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.

Also if your struggling medically is sick leave an option? I'm unable to work due to severe pelvic pain and am on sick leave atm till I start mat leave at 36 wks (I'm 33 now). I'm lucky that I receive a generous sick leave allowance but I know this isn't an option for everyone.

First at 38w and he came at 39+2
Second at 36w and he came at 37+4

Both my maternities started on their birth dates, as I set my maternity to start on their due dates with leave in front. I got a lot of leave back from the second.

@scaredofthecity sorry for late reply. Haven't decided if I'm going back full time or part time. Going to do some sums and work out what what. Possibly go back to 4 days instead of 5. I've had a lot of sick leave, I feel bad cos I'm letting people down but at the same time I can't move from my bed on some days.

It's such a short period of your working life, seriously don't stress it too much. I know how you feel, I'd only been in my job a few months when I got pregnant and I did not expect to find it quite as difficult as early on. I felt so guilty.

BUT now I'm not working, I'm not feeling stressed, I'm sleeping better and my pain is much more manageable.

Everybody deals with pregnancy differently and some of us are just a bit rubbish at it.

Be kind to yourself, your body will thank you for it. (And in a few years it will ask be a distant memory... just make sure your bang on it when you get back! Fwiw I found looking after a baby a doodle compared with being pregnant, and I had one of those ones that didn't sleep)