Reassure me please (mat leave)

[LJS8987]

How long have people taken for mat leave?
I am by no means a high earner in the grand scheme of things but do earn almost double what dh earns.
I'm rubbish at saving (always have been!!) so have very little put away for when I am off work.
I get a decent maternity package compared to some but we won't be able to afford me being off longer than 7 months.
I feel guilty already that I will be going back to work so soon! Is this just hormones?
I would definitely rather go to work than get in loads of debt and not be able to do nice things as a family when I do go back due to having extra monthly outgoings!
It's so rubbish the system is based on DH being the main earner!

I earn more than DP and planning to go back to work after 9 months. Everyone thought I was mad not taking a full year and not taking a few weeks off before my due date etc. Loads of comments and judgements on this when I was heavily pregnant from people who seemed to think money grows on trees and it genuinely shouldn't be a concern!

This thread has made me feel so much better that I'm not the only one

I’m another one who went back full time when my DD was 7months. She’s almost 3 now and is fine, we have a wonderful bond and I think it was the best decision for our family (I’m also the higher earner). I think the most important thing is to find childcare that you’re really comfortable with, my DD goes to a nursery which she loves, it would be so much harder if she was unhappy. Xx

I'm so reassured reading all your posts.
It's so easy to think that everybody gets a year off and I felt that I will be missing out!
I'm sure there will be comments made about how soon I'm going back but I'd rather go back sooner than be up to my eyes in debt!

Believe me, I was sooo ready to go back to work at 7 months. It saved my sanity!

aw didnt no u cud do that my baby is 8 weeks im supposed to be doing 1 day a week from next week for next ten weeks jusy so boost my wages up a bit as only get smp x

that was about kit days

I took 10 months off but then work messed me about, one minute saying I can't come back proposed hours and then yes I could and it was 4 months of stress during maternity leave that I didn't need so decided to take the year off. For the 3 months of not receiving money I have put by £600 per month which I saved during my 9 months of pregnancy... That will cover council tax, electric, food, and some of my outgoings. My partner is doing overtime once a month to cover anything unforeseen. But I am Def not a high earner and when I return I'll be on a considerable amount less..

It doesn't matter if his work doesn't have a parental leave policy, the provision of shared parental leave is the law.

That said, some employers can be dicks about it.

I had a year off with my previous two children but this time we can't afford that, so I'll be taking about 8 months. With my second I was ready to go back by then to be honest, maternity leave is actually pretty boring... I've had friends take less than six months and their children are fine, you have to do what's best for everyone and sometimes that means going back earlier. Don't feel bad.

It's not so much about workplaces being difficult in our case. There's eligibility criteria that we don't meet

You and your partner must:
• have been employed continuously by the same employer for at least 26 weeks by the end of the 15th week before the due date

I took 9 months mat leave and 1 month AL. Could you use AL to extend the time it if you want to? Its tricky to know how you'll feel until baby is here. I was gutted that I couldn't afford a year off before I has DD but after 8 months I was organising my return and knew I needed a break!

I took 4 months as self-employed and the higher earner. I was on statutory maternity pay. My DP took shared parental leave and 80% of it was on his normal pay. Our LO then went to a CM at 9 months for 3 days per week and seems to love it

I’m going back at 10 months. Saving up now to cover the months without a wage and taking a month annual leave.