When to go off on mat leave??

[Pimpernell182]

Dd1 is 17m and her brother is due in 8 weeks. First time round, I had no clue what was the norm. No one explained that people normally stop work before the due date. I worked until 40+1, as that was a Friday and it seemed sensible to finish the week. I was still living close to work, used to walk there (slowly!) and get a cab home (up a big hill). Was part time hours by then but still every day. I did not much enjoy the final part of pregnancy and I remember thinking it was a good thing I was there, as basically work pay me to (amongst other things) be in a good mood so I managed to summon one from somewhere when that was no easy task. Dd arrived at 40+6.

I now work part time, 2 full days and 1 half. There would be flexibility to change this to suit me better if I wanted to decrease / move things around. Dd goes to a childminder while I'm there. The other 2 days, were home together. My job is not a desk job but neither is it particularly physical. It is however now a 1hr bus commute away (we've moved).

I need to decide about mat leave and I can't really wait and see as the nature of my job means schedules must be fixed in advance and it's the peak season in our industry so things are already tight. In view of this fact, and also wanting to maximise income before a year off, I've agreed to overtime in weeks 37 and 38. Reading another thread today I'm starting to wonder if this is madness and I should try to get out of it? I still haven't said what I want to do in week 39. There's the possibility to stop at the end of that week, or the end of the one before without changing any current commitments.

So what would you do? Box sets, sofa time, day time trips to the cinema, batch cooking etc etc are great for people waiting for first babies but a lot less possible with a toddler in tow. I will find it difficult to justify continuing to send dd1 to childcare as much as she is now once I'm off, although we do plan to keep some hours for stability.
But have I forgotten how hard the last stretch will be, will 2 hours a day on a bus be intolerable by then? Another potential factor is the weather. Dd was December baby, this one will be July. Will I be hugely hot as well as huge in general?

Any advice most welcome, especially from anyone who's had a second mat leave...

I’m on my second maternity pre baby now. I’m far more tired this time around (as well as in more pain) mainly due to the lack of down time with dd1.
If I were you I’d keep your overtime in week 38 and make that your last week. If you needed to leave early you could (wouldn’t be ideal for work but neither would someone being ill). Then leave toddler in childcare the week after so you can have a proper rest. Can you use annual leave for week 39 so that maternity doesn’t start until week 40?

It's such a hard one to advise on because everyone is so different. I read so many threads on here about finishing early and nesting and getting ready and I just can't relate at all!!
I know you said your work is semi flexible so maybe giving a later date and negotiating an early finish would be possible? It depends how much time you want/need to relax and how you're feeling physically.
With my first I was induced at just before 35 weeks and literally left work to go to hospital. This time round I planned to go at 39 and a half weeks. I ended up bringing this forward to 38+5 because I was worried about developing PE and having another early birth. I'm now 8 days overdue and bored stiff - I'm really not someone who can get enthusiastic about pottering about, resting and watching box sets. Although the days I have my 3 year old are fine because I am busier. I've kept her in childcare some days because she loves her nursery.
Physically I feel fine and am still managing the gym etc. I will concede that I'm sleeping better since stopping work so that's a definite bonus.

Sorry if that was just a big unhelpful ramble!

I'm onto my third mat leave now but completely agree around 38 weeks you'll start to need that down time. I felt full of it at 38 weeks with all my pregnancies but started to need the slower pace after that (I'm 39 weeks now, however still working minimally). Having had my second babe in July I would also consider earlier leave if the temps keep soaring, that pregnancy was made difficult merely because of the moving around in the heat.

Whilst it's true all pregnancies are different, and I've been active in all three of mine, long bus rides are a noooooo in these last two weeks. Walk walk walk is a much nicer activity so if you can pick local toddler groups and activities you can do with your first. I also reminded myself it was fine to do tv time without guilt and sitting in the garden (with a beanbag) and an ice lolly, playing was our favourite activity.

Wishing you all the best