Late Jan 2020 - when to go on Mat Leave?

[hcopp]

I'm due on 23 January. It's my first so I fully expect it could go to late Jan or early Feb. When would you go on Maternity Leave?

I can't decide whether to leave at Christmas (maybe using some annual leave in January), or try to go back for a week or so until mid Jan, as it is a busy time of year at work. I don't want to be sat at home for four weeks twiddling my thumbs...

Any insights appreciated!

I'm due 3rd Feb and I'm leaving at Christmas, using three weeks of holiday before starting maternity leave in January. I'm taking all of 2020 off though, so I have 5 weeks of holiday to start and end my leave.

Thanks @sheep90. Using some leave is a possible option. I should add I also have a 1hr10 commute (which may get longer when we move in October), consisting of a 15 minute walk, 25 mins on the train and another 20 minute walk. I am concerned about icy pavements come January.

I'm due 24th jan! I plan to finish the week before!

I’m due 20th jan and plan to finish at Christmas. I’m saving the rest of this years holidays so I can have annual leave and not need to start mat leave until the week before. I know what you mean about the icy pavements in the winter, just give yourself more time x

Due on 27 Jan & have been thinking about this too. My industry is very busy over Xmas and New Year so I’m currently thinking of going on leave around Jan 10th. Only planning on taking six months though so will be back in mid August.

I'm due on the 22nd, I am starting my mat leave on the 11th but taking holiday before so finishing at the end of December, wanted a bit of time with my daughter before baby comes

Due date twins!

Everyone has advised me to leave it as late as possible to go, but at the minute I'm so tired I'd go on leave now if I could. Plan was to go on leave starting 17th Jan, taking a two week break over Christmas (love Christmas) and using the rest of my annual leave to take Wednesdays off, starting end of November. That way I won't have to do 5 days straight. However, I have a very sedentary job, and because of the nature of what I do even the mentally-taxing side of it will ease up towards the end (we work on individual projects lasting up to 8 weeks. We try very hard not to have to hand over a project to another employee, so it's likely I'll basically stop picking up new work towards the end).

Definitely wear trainers / grippy boots on those icy pavements!

Ooh we're nearly due date twins! :) I'm due on the 24th Jan. Planning to stop at Christmas and not go back, using about 2 1/2 weeks mat leave and the rest annual leave. I think for me that is sensible because I get very tired due to other health conditions so I think by then I'll be exhausted! But might depend on whether you think you'll get bored?