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Original poster

When did everyone go on maternity leave

64 replies

Mummy2beAT · 22/11/2019 06:35

Hi everyone I was just wondering how many weeks people were when they started their maternity leave. My maternity pay starts at 35 weeks but I leave a week before as I have holiday. Do you think this is too early. I’m in two minds about wether it’s too early as there is a chance I may be induced 3 weeks early
Thanks

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WhenTwoBecomeThree · 22/11/2019 08:47

My mat leave starts at 39 weeks but I had a few days annual leave which I've taken this week (week 38)

123feraverto · 22/11/2019 08:49

I took annual leave from 14th Feb,
he was due 12th March.
But I ended up being induced on 28th feb and he was born 1st March

mummyof2girls18 · 22/11/2019 08:53

I finished spontaneously at 32 weeks has I got diagnosed with preeclampsia at that gestation otherwise I was planning on working till 35-36 weeks...In saying that, I absolutely loved that time off before baby came to just relax and enjoy being by myself till baby arrived...

Napqueen1234 · 22/11/2019 08:58

Planned to go off at 37 weeks with first DD. Ended up giving birth 36+5 after a full days work. Horrendous! This time going off at 35 weeks due to term times/holiday so technically starting mat leave at 37 weeks. No right or wrong a lot of it depends how you’re feeling!

username35932 · 22/11/2019 09:03

My maternity leave starts at 38 weeks but I've just finished work this week (36 weeks) and using annual leave.
I had my DD at 38 weeks so didn't want to actually finish work at 38 weeks just in case.

Spudlet · 22/11/2019 09:07

36 weeks. It was earlier than I planned and I did get pretty bored as DS was two weeks late, but I had SPD quite badly at the end, and I was just too exhausted to carry on. Even sitting at my desk was painful. I needed the rest.

EscapeTheOrdinary · 22/11/2019 09:08

Last working day was 38+5 and he came 39+4. I had a few little bits preplanned for my first week off and as soon as I done them all and had rested with no further plans he stopped hanging around!

WWlOOlWW · 22/11/2019 09:09

I was induced 3 weeks early with both of mine (planned) so worked until the day before I got induced both times.

NerdyBird · 22/11/2019 09:30

I stopped at 37 weeks. I think I'd planned a week of holiday then mat leave from 38 weeks. As it was DD arrived at 37+4 so I got a weekend and one day. The following day I was in labour. Make sure you have your hospital stuff packed! I was packing my bag whilst in active labour which wasn't the best!

Dyra · 22/11/2019 09:45

I was supposed to start mat leave from my due date, and use annual leave from 36+5. FTM, so naturally my baby was going to come late.

Instead mat leave started at 36+1 as I went off sick with a pregnancy related illness (pre-eclampsia) after 36 weeks. Induced at 37 weeks and baby arrived at 37+1. My manager says that the annual leave I had will be carried over to next year's allocation and tacked onto the end of my maternity leave. So it doesn't get lost.

I'm still slightly bitter. I feel I got no rest time before giving birth. Hospital stays are hardly restful. I was quite looking forward to communing with my sofa and watching lots of TV. Also using that time to put the finishing touches on getting things ready for baby. Instead I didn't get to do any of that.

If I ever have another I'm definitely going at 36 weeks. Won't be entirely restful, since this one will be running around, but at least it'll be something.

India999 · 22/11/2019 09:48

I went 5 weeks before - had just gone through a house move and was exhausted, but also struggled with the commute. I'm halfway through that 5 weeks at the moment and not bored yet!! Enjoying it.

crazymuseummumtobe · 22/11/2019 10:00

I'm finishing work at 35+1, but only because it's Christmas! I'm not going back in the new year. Taking annual leave to start with, then maternity leave starting at 38+4.

I wouldn't be taking so long were it not for having the Christmas break anyway. I just couldn't bear the thought of going back to work on 2nd Jan for a miserable couple of weeks of painful commuting, early mornings, etc!

MNHQ
HebeMumsnet · 22/11/2019 10:32

Always around 36 weeks. If you can, I'd leave yourself plenty of time, especially if there's a chance you'll be induced early. It was great having that time to bank a bit of sleep and get the house straight. I was worried about regretting time spent with the baby at the end of mat leave but actually, I think I'd always have found it hard to go back to work, and once you've done it it's fine, and a couple of weeks makes no difference.

paperplant · 22/11/2019 10:37

I was going to take mat leave from birth for first pregnancy (but took it three days earlier as was admitted to hospital). It was tiring the last couple of weeks but doable.

This (second) time, I'm taking holidays from Christmas (which is about 36-37 weeks) and then mat leave from 39 weeks - holidays because I have some left and can use the bank holidays! I'm already knackered and can't wait to start mat leave with a month of work to go - mostly down to having a young toddler and not getting enough sleep!

McHelenz · 22/11/2019 10:46

I am starting next week when I'm 34 weeks. I have 3 weeks annual leave and mat leave starts at 36 weeks. However I'm a nurse so didn't want to be on the Christmas off duty and am so tired! Been sick all the way through so it's been hard work.

tisonlymeagain · 22/11/2019 10:54

Finishing at 34 weeks as it's Xmas and feels like the right time. Actually on leave until early Jan so maternity leave will kick in then at 36 weeks. Baby is likely to arrive at 38/39 weeks and won't be after 40 so I am happy with that as would like a few weeks off!

BringMeThatHorizon · 22/11/2019 11:05

My official may leave started at 39 weeks and then I took 2 weeks leave before that, so was off from 37 weeks. DS arrived almost a week late so I had about a month off before he got here. It felt like it dragged but I just couldn't handle the commute any more and in the end I was glad that I'd taken a bit of time for myself.

samandpoppysmummy · 22/11/2019 12:26

I finished at 38 weeks

Andersonx3 · 22/11/2019 14:14

I was planning on 38+3 but baby arrived at 38+1 so didn't get the chance! First baby so was fully expecting to go over which is why I wanted to take it so late.

Megan2018 · 22/11/2019 14:21

I started maternity leave at 38 weeks but took 2 weeks annual leave at 36 weeks. That was plenty long enough, almost a bit too much time at home tbh, if I had my time over I’d have worked to 38 weeks.

feelinghelplesstoday · 22/11/2019 14:27

When I went into labour at work. Yep waters broke when I had important customer on site. That was no 2 son. No 2 daughter 24 hours before I went into labour.
Well no point in wasting the time off 😂😂

Aneley · 22/11/2019 14:44

I only get 8w mat leave + permission to use my entire annual leave before I go back to work so I'm leaving it until the due date or whenever baby decides to come. What makes it easier is that I am permitted to work from home these last few weeks.

feelinghelplesstoday · 22/11/2019 14:46

@Aneley I'm assuming you are not in UK?

astonishedzebra · 22/11/2019 14:51

I was really lucky. I'm a teacher and my baby was due start of sept. So finished in July but my maternity leave didn't start til first day of school in Sept. if it hadn't fell as well, I would have worked as late as possible.

JayDot500 · 22/11/2019 14:55

Technically start my Maternity leave at 39 weeks, but I was determined to save enough annual leave so that I finished at 37 weeks. Honestly, I was ready to finish at 35 weeks due to SPD but could work from home, so was able to push through.