31 weeks too early for mat leave?

[georgia19ox]

Hi, im just looking for opinions really, im in full time work working
42+ hours a week sat at my office and i hate it!! at the end of the day its a job which pays the bills so i have stayed, lately work life has been causing me alot of stress which i bring home its effected my sleep and just feel very down, im thinking of leaving after the Christmas holidays i will be 31 weeks pregnant, for the main reason it gives me that time to get in the right mind set and relax a bit before having the little one

You'll really regret it when you have to leave your baby earlier to return to work.. I'd wait a few more weeks!

I'm 31 weeks and I know the feeling of work dragging on.

I think there's two questions you need to ask yourself -
If you're going back to work (which will presumably need to be earlier than otherwise as you're starting leave early) will you feel you're missing out on time with your baby?

If you're not going back or will go back PT, can you do without the extra money a few weeks more of FT work will bring you?

You go when you want to go!
I was due to start my holidays at 37 weeks, and maternity start at 39 weeks. I moved it forward a week and feel it was the right choice!
My son was born 6 days into my official maternity, ny bonus is that I get the benefit of most of my maternity with him here rather than before he arrived!

I took mat leave when I was 32 weeks pregnant but had 3 weeks annual leave which swayed me somewhat. I had to - I was doing an hours commute into work, had so many hospital appointments with reduced movement and in the end DS came 2 weeks early so it was so good for me to have that time off before he came.

It's not advisable for everybody but I think you need to weight up the options of stress, commute etc vs mental health etc

Do you have any annual leave to take? I am going on AL at 33 weeks then mat leave at 38 weeks

@starlightmagic i was planning on taking my annual leave at the end of my mat leave

I went on mat leave as early as I could - my job was stressful with very long hours and my boss fucked up my maternity cover recruitment so I just thought bollocks to this, I'm getting out of here!

I really enjoyed the lie-ins, gentle exercise, afternoon teas and general pampering. I honestly believe looking after myself so well in the last few weeks really helped me a lot to 'bounce back' after the birth of my dd.

I went on maternity leave at 30 weeks.I was tired and I hated my job.

I'll be leaving at 37 weeks and then the following week is annual leave so my mat leave doesn't actually start until 39 weeks!

You could end up being off work for almost three months before baby comes if they are late, which is three months you won't get to spend with your baby. If you aren't going back to work then I'd do it but I think I would try power through to 35/36 as I'd regret having to leave my baby months before I needed to when the time comes. I felt pretty rotten towards the end of pregnancy but knowing how I feel now she is here, I am incredibly glad I waited to start maternity leave.

@PrincessHoneysuckle - i know the feeling with two wankers for boss's and the worse company EVER to work for i just want to get out!! infact i will happily leave now until i dont think i can at only 22 weeks LOL

I’ve just gone on maternity leave this week at 34 weeks. My job was office based but in healthcare where there was lots of ill people around me and a very stressful environment so for me it wasn’t worth sitting it out. I’ve got 3 weeks annual leave to roll over and tag onto the end of maternity next year.
It’s a bit like pregnancy, labour and child-rearing. Every woman is different so trust your own instinct.

I left work at 37+2 and have been pretty bored. Your baby may not be born until 42 weeks. What will you do for 11 weeks??

I'll probably get slated for even suggesting it but can you go off sick? That will give you a few more weeks before triggering the start of maternity leave.

@Somebodystired it is an idea but if you go sick so close to your due date they start your mat leave dont they

@georgia19ox yes bit early!

Go when you like but bear in mind, if you go back after maternity you’ll be loosing time with your child .. I went off at 34 weeks but used all my annual leave first so my maternity kicked in at 40 weeks & I was able to take a full year with my daughter (who was also two weeks late!)..

I enjoyed finishing early & I like my job! I have a desk job and I was so uncomfortable with back ache & rib flare that I drove everyone mad getting up & down like a yo-yo! At home, I relaxed, my house was spotless, cupboards organised, I lunched with my mum .. very chilled time before the baby!

I am finishing at 34 weeks (2 weeks leave over Xmas and then officially starting maternity leave at 36 weeks) I've just had enough mentally and my baby won't come after 40 weeks, probably a bit earlier so I'll have maximum of 4 weeks at home and I cannot wait. My maternity leave runs until 31st December 2020 so I'll have a good accumulation of annual leave to take the other side.

Also it's an assumption that everyone wants to take maximum maternity leave with their baby afterwards...in an ideal world yes but my second was the worlds most difficult baby and by 5 months I was climbing the walls and had to go back for my own sanity.

@georgia19ox yes but they can only start your maternity leave if you're off sick from 36 weeks. So if by 31 weeks you are still feeling stressed and went off sick, you could be off sick for 5 weeks before triggering the start of your maternity leave at 36 weeks.

I would say it's too early but only you can judge that. I finished at 36 weeks and had been in agony for weeks with rib pain and severe heartburn so I battled on and then had the baby 6 days after I finished! Then I wished I had taken an extra week just to myself.

At 29 weeks I used a month of annual leave then went on mat leave. But then I wasn't planning on returning so going early didn't affect me.

Do what is right for you you only have to let them know your leave date at 25 weeks pregnant and you can change it with (I think) 28 days notice. I moved mine forward with less notice and my work were fine!

Was in the same position as you, high pressured job and bosses just so not understanding and putting too much stress and pressure on me. It was making me really anxious and poorly! Being off a little earlier is better for my baby's health than being with me a couple of weeks extra in a few months time.

Take care of yourself and don't feel pressure in whatever decision you make! Nobody gets a medal for working until the death or not xxx

I’m 36 weeks and left last week, I’d wait until then at least unless your body cannot take it anymore. I had a similar role, desk based and the chairs were killing my back and causing me to have time off so I brought my leave forward, was originally gonna work up until a week before my due date which with hindsight was a little bit too ambitious!

Do you have any annual leave days to take? Could
You take a series of shorter weeks up until ML

Way too early, I would say (obviously different if you have a really physical job). I would really regret losing that much time with the baby.

Could you use some annual leave to work 4 days a week until you go off?