How much maternity leave are you planning?

[Britta1]

Not sure we can stretch to me having 12 months so probably going to have to go back after 9. Feeling a bit rubbish about it as had really hoped for 12 but hey ho! Planning on taking 3 weeks AL to finish at 37 weeks and start ML from around my due date to give me as much time after as poss. What’s everyone else’s plans?

I think that’s half my problem littlelove that I don’t really enjoy my job which makes it feel worse! I think I will start to look for something else when it gets nearer to me going back which might make it a bit less painful!

Britta I am also going to be looking for something else towards the end of my leave, something better paid lol as my pay is terrible.

I'm leaving at 36 weeks. A week of that is annual leave then maternity leave starts at 37 weeks. I'm only entitled to 26 weeks SML then I can take another 24 weeks unpaid leave. I cant afford to take the unpaid leave. Even the SML will leave us short but we have savings to cover this.

My baby will be 5 & 1/2 months old when I go back. That's if he/she comes on time. My last baby was overdue so really hoping this baby won't be the same.

I only work part time so that makes it easier. I think if I was full time I'd struggle to go back so soon.

I'm planning to take 12 months, starting in July. I'm saving as much as possible at the moment, to try and plug the gap in the last 13 weeks!

I get statutory pay plus a top-up from my employer of 12 weeks half pay.

Technically I will have my last day at 37+1, but it's pretty likely that I will be taking work with me on mat leave and just doing it at home. I'm taking 12 weeks, then DH will take 6 months on SPL. He is looking forward to baby-raising significantly more than I am.

I only stopped work 2 weeks ago and im 39 weeks now. Only plan on having 3 months maternity leave i think I'd go crazy at hime with a baby for a whole year with nothing to do and the longer you have off the more damaging to your career it is

I’m going back after about two months. I’m a company director and any more than this just isn’t practical. I have adjusted some responsibilities so I won’t be travelling overnight for at least the first six months.

At the moment I’m very happy about it. I love my job and the money, flexibility and security it provides means I’d feel a bit churlish moaning about it. In every respect apart from this it’s much more family-friendly (I work from home whenever I need to and have never missed a school concert etc) than most positions.

I took longer with my other children but I’m more senior now so it isn’t possible.

DH gets a month paternity leave which he will take in chunks over the two months. I’d rather we had the time together during the holidays when the other children were around.

It’s going to be a lovely summer I hope!

12 months. Last time I was too unwell to go back any earlier. we can't really affect it, but may not have much choice!