When did you go on maternity leave?

[Magpie24]

How long before your due date did you go on maternity leave? I'm due start of November (first baby) and was thinking mid-October but want as much time with the baby as possible and if I'm late I don't want a month sitting around. Then again I may be exhausted! Any advice appreciated.

I finished at 38 weeks, A+E Sister, went into labour the following day

With my second I finished at 36 weeks and was 2 weeks overdue

With my first I was induced at 34+5 so literally left work and went straight to the hospital.
With this one I've just finished now at 39 weeks.

38 weeks

she came at 39 though so i wasn't waiting long!

I’m off sick with a non pregnancy related illness... (this probably isn’t helpful) but I’ve put down to start on my due date. (There has to be some advantages to feeling like rubbish for the last few months and not being able to get treatment due to being pregnant!)

I left early at 32 weeks but I’d still got HG and was really struggling (mental health worker in NHS)

36 weeks with dc 1. I decided to leave then so I would be able to go to movies, go swimming most days (was summer and quite hot that year) and meet friends, have naps etc and still have a few dinners out before the baby arrives. Nearly I years later and still so glad I had that time. First day of leave was weird with not lots to do, no work and no idea what the future really held, but by day 2 I was loving being able to just relax, watch movies and go to cafes! I was freelancing when I had dc2 and stopped around 35 weeks.

I’m due at the start of November too and am considering leaving at 32 weeks. It will be the last week of August and DS starts school the following week so I’d like to be able to take him and pick him up. Also considering not going back to my job afterwards and finding something with more child friendly hours.

First baby 36 weeks, had the baby at 39 weeks. Second baby 38 weeks had the baby 39 weeks again. I have a long commute via train and over a mile to walk between the station and work so it was pretty tough physically. If I drove to work and was just sat at a desk I'd have found it OK. I started to have contractions from around 37 weeks, there was a few occasions where I was at work and wondered if I was in early labour!

I’m finishing on Friday at 37+3.
I cannot physically or mentally go on another day. I am beyond exhausted.

BUT I’ve had a difficult pregnancy (sickness since week 6) and I have a commute of 1.5 hours each way, including getting across central London at rush hour and my job involves using my brain a lot!

In easier circumstances maybe I could go on longer.

I definitely need at least a week to unwind before baby arrives!

35 weeks with DD1; she arrived at 36 weeks! I had a feeling DD2 would be early too so went on maternity leave at 32 weeks, and was hospitalised from 35 weeks so glad I had a bit of time to wind down beforehand!

It’s so difficult to weigh up enough relaxation time before baby against too much time, and ending up bored stiff.

Do you have annual leave that you can take beforehand instead?

Went off at 37 weeks but 2 weeks were annual leave. Mat leave started at 39 and he came at 41 weeks.

Planned section here, going to finish the day before.

Only get the 6 weeks state pay and want as much time after.

My mat leave starts on my due date but I’ve been lucky enough to take 5 weeks annual leave before hand to have some time to myself. So far I’ve painted the kitchen and done a few other diy bits but now I’m ill so lying around feeling sorry for myself!

I finished the day before my due date and DS was 6 days late. That week waiting around was sooo boring!!!

I have a desk job with a long commute on train/bus/walk but once I’m there it’s not physically challenging.

For DC2, due date is 26th September and I’m planning on working until the 21st September so a bit sooner this time. If baby isn’t early I’m going to try to enjoy the boredom a little more!

DD ml from 36 weeks
DS Al from 35 weeks, ml from 38 weeks

Both induced at t+12

Thank you everyone. I work in an office job so am sitting down all day. Central London but my commute is 40-50 mins and I can usually get a seat on the tube as I live where the line starts. I have plenty of annual leave to use, as I have been hoarding it! I think maybe aiming for 37/38 weeks might be the way to go.

Was supposed to leave 3 days before due date but baby arrived two weeks early. I worked till midnight that day and went in labour 15 mns later.

I was working for a very wealthy company at the time (ceo flies everywhere in private jets, all senior management have stay at home wives, nannies and housekeepers) which only offered the bare maternity leave minimum (6 weeks at 90 per cent) hence why I was trying to work till the end.

Knowing what I know now, i’d leave at 35 weeks.

I’mpkanning 38 weeks but will take two weeks annual leave before. I’m due at the end of August so figured even if baby is late, I can treat it as a long summer holiday (wishful thinking).

I switched on my "out of office" at 10cm dilated, in the labour ward... not recommended!

Took the annual leave I had left prior to mat leave starting, so I had 4 weeks off work before my mat leave kicked in. Mat leave officially started on my due date.

I went as early as possible at 28 weeks! 😂 couldn't wait to leave work!

I was also planning on moving back to Liverpool from Manchester so I needed the time to organise the move and settle before the baby arrived. We ended up staying in Manchester though and now I'm 37 weeks and very impatiently waiting for her! Glad I left when I did though as I was getting very uncomfortable sitting at a desk all day.

I stopped working at 37.5 weeks, but DC was 8 days late so I was off work for nearly a month!

34 weeks and baby was born at 42 weeks. I loved having that time to take it easy and spend time with older dc. Although I was getting antsy in the last two weeks after due date.

When I worked as a receptionist I worked up until 37 weeks, was sitting down all day.

This time round I left at 34 weeks but was working as a waitress on my feet and a very physically demanding job.