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 2 days before she was born and she was 8 days late, I had to move house the day before that!

DC1 - 34 weeks as I had to use or lose all my annual leave and it was early in the year. I was so bored!

DC2 - 38 weeks, remembering how bored I had been and wanting to maximise time off with the baby. As it happened, he arrived two days later at 38+2!!

For my first I left at 36 weeks, I plan to do the similar again but use 2 weeks annual leave at 36 weeks then start mat leave at 38 weeks.

Am due 13th September.
My last work day will be 29th july then three weeks of holiday then my official start of leave will be 20th August. So I'll be about 33 weeks when i have my last shift then when my leave starts in August I'll be 36 weeks.

38 weeks...waters broke 5 days later and it was first baby so was cutting it fine. Just want the time at the end.

I have a very physical job so I am going on annual leave in two weeks when I'm 34weeks pregnant, then my maternity kicks in two days before baby is due. I wanted to go longer, but I just can't manage it.

Guess it depends on what job you have, if your employer will make allowances for you later on down the line and if you feel you can physically manage :)