Maternity leave

[Freeman94]

I am turning 37 weeks pregnant on Sunday however I'm still working as i don't feel ready to leave
How many more weeks should I leave it before going on Matt leave as I feel I could work right up to my due date
Just wondered if you had any advice
As mentally I am able to still work, however I am starting to feel more tired and achy
(Currently working in a special needs school

thanks in advance

Just go when you feel you need to. No reason why you couldn't work up to your due date if you feel up to it

There's no rules op, you go when you feel you need to go. Do you need to give proper notice to work? At my place if you went on sick with pregnancy related stuff at this point they'd automatically start your mat leave.

I would try and get to October half term if it were me. I suppose you have to decide if you want some time at home to sort things out or just be alone before baby appears.

I think you're meant to give 4 weeks notice (i.e. 4 weeks before your previous intended leave date) to start your maternity leave later? Unless your employer hasn't given you your leave dates in writing?

Otherwise, start leave when you feel you're ready? We can't really tell you when, only you'll know when you feel ready.

I started leave at 37 weeks, I'm a nurse and couldn't have continued past then because of the physical discomfort.

What have you already agreed with work? You should have provided a proposed last date by now.

I am a teacher and went up to 39+1 as I was like you, felt fine physically and mentally wasn’t ready to go.

Finished Friday, relaxed on Monday and waters went Monday night. I wish I’d have had a couple more days to get cooking I’d planned to do sorted and read a book or two but I am so pleased I have more time the other side now.

Just go with your body. If you feel good then why leave early? It’s bettee to keep active where you can. Look after yourself and good luck with it all.

No reason you can't work beyond your due date even! I went at 38 weeks last time and going at 36 weeks this time - I've got a 2 hour commute though which is getting quite uncomfortable now.

At my place if you went on sick with pregnancy related stuff at this point they'd automatically start your mat leave.

SMP regulations say that will happen if you’re sick from the 36th week.

I think you're meant to give 4 weeks notice (i.e. 4 weeks before your previous intended leave date) to start your maternity leave later?

Nope. You can do what you like. Just keep your employer informed.

You have to give at least 8 weeks notice under SMP rules to change your return from maternity date.

@Boobiliboobiliboo
This info from Citizens Advice Bureau is incorrect then?

*Changing the dates of your maternity leave:
You can change the dates of your maternity leave as long as you give your employer enough notice:

• to start your leave sooner, tell your employer at least 4 weeks before your new start date.
• to start your leave later, tell your employer at least 4 weeks before your old start date
• to end your leave sooner, tell your employer at least 8 weeks before your new end date
• to end your leave later, to tell your employer at least 8 weeks before your old end date

You can give less notice if your employer never gave you your maternity leave dates in writing. It’s still good to give them as much notice as you can.*

From www.citizensadvice.org.uk/work/rights-at-work/parental-rights/maternity-leave-what-youre-entitled-to-and-how-to-get-it/

ACAS states that changing the start date means you have to give 28 days notice or mutually agree a new date with the employer.

What the policy... Where I worked you weren't able to work the week you were due.
Do you need time off before arrival? As working so late might mean you get none.

I intended to work until 39 weeks, put in holiday and start mat leave on my due date. Like others have said, my employer doesn't let you be at work beyond your due date. Baby came at 36+6, I'd spent the day discussing with my husband when I'd feel properly pregnant and a few hours later I was in full blown spontaneous labour and a few hours after that had my now 7 month old son in my arms. If you feel fine then plan to work as long as you can but also be prepared that any day might be your last day. I'd really not expected to go early and as I had 2 weeks left of work I'd not really done much hand over as all of my meetings were booked in for the week I actually started mat leave so they obviously never happened.

I'm an SEN teacher and I worked up until I was 39+2. I stayed until we broke up for summer. I finished work on the Friday and little legs arrived the following Thursday so I had less than a week but that was fine for me. I felt fit enough to keep working and I honestly think keeping so active helped to make my labour quick and relatively easy.
If you feel happy to keep going then I would definitely recommend doing so.
I'm not sure about what others have said in terms of telling your employer when you plan to start mat leave. My head teacher was really flexible and kind of just went with the flow. However this was partly because they didn't have to get mat cover for me as it was nearly the end of term. I think the rules to do with giving your intended start date will be to do with hiring cover etc.

If your waters did break in the classroom how do you think your students would react if you had to suddenly leave in front of them? I would base my decision on that