 I stopped at 36 weeks. Although I will miss the extra money it was the right time for me to stop.

Stopping next week at 38+1. I've had a very easy pregnancy but I'm struggling now. Very much counting down the days. I've been fine until the last week or two though.

Due 18th July, told work my last day will be 6th July but I'm taking 2 weeks annual leave before that. I do have a bus commute to contend with and will have my current uni module to finish so that's what I'll be spending time on.

So it seems most people are go/are going around the 35+ mark. My due date is the 25th so I plan to start my maternity leave then but have a couple of weeks holiday beforehand to allow me to go at 37 weeks. I get quite a lot of holiday so I could even go at 36 weeks and still start my official maternity leave on my due date.

I work in an office and it's possible to work from home so I might start doing 1 or 2 days from home nearing the end. I just don't like working at home as I find it hard to get motivated.

If I could afford it and wasn't planning on going back I'd go on maternity leave now haha

Last time I put down 39 weeks and had the baby at around 34 and a half weeks.
This time I've also put down 39 weeks. I dont have a long commute and apart from the slightly early delivery first time I have easy pregnancies. If your work are flexible then that's great - no need to make a decision right now.

I also work from home 2 days a week already, which is a god send for having a bit of a lie in!

Planning on my last day being just after I hit 37 weeks - I'm using holiday until my EDD, so that's been good. Although I'm currently questioning whether I'm going to make it that far after all!

My maternity starts on my due date, but taking 6 weeks annual leave off before hand so I'll finish next week, just past 33 weeks.
Did the same with ds1. Ended up having him at 36 weeks before my maternity even started

Depends on your job. I couldn’t stand for longer than a few minutes but I’m usually sat at a desk so I worked right up to my due date. Baby arrived following day.

It's not all about having time afterwards, I loved spending time with DS but my the time he was 9 months I was ready to go back. He was weaned and happy and I was craving intellectual stimulation!
Being pregnant is hard and if you need the time before then use it, it's what it's there for.

I organised mine recently - starting annual leave at 37 weeks and officially on maternity leave at 39 weeks. My boss has been great though and really flexible. I have a lot of holiday to use up so I've booked every Friday off for the month beforehand so that I get lots of long weekends and shorter weeks. In fact in the next 12 weeks only 4 of those will be Monday - Friday :)

@scaredofthecity you are completely right about taking the leave beforehand if I need it. I always wanted to be a SAHM but due to finances I can't do that so I'm just trying to get as much time after so I can be a "SAHM" as long as possible

Will you be going back part time? If so I really wouldn't stress about it too much. Being home all day with a baby is harder than you think. I really was grateful to get back to work for a few days a week, but if part time work isn't an option and you'll be going back full time I totally understand the hesitation.