If you were due Xmas day then when would you start maternity leave?

[Comps83]

First baby so just thought I’d get others opinions
I have a boring desk job

My DD was born Christmas Eve and I started my maternity on the 21st but saved up 3 weeks of holiday so finished the end of November.

Up to you. I know people who have started their mat leave months before the due date, while others have worked until they dropped. If you have holiday try to use it first. Some employers also let you carry over the next year’s holiday too if you don’t take a full year off.

I finished at 33-34 weeks with a similar due date but due to holidays both that year and the following. This time will be finishing at same stage.

I am due 22nd December with second baby and I am intending to finish on Friday 29th November. I will use two/three weeks of holiday so I start maternity leave as late as possible.

I finished around 1st December iirc. DS arrived 3 days ahead of schedule.

Friday 13th December

Think it’ll probably be 29th nov. Seeming so its my bd

First baby ,I was still playing hockey at 38 weeks.i had to be forced out of my job at 39 weeks .baby was very late so I had a very boring month at home twiddling my thumbs eating chocolate

I think as well it depends how your feeling ...I would of worked till
I dropped

I worked til 38 weeks with my first. I had 2 weeks annual leave in to take me to due date. Dd was 4 days late. I felt it was long enough but honestly each to their own.

Just thought i’d drop in to say hi! I am due on Christmas Day too! 😃
I figured i’d go on mat leave early December?

Should probably add that I seriously hate my job
Will probably be looking to move to something different but within the same company
I’ve moved a few times within the company in the 16 years I’ve been there but I’ve never been in such a boring monotonous role like this one before and I’ll be taking a full year even if I have to sell a kidney to afford it.

@TTc2019BabyNo1 hey! I think I’ve settled on 29th November .

I worked till 38+2 with DC1 and ended up with 4 whole weeks of waiting around. DC2 was due on Xmas Day and I worked till 13th so also 38+2 but would have gone to Friday 15th if that was a working day for me at the time. Only had a week off that time though

If I don't schedule the c-section for the week before, I'll go out on the 20.

Not Christmas Day or week, but due the 15th. I will be taking a holiday from the 11th November for a week and officially starting maternity leave on the 18th November!

Are you having one or multiples? I'm carrying twins and started my maternity last week at 30 weeks, I couldn't have worked another day!

I was due on Christmas Day and finished work on 30th November, so similar to your plan. I could have continued, but I knew it would be my last chance for a long time to relax properly. I have three year old twins who were still in childcare three days per week, so I had plenty of time to prepare my hospital bag and put my feet up. In the end, she arrived on Christmas Eve.

Wow well, just discussing going off on 29th Nov with DH, this is his exact response ‘well it’s not all about you, this is just because you don’t enjoy you’re job and you’re not thinking about what’s best for the kid’
Guess I’m working til I drop then.

What?

No, no, no this is literally all about you.

I'm leaving a month before I'm due (1 December so going 3 November). My thoughts are I work long shifts and my drive is at least an hour fifteen. As it will start getting dark in the evenings and cold I didn't want to be traveling at these peak times. What my partner thinks is up to him but I want to ensure the baby is safest and that includes me being comfortable with when I leave work. I just hope baby is on time and not late. I would perhaps consider these things and where you live and work and explain why it may be better you leave earlier if you want too. It's your choice in my opinion.

Both times I’ve worked until I gave birth but worked from home a lot towards the end.
The reason was that I didn’t want to “waste” maternity leave and this way I was able to go back to work at 13 months with the first and presumably the same with the second (on leave now).

I was the same - stopped end Nov. I was knackered by then and gave me some time to organise xmas and relax. Although dd was born 8 Jan so it was longer than planned!

The problem is you may not know how you feel or how uncomfortable you will be until nearer the time.

Can you set a later date and start maternity leave earlier if you need? Would your employer be ok with that?