Maternity Leave - When do I start?!

[EllMae]

Hiya, I am currently 18 weeks pregnant and I am going to have a meeting with my manager around when I want to begin Maternity Leave! I was thinking 38 weeks but when did everyone else start / planning to start? Baby due 21st Sept 2018

Hello

My original plan was 37+2 (a Friday) but my work have just said to play it by ear and see how I go. I'm currently feeling great and like
I can carry on until my due date but I don't know how I will feel as time goes on.

I think it also depends on the type of job you do and your commute. I can work from home some days so this will be useful towards the end and mean I can probably work longer than I would have done.

I worked until the end of week 35 (in my case that was Christmas so it was a logical stopping point. I think I probably could have managed another week, but no more, and that was with an easy pregnancy, an office job and a short commute!

Work did tell me that if I took any pregnancy-related sick days in the last 4 weeks of pregnancy, they would start my mat leave automatically.

I was planning on working until 36 weeks, I work in a school. But due to spd, lack of sleep etc I've changed it to 34 weeks (I'm going to tell them this on Monday when we go back) it's a tough one as you don't know how your going to feel nearer the time. Just be open minded.

Everyone I know started theirs 37/38 weeks

My original plan was to stop work at 38 weeks, I wanted as long as possible with my DS before returning to work, however my DS decided to turn up at 36 weeks (i don't recommend being in work when the contractions start!! Especially in a busy shop!) Did decide if we have another I'd leave at 30 weeks (midwife told me I'd more than likely have another prem baby as my first was prem) but since I'm no longer working I don't really have to worry about it so much. However, work did tell me that after a certain point - i think it was 30 weeks - if i was off ill pregnancy related after that then they would automatically start my maternity leave then, but that point may differ depending on type of work you do.

I’m supposed to be working until 38 weeks, but struggling. I’m only taking about 12 weeks leave though so need to work as late as possible and I’ve got work booked in until my last day.

@EllMae I’m currently having the same thoughts. I’m due 17th September so close to you! I do a lot of driving as part of my job and also have a long drive to get there. I’m thinking of starting my mat leave around my due date and tagging my holiday at the start, so would finish around beginning of August. We shall see how that pans out lo. Hope you are all getting on ok

I have an hour commute to work and at 32 weeks it is making me absolutely exhausted. I have booked mat leave from 38 weeks but have 3 weeks annual leave so will be off from
35 weeks. Everyone has been critical and said I am wasting that time but I am fortunate to be able to take a year off so I don't think being a hero for an extra couple of weeks on this side of baby's arrival is worth it, I am SO GLAD I am finishing soon, I'm just so tired!

I'm 31 weeks and will be officially going on mat leave at 39 but I have 5 weeks holiday to take before that so I'm finishing in 3 weeks time. I've had a very easy and straightforward pregnancy and physically I'm not feeling much different to when I'm not pregnant but my job is very mentally demanding and I've totally checked out now and I'm struggling to keep up with what I need to do. 3 weeks can't go by quick enough! See how you feel nearer the time and If you can keep it flexible then that's a good option.

I'm a Teacher and due date is 7th August so I'm planning on finishing at the end of school term which will mean I am 37 +3. Fingers crossed I make it to the end 😆 Pregnancy has been straight forward and my commute is very short so providing baby doesn't make too much of an early entry I'm very hopeful I make it 🍀🤞🏼

I left last week at 38 weeks exactly.

I'm so bored! I'm booked in for a csec in 6 days.
DS is at nursery because I have no energy to do anything with him.

With ds, due to Xmas timings and him being due in Jan it worked out that I left at 36 weeks. He was born on his due date and it was literally the longest 4 weeks of my life!

It depends what kind of person you are, I get really fed up sitting around which is why I'm fed up (today I am cleaning all my windows and doors, and kitchen cupboards. Also I've batch cooked).

If you are able to chill with your feet up and enjoy it, maybe take a bit longer :)

Aww it is so exciting! I am feeling really fit and well and with me only living a 20 minute train journey away it isn't too bad. I am mainly sat down all day. My partners birthday is on the 11th Sept so I'm thinking of leaving it until then if I can and then preparing! Did anyone find out the gender of their baby, if so did they tell anyone? I have my scan in 3 weeks and I'm bursting to know as my partner's little boy (aged 5) lives with us 3 days a week.

I’m finishing 30 Aug which will be a few days before I hit 38 weeks but that’s cos I need to use holiday. I’d like to hang on until 40 so can have as much time as poss with baby but think I’ll lose holiday otherwise (better check that!) and have cut my working days down from 4 to 3 for whole of July using holiday.

My commute is about 8 mins so thankfully don’t have to factor that in and have been told can WFH any time struggling. But this is my first baby so I’ve no idea how tired or otherwise ill get.

OP - you’re due on my 40th birthday! I’m due on 17th too like someone else mentioned above

I finished at 37 weeks but had my LO the night I finished work. Would have like a weekend of R&R before her arrival but she had other ideas!

I'm due to finish 38+5 - I hope I make it to then. I'm 32 weeks tomorrow. I have an hours drive to and from work which can be hard when I'm having an uncomfortable day and I'm just tired and mentally drained already.

i am due the 6th of July and leaving on the 11th of may i have 5 weeks holidays then starting mat leave 3 weeks before due date. I am moving from the south west back home 250 miles away so need to sort out a new house and mid wife/ hospital care. 4 weeks today tho

My leave officially starts on Monday (37weeks) however I work term time only so finished work when the Easter Holidays started.

I worked up to 38 weeks with my DD and managed well, it very much depends on the job you do and the commute though. I have a short commute and a fairly relaxed desk job. DD decided to come just after 39 weeks, so in hindsight I wish I'd had a bit longer to relax but liked that I had more time were her at the other end.

I finished at 38 weeks. Now at 40+4 and no sign of baby arriving I wish I'd worked another week! It's my first so I'm quite bored just waiting around, think it would be different if I had another child to look after.

I'm 16+3 due 24th sept, also a teacher plan on going back for a week or so in sept and then going off around 38 weeks depending how I feel.

I'm due July 17th and am officially starting maternity on the 15th June. I have 3 weeks holiday to use before that which my company have very kindly allowed me to amend to 6 weeks of half days starting the 8th May which will be a nice way to slow down a bit. I have a half hour car journey and to be honest I just don't want to work up until the last minute! I am struggling with sciatica and restless legs so only have 3 more full weeks full time is a very nice thought indeed :)

Depends on your job and your commute but assuming a straightforward pregnancy I think 37/38 weeks is good. I stopped at 37 weeks but took 3 weeks holiday. Then I went into labour on my due date!

@harrietm87 yeah I am going to try and hang on as much as possible. My partner's son lives with us 3/4 days a week so will have something to keep me busy but I don't want to be waiting around as I know how inpatient I can get lol! x

With DD i finished at 38 weeks then went 13 days over so wish i had worked a bit longer. I was 39+3 on my last day with DS, but i work a desk job 10 minutes away from home. DS came on his due date so i didn't have much time to get bored!

I don't officially start until I am 39+5 next week, but I'm currently on annual leave and have been since 35 weeks. I could easily have worked a couple of weeks longer but the commute (1.5 hours each way) was knackering.