What are the chances of getting to my due date?

[Eminybob]

I’ve recently found out that if my maternity leave starts from my due date, I would get an extra 4 weeks full pay from my employer. It’s just coincidence that the policy is changing from that date.

Im 34 weeks and due to start mat leave at 39 weeks, but have annual leave for 3 weeks, so actually going off at 36 weeks. That is using up all my annual leave for the year.

I can’t really delay this as I need the first week of that leave off as it’s half term so had already booked it off before being pg to look after ds who has just started reception.

Anyway, I could rejig the dates, it would mean going back in to work after half term to delay the holiday and start mat leave a bit later, but if I do this and the baby ends up being early, my mat leave would start from the day the baby is born, and I wouldn’t get the extra pay anyway, so it would all be in vain!

So, if you are still with me this far, what are the chances that baby will wait until due date and make it worth while?

He is baby number 2
Ds1 was born at 37+4
I have gestational diabetes which at the moment is diet controlled and they will induce if I get to 40 weeks, but if things change and baby grows too bud (next scan at 36 weeks) it may have to be earlier.

If I went back to work for a weeks after half term I would be 37 weeks, and I’m already struggling at 34 weeks, so don’t really want to if it’s all for nothing anyway.

Or should I just suck it up, keep things as they are and settle for the 4 weeks less pay, which tbf is what is been expecting until recently anyway?

Sorry if that was long, didn’t want to drip feed!

With zero medical training and going off what you've said, it sounds like baby is more likely to come early. Or at least likely enough that it's not worth changing your plans if you're already struggling.

However, it may be that you feel a bit better after the week off and so can just about manage an extra week of work. It depends a lot on your financial position and how much of a difference 4 extra weeks would make.

Sorry, I think I've argued either way there and therefore been no real help!

No, that is helpful thank you.
I thought the same about baby likely being early.

The thing is, I need to make the desicion sharpish as my manager will need to rekey the mat leave start date and the holidays, so waiting to see how I feel after half term isn’t really an option (plus I can’t imagine I’ll feel any better after running around after a 4 year old for a week!)

Well it wouldn't be in vain as either way you would get extra time off with your baby when it arrives, just the difference is 1 week or 4 weeks

If I was you i'd go for it 👍🏻

I think i would just leave things the way they are, I'm due the 26th of Nov (i think we are due around the same time) I wouldn't want to risk it. It will be nice to have half term off and hopefully you can relax for a couple of weeks before you baby arrives. X

That is true, I hadn’t thought of it like that. I confess I was just seeing the dollar signs!! 🤑

Hmm it is so hard.
I have sent a begging email to HR to see if they can apply any discretion to be flexible with the dates (I have 25 years service so hoping they would offer some good will) but they see not budging (rulz are rulz).

I have also asked my manager if I can “borrow” holiday from next year to make up the difference, he thinks not but is going to look into it. That would be an ideal situation because then if I do have the baby early then they would just be refunded to use next year to extend my leave. But he’s trying to encourage me to come in the extra days instead.

We’ll see. We can cope financially with the reduced pay, as that is what we were expecting and had planned for, but the extra 4 weeks will make a massive difference to us.

Sorry, that should say 15 years service, not 25!