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

Wait to see how you feel.
I finished at 37 weeks. DP thought this was too early but I was convinced LO was going to come early.
Baby came 10 days late in the end, but I was sooo tired I was glad of those few weeks before she arrived.

@Cookit no I will have to decide on a date as they will need to get someone in to replace me
I’m so angry with DH right now.

I had a planned c section on 21st (due date was Xmas day) , started Mat leave day before, I wanted to enjoy all Mat leave after baby was born. I did have a 14month old at home that made relaxing at home hard!

I’ve just read the update about hubbys comments... this absolutely is about you! Don’t forget most places you still accrue AL when on mat leave so you could use that to extend Mat leave after baby is born

@Comps83

Glad you started this thread. I'm from the Christmas one. I also wanted to know.

I am like you I hate work and I was thinking of leaving end of October just taking holiday and enjoy cleaning the house lol.

I would leave tomorrow if I could, my hubby is the opposite his like leave tomorrow 🙈.

I said I can't stop tempting me.

Go on gov site and will give you day you can go earliest on maternity leave . You can start from 29 weeks pregnant

Office based job. Legal requirement to start mat leave by 38 weeks.

In my case, the rest of the office flew to go to an international conference (in Hong Kong, I cried having to cancel my seat on the plane!), on Friday 9th December and we were pushing up to COB on Thursday to finish all the briefing and other materials for it.

I finished clearing my desk in peace and quiet on the Friday, and then left slightly early (to make up for working late all that week).

DD's EDD had moved around, from 25th initially to 23rd by departure.

I spent the first week going to medical appointments and my last PG yoga class, I got 1 swim in, and writing Christmas cards (nothing done for Christmas at that point). And the following week buying and wrapping presents, doing laundry, and generally prepping for Christmas. And slowed down ever so slightly.

Spent Christmas Day running around between family, and DD started making her appearance that night (arrived at 6am Boxing Day).

At the time, mat leave was only 14 weeks and I was charging around the place (and GP on shared care was happy to sign me off sick if I needed it earlier) so I didn't want to waste those few weeks if I didn't need to. (I took a month unpaid after as well, before going back when DD was 4.5 months old).

Sorry, RTFT now.

I was very tired going into labour and struggled a bit because of that.

I struggled with DD the first few weeks because I was too tired going into labour and arrival.

And I had been relatively full of energy, for a PG person, due to the yoga and keeping active right through.

It did settle down eventually. But I had been too conscientious at work and, in hindsight, others would have covered things if I had left earlier.

If balancing the time works out ok, then yes, I would go early enough to rest properly and relax in those last few weeks. Especially if work will have someone coming in to replace you so it is only a matter of timing!

I teach so I’d start it whenever the Christmas holidays began.

I was due Christmas Eve and started maternity leave mid November (but mainly because we were also moving house).

If it's not about you, who is it about exactly? Your dh is being a twat.

I am due 10th Jan. I am planning on M/L starting 23/12 but also I have a weeks A/L to use before so technically my last day at work will be Friday 13th Dec :) I'll be 36 weeks (obviously this could change if I start to struggle but hoping i'll be OK as I work a pretty boring desk job too!)

I'm due 1/1 I'll start Mat on 1/12 but take two weeks holiday before that.
I know this seems like a lot but I am on my feet all day at work and a lot of stuff I'll struggle with. Plus it's our busiest time of year so don't think I'll be able to keep up. I'd rather not get stressed out.

My babies won't be for six weeks and I feel zero guilt for taking maternity leave early.

If your partner wants what is best for his children, he should consider the effects of an exhausted, stressed out mother

I’m dreading him coming home tonight
It got pretty nasty this morning, I still can’t believe he said it.

Also, he’s seeing his mother tonight who has apparently got a load of 2nd hand stuff already for the baby. He asked on the way out if he should bring the bring the crib etc she has got home
My reply in this morning’s mood went something along the lines of ‘can we not choose our own bstrd stuff? I don’t want a house full of old shit I haven’t even seen yet like that time she turned up randomly with a bloody great Victorian display cabinet for our tiny modern upstairs flat!’
Ungrateful I know but I was spitting venom , and I would like to choose our own stuff but could have worded it better

I was due Christmas Eve and planned to stop my teaching job on 20th December with my first. I had reduced movements on the 13th December and work "advised" I just start maternity leave then. She was born on 28th December.

I was glad to have the time afterwards tbh

How did it go @Comps83

Hope you sorted things out with your hubby xx

@Comps83 how did last night go? Been thinking about you! Hope it all got sorted? X

I'm due Dec 22, and I am planning to work until 20th but take 'work from home' option from Dec 1, as I can't imagine myself commuting in the last few weeks. I totally understand women who prefer to have a bit more time at home/not working before due date but I know that work will be the only thing to keep me sane while waiting so I really can't imagine not working. It helps that I have a desk job and can work from home when needed. I think you should do whatever will make you feel most comfortable and best prepared for baby's arrival. We're all different and it is different to find that 'one fits all' solution.

It was fine last night
He has a tendency to change tune when he knows he’s upset me and has had a day to think on it