Maternity leave

[emma911030]

Hi ladies, so I'm completely out of my knowledge zone with this whole being pregnant thing.
I'm only 13 weeks on Friday and people at work are starting to know about my pregnancy which is fine as one of the nurses is 3 weeks ahead of me with her second and has been sooo lovely saying if I have any questions etc feel free to have a chat with her which is fab.
Some of my colleagues have been saying about when I'll start my mat leave.. ive only been at my job for 4 weeks I'm a Health care assistant on a surgical ward at the local hospital. Some said I'd be gone at Christmas surely.. I have no idea. My EDD is 22nd Feb. Although the ward I'm on isn't 'heavy' it's very busy and spend a lot of time on my feet which is sometimes a killer even now but mainly on my feet and thighs.
Until my 20 week scan I'm not sure what the plan will be but it could be likely that I'll go in for section due to some plates in my pelvis so unsure if will open how it should.
Sorry for the woffeling on but felt a bit of background might be useful.. my main question being is anyone else in a similar job role and what point would be realistic to think I could work up to? I don't want to leave too soon as having not been there long it's unlikely I'm going to get much of any maternity pay at all so kinda need to get my actual wage as long as physically possible.
TIA x

You should be able to apply for maternity allowance. The earliest maternity leave can start is 29 weeks so you can choose any time between that and your due date

You don't have to tell work an estimated date until you're about 25 weeks I don't think. If it helps I am finishing at 36 and a half weeks for an office job with a 20-30 minute driving commute. You may have to see how your pregnancy goes but I think Christmas is too early for a Feb due date.

I’m due 1st March and I’m planning on going off in the middle of February. Tell them as late as you feel comfortable with, you can always go earlier if it gets too much.

I'm due on the 31st August (2 weeks on Friday!) And working right up until the 24th (a week before I'm due!) I can carry my holidays over so I want to keep as much as I can for when baby is here. My work are very understanding though and let me do work from home days if need be, although only take 2 throughout my whole pregnancy. Maybe I've just been lucky but I've only been a bit sore and struggle walking but have managed to get up and go to work x

I'm due on 26th Feb.
I have a very active job (fitness Industry) but have loads of annual leave left to take so tagging that onto the start so plan to finish 9th Jan.

With DD (also Feb baby) I worked till 36 weeks as I was fine. No discomfort etc. So I'd just see how you go you don't have to give an official date for a while yet.

Thank you ladies for your feedback @hammeringinmyhead I thought Christmas was too soon also! Being home so long before unless I had any major issues would just be frustrating and unnecessary! x

I was wondering the same. Due 21st Feb. In term time I work 6 hours per day and I'm off over Xmas as we're away until 9th January. I have time to nap and there is no half terms so I was thinking of even going up to the 8th February.

I'm the same I only get statutory but 6 weeks pay at 90%.

As it's my first I'm sure it'll be late. I'd rather spend time waddling around and working and then spending more time with the baby the other end.

I am also a healthcare assistant but I'm on the staff bank. I ended up going off for mat leave at about 32/33 weeks because wards kept cancelling my shifts when they found out I was pregnant! But by then it was absolutely exhausting, and the wards were getting hot by then (I gave birth 3 weeks ago so right in the heatwave) so I would say Xmas is too early but maybe by early January you might have had enough. everyone is different though