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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 did you take maternity leave?

26 replies

MummyBear405 · 29/07/2019 12:49

I've just found out that I won't qualify for SMP and whilst that's not the end of the world I think it means I will need to go back to work sooner than anticipated.

I'm due at the end of January so I was thinking about starting my mat leave from mid January and going back mid July, is that too soon?

OP posts:

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mrsed1987 · 29/07/2019 12:51

I know friends that have done it, im taking the risk and just tightening our belts to have a year off. Its a personal decision

Megan2018 · 29/07/2019 12:53

I'm taking a year - although it is going to be financially crippling as I am the main earner. We will be obliterating savings to do it.

If you don't qualify for SMP do you qualify for maternity allowance?

Buyitinbamboo · 29/07/2019 12:53

I left start of July and went back start of Jan with DD. I wouldn't do it again if I didn't have to but it was generally fine. I only went back 2 days a week though.

Greenolivesorblackolives · 29/07/2019 12:55

I went back when dc was 13 weeks old. Self employed so not much choice if I wanted work to return to. We’re now planning another and will be doing the same again.

MyNameIsRachel · 29/07/2019 13:01

Unless you have no flexibility, maybe wait to baby gets here to decide, or nearer the time.

I had lots of back to work plans now in staying off til he is 3 at least

SusieSusieSoo · 29/07/2019 13:01

I went back after 7 months. LP so had no choice. Ds had a friend at nursery who was same age. Both were absolutely fine. It was hard for me but at that age he settled easily. Those dc's who were older when they started nursery struggled to settle. You have to do what works for your family op xx

McHelenz · 29/07/2019 13:25

I want to take a year, I'm working hard and saving as I'll only get SMP so losing nearly 1200 a month. I just think these are times I'll never get back to spend this time with our babies. The only reason I will go back earlier is if im pregnant again x

Alpacaface · 29/07/2019 13:46

Just under 9 months but we did shared parental leave, so my husband was off for a further 2 months after that.

NewAccount270219 · 29/07/2019 13:56

I did six months, then DH did three and then he started full-time at the childminder at 9 months. We got a lot of judgy/shocked comments, but we were all happy with it, which is all that actually matters

NewAccount270219 · 29/07/2019 13:56

DS started at the childminder, not DH!

General0rgana · 29/07/2019 13:57

I went back FT at 5.5 months with both of mine. I was the main earner. It was fine. (With DC2 DH also took some shared parental leave after I went back)

Some maternity pay is shit. Some people have bills. If you can't afford to take extensive time off, you don't have to.

Look into shared parental leave - your partner's maternity package might be more favourable.

General0rgana · 29/07/2019 13:59

Oh, and no-one overtly judged me. No one said anything. No one asked if I missed them terribly.

They did make a token effort to allow me to keep pumping/BFing for as long as I wanted to.

Snipples · 29/07/2019 13:59

I went back full time when DD was 7 months. I live abroad so could only have 6 months off and then I took some hols. It worked fine for us, I think I would've been bored with a year off tbh.

secretlyhermione · 29/07/2019 16:03

I'm due in October and planning to take 9 months off. I work in a country where I have to go on maternity leave a month before due date so it means technically 8 months with the baby which I feel is a good time and by the time I go back will be summer, so can probably take summer holidays a month or so later! But I say this now, maybe I'll extend/reduce when the time comes, no idea how I'll feel!

Golder · 29/07/2019 22:57

I'm due to go on leave tomorrow. Baby not due until mid September, so I'll have like 6 weeks and a bit off (holidays first then maternity leave kicking in mid August. I didn't qualify for Smp either, I've got MA. Which works out the same as SMP for me anyway. I'm planning to take just the 9 months I get paid for off. I mean my partner will be happy to support me but he knows I'm quite an independent person anyway and I hate feeling like Im a burden on him, even when he assures me I'm not.
Hadn't really thought about taking the full year off but I guess it'll just be how I feel at the time, once little miss is here.

Newbie21 · 30/07/2019 07:00

@MummyBear405 I would try and save as much as you can between now and you going on Mat leave to give you maximum choice. Before I had my DS I thought I would take 9 months max but when he arrived that totally changed and I wanted longer. My employer told me that they won't list any return to work date until a month or so after baby as women often change their mind and have the right to do so.

polkadotpixie · 30/07/2019 07:14

Will you get maternity allowance? The only difference between that and SMP is you don't get the first 6 weeks at 90%, it's just £145ish a week for 39 weeks

I only got maternity allowance too as I'd been in my job 2 days less than I needed for SMP

I took 9 months off. Finished at 36 weeks and went back when he was 8 months old

I had saved £5K to supplement my income during those 9 months though otherwise I'd have had to go back sooner

beingmum39 · 30/07/2019 09:05

I took some annual leave before maternity leave to give me some time to myself.. I am taking full year off but money is very tight so will be ensuring I do my 10 keeping in touch days to earn a little bit when the money goes down to nothing. I am not in a hurry to go back as this time off is richer than any pay packet...

Cookit · 30/07/2019 09:15

@NewAccount270219 I do judge you for leaving your DH with a childminder!

LaurenSarah22 · 30/07/2019 09:18

I've had 9 months off but I think 6 month is okay. They are still a baby but at 6 months they are alot easier and are happy to be cared for by most people. I think we need them more then they need us

Original poster

MummyBear405 · 30/07/2019 09:37

Thanks for all your responses ladies, it's really interesting to see how different people approach it depending on their situation.

@Megan2018 & @polkadotpixie yes I will be eligible for MA which is good and now that I've had time to read up on it I've realised it's not massively different to SMP as long as we have some savings.

@Newbie21 that's a fab idea, I'm going to spend today putting together a budget for Jan-Jul next year to get an idea on how much we need on top of DH's salary & MA and then work backwards to figure the minimum we need to save over the next 6 months.

I'm planning working right up until 2 weeks before baby is due however being type 1 diabetic I'm aware that LO might make an early appearance! I guess we'll just have to wait and see, on the plus side me & DH work for the same company who are extremely supportive so I might be able to work from home more either before baby is due or as a way to ease back into it once I'm ready to come back!

@NewAccount270219 can you send me your childminders details? I definitely need somewhere to leave DH every now and again! Haha!

OP posts:

tisonlymeagain · 30/07/2019 09:55

I qualify for the basic SMP but it will cripple us, so while I would like to take a year off, it's likely I will just take 6 months.

Newbie21 · 30/07/2019 22:11

@MummyBear405 also check if you are entitled to "keep in touch" "KIT" days - my employer offered up to 10 of them when you can go in and work or do training as a way of easing back into work and you get full days pay. You could factor that into your budget if they have it.

PaulHollywoodsSexGut · 30/07/2019 22:14

Six months both times.

For me the “acceptable threshold” is when they can basically sit up unaided and that’s ~6months.

I feel for the women who are in the US (and the oh so liberal Netherlands) who get the sum total of 12 weeks. For me that’s too early and I was accused of going back too early by a former (prick) Manager.

FrangipaniBlue · 30/07/2019 22:34

6 months and to be honest I was ready to go back!

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