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Pregnancy

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

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Original poster

When to start maternity leave?

32 replies

Chunk9 · 05/02/2019 13:23

35 weeks this week. I was aiming to get to 38 weeks but finding everything hard to juggle at the moment! I only work 3 days but with a 3 year old it’s quite full on. I went up to 38 with my first pregnancy.

When is everyone starting leave? Especially second pregnancies?

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Changingagain · 05/02/2019 13:42

I started actual maternity leave on my due date last time and took 4 weeks of annual leave before that so I finished at 36. I really couldn't have done any later and I only have an office job. DS arrived at 38 weeks though so I'm glad I didn't leave it any later for that reason too.

I'm doing the same this time but at 20 weeks I'm definitely struggling more than I did last time so hopefully it will be ok. I still have 3 days of annual leave left unbooked so I might try and leave those to add onto it but I really feel like I need a break already.

Ccec · 05/02/2019 13:59

I've set my last day to be a Wednesday of the day I turn 38 weeks, I also work 3 days a week, so pretty much when my maternity leave starts the next Monday i'll nearly be 39 weeks as I wanted to work as closely up to my due date as possible. I would have tried to work up until I go pop but with a 30 min commute I thought maybe I should be a little sensible.
With my first I left at 36 weeks but this was mostly because I was doing a uni course too and I hoped to use the extra time to work on essays and it was coming up to xmas too, but my son had other ideas and came at 37 weeks, interrupting my lovely plans lol.
I only have a weeks leave to use as my maternity leave starts just as the new leave year begins in April and ive used everything but a week so maybe at 37 weeks if im struggling I will use that last minute, otherwise I intend to use it after maternity leave ends as I really want to spend as much time with baby as possible.
If it's worth hanging on in there I would do it but if you really feel like its too much there's no harm going a couple of weeks early :)

MonkeyToucher · 05/02/2019 15:54

I’m in the office until 38 weeks and this is my second baby - I work full time BUT I’m not taking my son out of nursery at all so don’t have to deal with him on my own... I’m 36+4 and can’t wait to finish now to be honest!

carly2803 · 05/02/2019 16:05

I was finishing 37 + 4 but finished 36 +4 as i was exhausted.

Worked 50 hour weeks on my feet. high pressure job.

Glad I did - no sign of the little un yet but its nice to rest and sleep - i am bored though!!

TerriB1984 · 05/02/2019 17:16

I’m planning on working up to 38 weeks as I went nearly 2 weeks overdue with DD1 so don’t want to go too early. However I do fully expect to feel the need to go earlier as I planned the same previously but needed up using annual leave to go at 37 weeks.

Endofrelationship · 05/02/2019 17:49

I went on annual leave at 34 weeks and started mat leave at 37+1, which was good as DC2 arrived at 37+4.

KateTTC123 · 05/02/2019 18:44

I'm currently debating this. My last baby arrived at 29 weeks for unknown reasons and I'm currently 25 weeks and having loads of the same signs as last time. My doc has said to sign off and I want to but it's just so early! Was meant to start mat leave at 37 weeks

TurquoiseWeekend · 05/02/2019 18:48

I'm 37 weeks tomorrow with my first baby. I'm starting maternity leave on my due date, with almost 2 weeks of annual leave first, so my last day is next Thursday at 38+1. I am so ready now. I've cried in the toilets today 😂 just because I'm so irritated and hormonal and tired. I'm not going to bother trying to change it now, but I wish it was this Thursday rather than next that I was finishing.

Frizzy1986 · 05/02/2019 18:57

I left at 36+5 but did use 2 weeks of annual leave so my maternity leave didn't start straight away.
I went into early labour at dead on 37 weeks with dd arriving at 37+4 so I didn't get the rest I'd hoped for.
I'm almost 6 weeks with number 2 and although its way too far away to even plan for it (who knows if it will stick yet) I think I'll try and save some of my annual leave which starts in April and finish at 36 weeks with mat leave from 38.

whatswithtodaytoday · 05/02/2019 19:04

I'm finishing at 36+2. I have seven days holiday to use then mat leave starts. I have an almost two hour commute, SPD and am so done.

Florencenotflo · 05/02/2019 19:07

I went at 38 weeks with dd, Mat leave started on my due date. She was 2 weeks late and I finished just before Christmas so had a lovely Christmas and new year!

Currently pregnant with no2, only 11 weeks but I'm due at the end of August and thinking of going around 34/36 weeks this time and using up all my annual leave. I'll be having a c section at 39 weeks anyway, but I just don't think I can stand a summer as hot as last year in the office while 35+ weeks pregnant.

Plus I kind of want a bit of time with dd before this one arrives anyway and it will be summer, we live near the beach. I'm dreaming of lovely days together eating ice cream on the beach. I'll probably be sweating my arse off in the back garden 😂

1987Laura · 05/02/2019 19:23

I only get 20 weeks full pay so im leaving my mat leave as long as i can so i can spend as much time with our girl as i can before going back to work. Im 31 weeks today. Due to go off when im 38+2. Have horrendous SPD but im going to struggle on as long as i can

Spooples · 05/02/2019 19:49

I'm finishing on Friday when I will be 34+3. Only an office job but the fatigue is unreal and because of our annual leave calendar running January-December, I have 5 weeks I need to take or I'll lose it (well - I can carry over up to 10 days into next year BUT the policy has already changed once in the last year so I don't trust HR not to change it again and it all be lost). I know its a bit early but I can't wait to stop so I can start getting things ready for the baby to be here.

snoopy18 · 05/02/2019 20:26

I ended up being signed off 2 weeks ago yesterday by obs doc so have decided to not go back and take my annual leave with mat leave starting around 37 weeks. Not ideal but not worth putting body through hell for the sake of work. Glad I’ve done this and can carry on working from home on the business anyway. Good luck whichever you decide!

Wineandchoccy · 05/02/2019 20:43

I’m finishing next Friday at 38 + 5 with my 2nd child. I wish I was finishing this Friday though I’m shattered and head is engaged so might not get much time off before he/she arrives.
Official mat leave date starts on my due date and I have taken 1 weeks annual leave before that.

Frizzy1986 · 05/02/2019 20:58

Wow @1987laura 20 weeks full pay! That's amazing.
I get statutory and that's all. Good old 90% for 6 weeks then statutory for rest of the 9 months. I'm going to be saving like hell so I can have a full year like last time. Aldi budgeting all the way as it'll be very very tight indeed.

ineedtostopgooglingsymptoms · 05/02/2019 21:22

I had intended on working until 3 days before my due date (due date is Monday) but I didn’t expect to feel as stressed and shitty as what I have been so I brought it forward a week.

butterwithtoast · 05/02/2019 21:26

I'm working 3 days a week until 36 weeks, but with a 2 year old to chase around I'm already struggling at 32 weeks

Original poster

Chunk9 · 05/02/2019 21:36

I’m so glad it’s not just me considering finishing early. I might try and just do next week then finish up. Had a healthy pregnancy with my first then had 2 miscarriages. Keep thinking I’ve been healthy so far, why not finish a bit early and take it easy for this last run?!

@frizzy1986 I’m joining you on the Aldi budget!!!! It can be done!

OP posts:

PBobs · 05/02/2019 21:58

I'm taking 3 weeks unpaid leave from the end of week 33. Then maternity kicks in. I want to work until end of week 36 but need to travel to get to where I'll give birth so playing it safe.

Triskaidekaphilia · 05/02/2019 23:46

I'm taking ML from due date but will be going at 33 as I work uni term time and that's the end of term. Full time, on my feet all day type job and I'm wondering if I'll manage to stay full time as colleagues keep questioning it. Might be able to sit down towards the end though as it's not as busy.

beforeihit30 · 06/02/2019 01:19

I’m clearly a lightweight

With DC1 I started mat leave around 32 weeks. I didn’t have a tough job but I still found it really hard to focus and commute regularly. I took 9 months so basically decided at least 7 months with baby is not too bad, in the end it was about 7.5 months on my return.

With DC2 I went at 30 weeks! Gave me 1:1 time with DC1 which I really valued, and prep time before birth. Took 9 months off so returned when DC2 was about 7 months.

I’m pg with DC3 and hoping to take at least 9 months again. Work for a different company now and have better benefits. So will be taking a month of annual leave (as I’ve saved it up), to then officially start mat leave around 36 weeks. However I’ll be finishing in the office around 31/32 weeks again.

I just do not like working whilst pregnant

Oysterbabe · 06/02/2019 06:27

I used annual leave to start at 37 weeks with actual leave starting at 39. I used annual leave at the end to extend my leave until my son was 13 months. I was ready to be back by then.

Original poster

Chunk9 · 06/02/2019 07:23

@beforeihit30 that’s one thing I thought- spending some one on one time with my son before he has to share me. But will it just emphasise the change if he suddenly has me to himself, then has to share me?!

OP posts:

scottiesheep · 06/02/2019 08:02

Timely thread

I'm nearly 29 weeks with dc2. Ds1 is 22 months so a real handful at the moment. I work 3 days and spend 2 days with him.

I have a few health issues and with ds1 I planned to finish at 38 weeks but my consultant urged me to finish earlier and to rest up a bit before the arrival. I finished at 36 weeks and he arrived at 37+3. So glad I didn't finish later! I ended up having 14 months off because I hadn't used any annual leave at all (and went back with the New Years annual leave).

This time I'm finishing at 35 weeks. Ds1 will continue at nursery 3 days. I'm already struggling though, with hyperemesis, SPD, gestational diabetes and I've put ds into nursery an extra morning (on one of the days I'm home). I'm also using annual leave next week and then if need be I'll also use annual leave to work 2 days a week leading up to maternity.

My days at work are ok but the days with the toddler are just so exhausting I'm not sleeping well at all so it's important to just get through however we can manage.

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