When did you go on maternity

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I'm thinking of starting maternity at 35 weeks as I have a few weeks holiday I can use before actual maternity starts. How did you all feel at 35 weeks? Did you still have plenty of energy and able to do everything?

I went at 36 weeks because I knew I was being induced at 38 weeks and wanted a couple of weeks off before the baby arrived. I still felt physically fine, really good actually, but mentally felt ready to finish work.

36 weeks with dc1 and it was far too early. So went at 39 weeks with dc2 and 39+6 with DC3 to maximise time at the end. I’m a teacher.

I went 4 days before my CSec date.

I went off at 35 weeks, I had 3 weeks holiday to take. So my maternity didn't kick in until 38 weeks

Well that was the idea my DD turned up at 37 weeks so may leave started then and I used the week at the other end before going back

I'm 33 weeks and finish next week. This is only because I'm a teacher and it's yeh start of Christmas holidays. I don't officially start mat leave until Jan when I'll be 36 weeks but I'm so mentally exhausted now there's no way I'd have been able to go back

29 weeks 🤣🤣🤣

Off sick at 30 weeks with DS1, delivered at 35 weeks. Felt really well all the way up to delivery.

Worked until 37+5 with DS2 and delivered at 38+1. Totally ready to finish by then!

I'm going on maternity at 37 weeks. I have a very physical job and I'm on my feet all day and I'm already struggling at 30 weeks.

I finished on the Friday and gave birth on the Saturday - however very easy pregnancy and I was surrounded by nurses!

38 weeks with the first he was born 39+2
36 with the second he was 37+4 both spontaneous births

I'll be going off next year at 38+4 with maternity kicking in at 39+2.

Done it this way as using my year's annual leave at the other end meaning I don't have to go back until Jan 4. Feels tidy.

I am going at 35. Weeks 35-38 are A/L and mat leave officially starts 2 weeks before my due date.

At about 30 weeks I was feeling okay still and had thought 5 weeks might be too much time myself and was going to push it back by 2 weeks.

However, I’m now 34 weeks and all of a sudden feel knackered, puffy and mentally have had enough and am so glad I have only 4 more working days!

Day before I was induced. I would have been so bored going too early. I had done everything weeks before too e.g. putting moses basket up and made and washing clothes, so I didn't need anytime to do that.
Meant I also maximised my time I got with baby

Finishing 37 weeks but using annual leave from then until 2 days before due date

I went off at 38 weeks when pregnant with DS1 & was so ready to be finishing come my last day in the office!

Second time around with DS2 I finished at 35.5 weeks, as I couldn't face staying until 38 weeks. I saved holiday and took 3 weeks off and then was planning on starting my mat leave the week before my due date. I was really happy to finish earlier as felt a lot more tired second time around, my waters broke exactly a week before my due date too so I was glad I had some extra time to "rest" beforehand.

Went at 37 weeks as job is physically demanding (picking up large dogs...) but was so boring as didnt give birth until 41 weeks. Until about 39 weeks I felt very able to continue and wish I had

29 weeks off sick and don't plan to go back... Yes it's early and I'll be bored after Christmas but I have to accept my lot is tougher this pregnancy and take the break.
I'm so slow movinh it's taking me forever to do the bare minimum in the house so by the time I'm done I can probably start again and stay occupied

I finish tomorrow for 1 weeks annual leave, I'll be 38+5. My maternity kicks in the day after my due date, provided he doesn't come early. My job is quite sedentary and mainly office based so it's been no sweat really, I've also had a pretty straight forward pregnancy. Only started to struggle this week but powered through as it's my last week!

My initial plan was to ‘officially’ take a week, but 4 weeks in total as I had 3 weeks A/L outstanding, however not such a straight forward pregnancy, and many hospital visits/stays later, I decided it was appropriate to go at 34 weeks (3 weeks mat, 3A/L). Mainly because every time I was involved in an emergency (I’m a midwife), I started contracting/having terrible braxton hicks, and was concern regarding my ability to practice safely, as much as I was concerned about my self and the pregnancy.

My work colleague however, due 3 days after me, managed to work up till the weekend before we were due, when she went for a scan on the Friday and was basically told it’s baby time.

Last pregnancy I went at 32 weeks, now I'll start my leave at 31 weeks.

Depends on how everyone feels, for me the last two months are hard to continue to work and I feel I need that time for my other children and get ready everything for baby. Plus my babies tend to come earlier.

Due to finish at 38 weeks but poorly from 36 weeks so finished then. Self employed so no holiday to use. Made no difference the other end as I had to go back when dc was 3 months.