When did you start maternity leave?

[Ozzybear123]

When did you start your maternity leave?

36+5 and it was about right for me. Had 4 weeks before he came.

My last day of work, I was 37 weeks.

It coincided with the Christmas break, so worked out well.

38+4. I did have a sedentary office job though. Baby came 5 days later!

On my due date. Ds came 3 days later.

3 days before my due date (DD was due on a Monday, I stopped work on the Friday). To maximise the time I spent with baby DD (because I knew I could only afford 6 months maternity leave - anything beyond 26 weeks was unpaid back then). She was 12 days late, so I think I made the right decision.

37 weeks. I felt ready to stop at 34! Baby came at 41+1.

For first baby I'd rather work longer, so you have longer with the baby.

Mine was late, and I really wish I'd held on a bit. At the time I felt hectic and needed the time to rest, but looking back I realise that actually before kids I had plenty of time on the weekends to get things sorted.

This might be different if you have a job where you're on your feet a lot, or a long commute - but otherwise I think later is better! Then with subsequent babies a bit earlier, as you need the time to get organised and also give your kids some 1-1 before the baby arrives.

"By mine was late I mean dc1 was overdue. The maternity leave however was early at 37 weeks, as my mum always gave birth before 38 weeks and I assumed I would too...

39+3. Easier sitting at work than being at home with a toddler 🤪

I stopped at 31week! I am a cleaner and walking about a lot, I just felt knackered and sore could barely walk the length of my self! Did have 2 weeks holiday so official maternity started at 33weeks and I had my premature Baby boy at 33.3 weeks pregnant! So glad I stopped, u know ur own body.

38 weeks but had 4 weeks holiday so finished at 34 weeks. I couldn’t have worked any longer. I was at the hospital every other day for various reasons and had spd.

3 days before, in hindsight I wish I had had more as hadn’t switched off or got any final me time! Still need to get my hair cut and dyed 9 weeks later 🤣

29 weeks 🤣🤣🤣

36 weeks. So many women in my office had babies arrive before they were due to start maternity leave and I wanted to reduce the chance of being another! DD arrived two weeks later which was the perfect amount of time to get everything sorted out.

ds was due on 30/12 & my last day at work was the 18/12. I was repeatedly told he was going to be early every appt for the last few months. He finally appeared 10/1. It felt like plenty of time but the days didn’t half drag after Christmas was out the way. I too could only afford 6 months off plus my holiday so wanted to spend as much time with him as possible

38+4 but only because I'm a teacher and that was the beginning of the summer holidays. I knew that if I ploughed on I wouldn't officially have to start mat leave until baby arrived and I confidently expected him to arrive 2 weeks late, like all of my mum's children and most of my friends.

Went into labour on my due date. Typical! I'll be stopping at 36 weeks this time!

DS - 40 weeks. He was late. I was bored to tears as it was super hot and I was the size of a whale so not like I could do anything fun.

DD - 38 weeks, as it turned out she was early. Barely made it to the hospital, so good 3 hours of leave :D

Thanks everyone!

This is my first so really not sure, my mum was a week early with me so not sure if that would be the same for me!

I would like as much time as possible with the baby!

1 day before I went in to labour. So 37+6. I naively though that all babies came late....

Had holiday so went off from 34 weeks. I will treasure those 6 weeks forever.

38+4

Wish I’d finished about 2 weeks earlier. Baby ended up coming at 39+2 so I had no time to enjoy my mat leave before he came :(

My last working day is in 12 days where I'll be 33+6
Got loads of annual leave to take. Mat leave officially starts when I'm 37weeks

5 days before I was due to go in for an induction at 38 wks, went back one day a week after 5 weeks and back part time after 5 months

I stand up all day in my my job and had to work barefoot As my feet would get too swollen for even flip flops

36 weeks & baby came at 39 weeks. Had 3 weeks holidays to use though but those 3 weeks were great!