Twin pregnancy maternity leave

[BTodd92]

Hey everyone,

Looking for a bit of advice. I am currently 14 weeks into a twin pregnancy and so far I've been really poorly! Work wise I am a teacher, I currently run a Nursery for 3-4 year olds so naturally my job is extremely active! I work about a 30 min drive from home. After some googling I've discovered that multiple mums seem to start maternity leave at 26 weeks. Does that sound right to you? I had planned to go longer initially but I have a tendency to push myself a bit too hard.
If any of you are multiple mamma's or know anything about when might be the right/ average time for me to start mat leave I'd be really interested to hear what you have to say!
Thank you!!

I think it depends on the type of twins and when you will likely deliver. I can't imagine going on leave at 26 weeks but not having them until 37 weeks I would be bored rigid.
My cousin had a high risk momo twin pregnancy and was told she had to start leave at 28 weeks the babies were delivered at 32 weeks.

Hi OP, I’m 32 weeks with DCDA twins. I went on mat leave a week ago. I also thought 28 weeks sounded ridiculously early initially but my word, do things get tough later on! I am crippled with PGP, have severe swelling in my legs (all checked out and all fine, just another joy of twin pregnancy!), can’t get more than 2 hours unbroken sleep. I used a bit of annual leave to ensure my actual mat leave won’t kick in for a few weeks - would you have the option to do something like that?

All that said, you never know how you’ll feel until nearer the time - are your employers fairly flexible with when you’ll go off?

I'm a teacher too although secondary. My dts were delivered at 38 weeks and I think I finished work at 34 weeks. My students were older and more understanding though so for the last few weeks I mostly taught sitting down and told them they had to come to me if they needed help! That's probably not an option for you teaching young children though. I should see how you feel nearer the time and be advised too by your midwife/consultant.
Congratulations on your pregnancy!

I’m 20 weeks with dcda twins and planning to work as long as possible. My job is office based and I can wfh. I’m going to wait and see how things progress but will try and get to 34 weeks....

I had my identical twins at 35 weeks and stopped work at 33. 26 weeks seems absolutely crazy.

26 weeks seems very early but it will be dependent on how you feel, it varies so much. I went on maternity leave at 32 weeks but that was only because I had a long commute by train into London and I was huge. Had them at 37 weeks, 6lb 15 and 6lb 2

Good luck it’s lots of fun

That seems so early but I guess everyone is different.

I have identical twins and was higher risk so was scanned and met with my consultant weekly. Luckily, my company was so flexible it wasn't a problem to take time off each week.

I planned to go on Mat leave at 34 weeks and had a csection booked for 36 weeks.

The last afternoon I worked before my leave I had a routine midwife check up and from there I was sent straight to hospital and tested positive for pre eclampsia and was kept in until they were born.

I still feel cheated I didn't have any real leave before they were born and that was 6 and a half years ago!!

DCDA twins here. I worked till 34 weeks but in an office environment. It was noticeably tougher from 32 weeks so if you have a busy active job you might need to stop a little sooner.

I wanted to go longer but was signed off and on bed rest at around 24 weeks! I would have chosen about 30 weeks but my job wasn't as active as yours.

op I know this isn't what you asked but have a look at this link. you are entitled to health and safety assessments and adjustments being made to allow you to continue working. you shouldn't have to go off quite so early all being well

archive.acas.org.uk/maternity

Also a teacher, I planned on starting my leave at 34 weeks but my twins had other ideas and arrived then so I literally went from work to hospital.

In hindsight I would have finished at 32 weeks but I think you have to see how things progress.

I started mine at 32 weeks with DCDA twins, I was in hospital with pre eclampsia from 33 weeks and they were born at 36+6
26 weeks seems early just because it's twins as a generalisation but obviously lots of twin pregnancies have complications and everyone's different! I finished with my single baby at 28 weeks due to extreme stress.

I am currently 31+6 with MCDA twins. I was planning on starting mat leave at 34 weeks (although leaving at 33weeks by using some annual leave) however the twins have had other ideas.
I have been signed off with sciatica since 28weeks and now I am in hospital with possible pre eclampsia so I have contacted my work brought my annual leave forward and start maternity leave next week at 32weeks.

With twins you just have to see how your pregnancy goes and your work will have to be prepared for you to bring your maternity leave forward (which you are entitled to do).

I'm not a twin mum but I am a nursery teacher and really struggled even with a singleton pregnancy towards the end. I had planned to work up until 38+2 but the physical element of the job ended up with me being signed off from 33 weeks. Normally it doesn't bother me in the slightest but the absolutely constant bending, crawling and getting up and down off the floor in the third trimester left me hobbling and in agony. Management didn't really understand just how full on the job is and there is little option to take it easy with dozens of toddlers and preschoolers needing you all the time. I can only imagine with twins it would be even harder. I would really push for 'lighter' duties and see if there is anything management can do to make your role easier. Could you move to an older year group for example so at least you're not having to be on the floor? Run intervention groups or just be assigned to admin duties for parts of the day/week? If they're not helpful then at least start getting the children trained up now to be as independent as possible. They need to be picking up their own toys, tidying up their own mess, hanging up their coats and not dumping them on the floor etc. Then look after yourself, do as much as possible from a standing position or from a proper adult sized chair and see how you get on. Don't push yourself though, you're going to need plenty of energy for when the babies arrive. Getting signed off was the best decision I made as I was as rested and comfortable as possible when DD arrived, which ended up being 4 days after I had planned to finish work :)

Maternity leave/pay cant start until 29 weeks so if you're off before that you would need to use sick leave or annual leave.

Thanks everyone that's really helpful! I'm currently aiming for 34 weeks but I have hyperemesis so it's been a struggle. I think I just have to accept that I have to release control of this and just see how it goes.

The moving around aspect really worries me. My class this year are quire volatile and some of them can be violent. It's already stressful and it's just going to get harder. I'd like to ask to change to an older group or tale on an admin role but l just don't have the assertiveness.

@BTodd92 Sounds like you've got a tough bunch. I had some characters too, one of whom kicked me straight in the stomach as I tried to stop them pulling a piece of furniture onto themselves. The answer was apparently that I shouldn't get involved in meltdowns and situations like that, which is pretty difficult when you're the closest/only adult there to deal with behaviour incidents and potentially dangerous escalations. Get a risk assessment done ASAP if you haven't already and make individual plans for any high risk children. Get your TA/ nursery nurse on side with these plans and try, if staffing allows, to not be left on your own in or outside. If behaviour escalates beyond what you can safely deal with, make the class safe and call for help. This is where SLT can earn their keep and deal with things that you can't. But you should really try to be firm with management about the challenges of your role. Now is the time to be assertive, you have the health and safety of you and your babies to consider. If you don't get anywhere, don't agree to go on maternity early as it will really affect your pay. If you're unable to manage your role and they can't come up with a solution then get yourself signed off. This means your maternity pay will only kick in at 36 weeks or when the babies arrive, whichever is sooner. Hope all goes well!