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Pregnancy

Talk about every stage of pregnancy, from early symptoms to preparing for birth.

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Original poster

How long was your maternity leave?

25 replies

Marghe87 · 09/01/2019 13:54

To ask how much maternity leave you took?
What were the main factors that influenced your decision?
If you could go back, would you take more or less?

OP posts:

Are your children’s vaccines up to date?

Set a reminder

fee1234 · 09/01/2019 13:56

Watching with interest. I need to decide this month when I'm stopping and for how long.

TheSubtleKnifeAndFork · 09/01/2019 13:57

Just shy of 14 months in total, using annual leave and banking some KIT days.

Main factor was wanting to be home with baby for as long as possible.

I'm about to do more or less the same again with No. 2 so wouldn't change anything (although also know I'll 100% be ready to go back by the time it comes around).

Wavingwhiledrowning · 09/01/2019 14:04

6 months on full pay (I feel very fortunate about this). Then DH took 3 months on statutory pay when I went back to work.
6 months was enough for me as I needed to get back into my work routine. Also from a job/career perspective it was probably as long as I could have managed without totally losing touch (I'm also the highest earner so financially it made sense for us). The 3 months DH spent with the children made a huge difference to their relationship with each other.

blondeirishmummy84 · 09/01/2019 14:05

I started back to work yesterday after 11 months maternity leave. On one hand I felt ready for coming back but on the other hand I really miss my son!

However I am pregnant with my 2nd and only back for 8 weeks LOL!

With the next baby I will probably take a full year and only come back part time. There is simply no way I could work full time with two babies.

linziepie · 09/01/2019 14:20

I'm half way through a year's may leave. I was only planning to take six months but extended it to a year as I am not ready to go back. I also have a lot of leave so could take an extra 3 months if I want.

Passthepigs · 09/01/2019 14:27

I’m a teacher so only had a got a year as we don’t have annual leave to tag on. I had off October to July as it made sense to return the day before the summer holidays so I got full pay back for the last 6 weeks.

This time round the timings don’t fall as well so I will be off from March to January and won’t get the summer paid!

Endofrelationship · 09/01/2019 14:33

Last time was 12months&2 weeks including annual leave.

This time I'm planning on taking 14 months and 2 weeks. I went off earlier this time, so it'll be 13.5 months after DC is born that I'll return.

Notthisoneagain · 09/01/2019 15:01

About 13 months. I get 9 months full pay then nothing for the remainder. I just want to be at home with my baby and wish we could afford for me not to return!

Strokethefurrywall · 09/01/2019 15:09

About 18 weeks with both (I can't remember exactly).

Live overseas, mat leave is the same as the US model, minimum leave is 6 weeks. My firm offer 12 weeks paid, or an additional month unpaid which I took. I then had the public holidays added on as extra (5 days) and took a weeks vacation.

Work very close to home/daycare so I knew I could come back at lunch when they were with the helper. I'd have gone nuts with a years break, I'd have loved it in the uk, but here I'd be bored shitless. I could probably have stretched it to 6 months and been happy but no longer.

mommybear1 · 09/01/2019 15:11

15 months. I had 6 weeks full pay then smp, took my full 12 months ML, as baby was premature I'd also got holidays from the year he was born and then holidays for the year I was off.

Parker231 · 09/01/2019 15:15

20 years ago I took 6 months when I had DT’s. That was the maximum at that time. If 12 months had been available then, I would have taken it. I went back full time as I wanted to continue with my career and staying at home wouldn’t have suited me.

Ijustwanttofeelbeautiful · 09/01/2019 15:20

I arranged a year’s leave but went back after 9 months when statutory pay finished. Now with DC2, I’ll just arrange to take the 39 weeks and go back then. We can’t afford for me to have no income at all for three months.

shirleyschmidt · 09/01/2019 15:25

About a year both times. Generous maternity policy meant I could even have had an extra paid month but I didn't want to have been away too long in case it was harder taking the plunge and going back.

A year felt about right but now I'm back at work with no plans to have more children I sort of wish I'd taken every single day available to me! Oh well! I would definitely recommending giving yourself a good month plus off BEFORE baby comes. You'll never have the same relax again, so make the most of it!

Narya · 09/01/2019 15:25

I took 10 months SPL and DP took just under 3 months. We had a couple of weeks overlap where we were both off. I wouldn't have wanted to go back any earlier I don't think, and while I was really happy to let DP have the last couple of months, if he hadn't wanted to I think I'd have taken the full year myself.

Thecaravan · 09/01/2019 15:26

4.5 months. 6 weeks paid then 3 months unpaid. Live outside of UK so this is the norm. To be honest it wasn't that bad going back to work and made me really appreciate the time with DC. Loved my mat leave but couldn't afford to quit my job and that was the only alternative. Now pregnant with number 2 and in a new job. Am hoping they also let me take the additional 3 months unpaid as well as the statutory 6 weeks leave. Many women do here but I cant imagine going back when DC only 6 weeks old

OnlyFoolsnMothers · 09/01/2019 15:29

8 months, 3 months full pay, the rest SMP....would have loved to take the full year but it would have wiped my savings. Instead took 8 months and booked a weeks family holiday for 3 months later.

welshweasel · 09/01/2019 15:31

I took 4 months including annual leave last time and planning 5.5 months this time. Main reasons for going back were financial, not wanting to take too much of a hit to my career and also the fact that I don’t get a huge amount of enjoyment from looking after a small baby - I’m much more of a toddler person!

cakesandphotos · 09/01/2019 15:33

I had the 39 weeks. I went off at 35 weeks pregnant. In a way I wish I had waited and had more at the other end but I was high risk and could have gone into early labour so I didn’t want to chance it. I now have loads of holiday accrued so am working 1 day a week for a couple of months

tryinganewname · 09/01/2019 15:38

I go back in April at 9 months + 6 weeks annual leave I took at the beginning. If I could, I'd be taking the full 12 months but we simply can't afford not being paid for the last 3.

I got 8 weeks full pay, then half pay + SMP up to 6 months and now SMP only until I return.

G5000 · 09/01/2019 15:43

3 months. Yes would do the same again.
Factors - I'm abroad, that's all you get here.

I am the main earner, even if many women take unpaid leave on top, this would have meant a significant drop in income for us.

My boss was American and thought the 3 months was already overly generous. Would not have been impressed with any further leave requests.
only 3 months meant I was still up to date and could easily start where I left off. Having children has not damaged my career.
newborns are boring.
DH stayed home when I went back, so he is now an equal parent, who understands what it takes to take care of children and home.

MrsG010814 · 09/01/2019 15:43

14 months with both dc with holidays at the beginning and the end. Due to go back in 3 weeks after dc2. Took the maximum amount of time off both times as knew I would only do this twice so wanted to make the most of it and after 14 months off I felt ready to go back to work.

Mossyhill · 09/01/2019 15:45

16 weeks. Went back when dc was 13 weeks old.
Main factor is I’m self employed and wanted to keep clients.

I was only receiving stat mat allowance and had to pay rent out of that to keep my position open, leaving me with about £200 a month to live on.

I don’t regret it because needs must. And it hasn’t affected her in the slightest.

WeeDoughball · 09/01/2019 15:59

11 months with DS1.

Currently on month 8 with DS2 and yet to decide. Won't return to my old position so looking at 12 months minimum or take some extra time and go back after DS1 starts school in August. Only on stat mat pay but I'm really enjoying being off and getting extra time with DS1 too before he goes to school. Don't feel ready to go back at all yet.

BloodyBing · 09/01/2019 15:59

10 months with DC1. Smp only after 6 weeks. Smp for 9 months then accrued holidays.
I skipped back to work. I had PND and really needed to go back for my mental health.
It worked perfectly for me. I wouldn't have wanted to leave DC earlier but I couldn't have cope any more.

13 months with DC2. Smp after 6 weeks again. Last 3 months no pay. Accured a month of holidays.
Again it worked perfectly for me due to DC1 starting school nursery and doing half days. So I could be around for that. I did KIT days in this mat leave and loved them.

You can always change your mind anyway.

BloodyBing · 09/01/2019 16:00

Have coped*

Apologies for no paragraphs. I did put them in.

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