NC for this.
What to do.
So, I live and work offshore so we don't have UK maternity provisions. My company allows 18 weeks Mat Leave at full pay then 8 weeks unpaid but we get an allowance during the unpaid part from our government.
It's also company policy that you have to take 2 weeks annual leave at the end of your Mat Leave. They also "prefer" you to take 2 weeks annual leave prior to your due date but don't enforce this if you have a letter from your midwife supporting your working longer.
Currently 31+2. Due to finish work at 37+3. Only work 4 days a week anyway and had planned to use annual leave to cut this down to 3 days a week from next monday. Struggling a bit with bad SPD and tiredness but managing so far. Only have a 10 minute drive to work so no nasty tube/trains to deal with. Office based desk job but cna get up as often as want and I literally am 9-5.
Don't know whether to cancel my mondays off for the next 5 weeks (as 27th is a BH anyway) and carry it over to next year to take it with baby (wouldn't add onto end of Mat Leave but would use for hols with baby/days off with him etc).
Part of me thinks keep the days off, I'm 40 in 2 months and quite knackered! Another part of me thinks I will be so bored at home (as I can't do a lot cleaning wise etc due to SPD on orders of physio!) and at least my office is air conditioned and we have lovely cold filtered water! But would be nice to have more time with the baby next year (plus we also get married next year so need some time for honeymoon - taking baby with us apart from 2-3 nights (not decided yet) alone.
WWYD? It's not a massive dilemma obviously but just not sure what to do for the best. if he's late (first baby) I could also end up having 4 weeks at home bored out of my tiny brain!!!!